29 October 2020
Mr Sam Hill
By email to:
[FYI request #14001 email]
Mr Sam Hill
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 2020/41 – CITIZENSHIP STATUS OF CANDIDATES AT THE
2020 GENERAL ELECTION
On 19 October 2020 you requested the following information under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act) from the Department of Internal Affairs:
Please advise of the citizenship status (including dual citizenship) of the following candidates
who have been preliminarily elected to the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand.
New Zealand Labour Party
Jacinda Ardern
Kelvin Davis
Grant Robertson
Phil Twyford
Megan Woods
Chris Hipkins
Andrew Little
Carmel Sepuloni
David Parker
Nanaia Mahuta
Trevor Mallard
Stuart Nash
Jenny Salesa
Damien O'Connor
Kris Faafoi
David Clark
Ayesha Verrall
Peeni Henare
Willie Jackson
William Sio
Poto Williams
Vanushi Walters
Michael Wood
Electoral Commission | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140 | 0800 36 76 56
Adrian Rurawhe
Kiri Allan
Kieran McAnulty
Louisa Wall
Meka Whaitiri
Rino Tirikatene
Camilla Belich
Priyanca Radhakrishnan
Jan Tinetti
Deborah Russell
Marja Lubeck
Angie Warren-Clark
Willow-Jean Prime
Tamati Coffey
Naisi Chen
Jo Luxton
Jamie Strange
Liz Craig
Ibrahim Omer
Duncan Webb
Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki
Ginny Andersen
Rachel Brooking
Paul Eagle
Helen White
Barbara Edmonds
Angela Roberts
Shanan Halbert
Neru Leavasa
Tracey McLellan
Steph Lewis
Rachel Boyack
Arena Williams
Ingrid Leary
Sarah Pallett
Gaurav Sharma
Terisa Ngobi
Glen Bennett
Greg O'Connor
Tangi Utikere
Anna Lorck
New Zealand National Party
Judith Collins
Gerry Brownlee
Paul Goldsmith
Simon Bridges
Shane Reti
Todd McClay
Chris Bishop
Electoral Commission | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140 | 0800 36 76 56
Todd Muller
Louise Upston
Scott Simpson
David Bennett
Michael Woodhouse
Nicola Willis
Jacqui Dean
Mark Mitchell
Melissa Lee
Andrew Bayly
Nick Smith
Maureen Pugh
Barbara Kuriger
Matthew Doocey
Stuart Smith
Denise Lee
Simon O'Connor
Simeon Brown
Ian McKelvie
Erica Stanford
Matt King
Chris Penk
Tim van de Molen
Nicola Grigg
Christopher Luxon
Joseph Mooney
Penny Simmonds
Simon Watts
ACT New Zealand
David Seymour
Brooke van Velden
Nicole McKee
Chris Baillie
Simon Court
James McDowall
Karen Chhour
Mark Cameron
Toni Severin
Damien Smith
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Marama Davidson
James Shaw
Chloe Swarbrick
Julie Anne Genter
Jan Logie
Eugenie Sage
Golriz Ghahraman
Electoral Commission | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140 | 0800 36 76 56
Teanau Tuiono
Elizabeth Kerekere
Ricardo Menéndez March
Māori Party
Rawiri Waititi
The Department of Internal Affairs transferred your request to the Electoral Commission on 19
October 2020 in accordance with section 14(b)(ii) of the Act on the basis that confirming the
eligibility of elected officials is believed to be more closely related to the functions of the Electoral
Commission.
During the candidate nomination process for the 2020 General Election, all candidates confirmed
their eligibility to be nominated by completing and signing a consent to candidate nomination form
in which they confirmed that they are a New Zealand citizen. All party secretaries bulk nominating
their candidates and submitting a party list also completed and signed a declaration confirming that
all of the candidates included in their bulk nomination of candidates and their party list are qualified
to be a candidate and to be elected a member of Parliament.
On their consent to nomination form, every electorate and list candidate is required to indicate their
country of birth. All candidates born overseas were required to provide evidence of New Zealand
citizenship with their nomination in the form of a copy of their New Zealand passport or a copy of
their certificate of citizenship. All candidates did so prior to the close of nominations.
The Electoral Commission does not hold information on whether any of the above candidates have
dual citizenship.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Official Information Act to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the response to your request.
Yours sincerely
Kristina Temel
Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140 | 0800 36 76 56
