Authorised by: Miriam Ross, Level 5, 108 The Terrace, Wellington.
This message contains information that is confidential and which may be subject to
privilege. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient you are hereby notified
that any use, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this message is prohibited. If
you have received this message in error, please notify me immediately by telephone or by
return email. Thank you.
From:
Kristina Temel
To:
Miriam Ross
Cc:
Dean
Subject:
RE: question about unauthorised Green Party advert
Date:
Monday, 7 April 2025 4:49:20 pm
Attachments:
image001.jpg
Yes that is right.
Nga mihi
Kristina
Kristina Temel | Manager, Legal Regulation and Policy |
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34 – 42 Manners Street
| Wellington
| 6140
Phone +
| vote.nz | elections.nz
From: Miriam Ross <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 7 April 2025 4:03 pm
To: Kristina Temel <
@elections.govt.nz>
Cc: Dean
@elections.govt.nz>
Subject: Re: question about unauthorised Green Party advert
EXTERNAL EMAIL WARNING: Do not open any
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phishing attacks, check the sender address. Always report emails you are not certain are safe.
Kia ora Kristina
thanks for getting back to me. Just to check I have got this correct:
The adverts are an election advert but they are not considered an election advert 'for' the Green Party which means
they can have their own promoter statement?
Ngā mihi nui,
Miriam Ross (she/her)
General Manager
GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
Phone 04 888 2443 | Mobile
Email [email address] | Web www.greens.org.nz
Level 5, 108 The Terrace, Wellington
On Mon, 7 Apr 2025 at 15:57, Kristina Temel <
@elections.govt.nz> wrote:
Kia ora Miriam,
Thanks for getting in touch.
We have assessed the billboards, and our view is that they are election advertisements. An election
advertisement must include a promoter statement with the promoter’s name and street address in accordance
with section 204F of the Electoral Act. The billboards contain promoter statements that meet the requirements
of the Act.
Section 204H of the Act requires a third party promoter to have obtained the prior written authorisation of the
party secretary to publish an advertisement that may reasonably be regarded as encouraging or persuading
voters to vote for a party. Based on the overall content and context of the billboards our view is that they may
reasonably be regarded as encouraging or persuading voters not to vote for the Green Party. Accordingly, prior
written authorisation from you as the party secretary is not required.
The Commission does not regulate the content of election advertising. You may wish to contact the Advertising
Standards Authority if you have concerns about the content of the billboards complying with advertising
standards. You may also wish to seek your own legal advice about the use of your advertising graphics.
Ngā mihi
Kristina
Kristina Temel | Manager, Legal Regulation and Policy |
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34 – 42 Manners Street
| Wellington
| 6140
Phone +
| vote.nz | elections.nz
From: Miriam Ross <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 7 April 2025 1:08 pm
To: Kristina Temel <
@elections.govt.nz>; Dean
<
@elections.govt.nz>
Subject: question about unauthorised Green Party advert
EXTERNAL EMAIL WARNING: Do not open any
attachments or
links until you are certain they are safe.
Beware of
phishing attacks, check the sender address. Always report emails you are not certain are safe.
Kia ora
I was hoping I might be able to get a call with one of you this afternoon about an unauthorised Green Party
advert. Effectively what has happened today is that the Sensible Sentencing Trust has copied our Tamatha Paul
Green Party General Election advert, with some modifications, and put their own authorisation statement on it.
They have then advertised this on a large billboard site on Bowen St. Both adverts clearly state "Vote Green." My
understanding is that a third party is not allowed to authorise a Green Party advert without my permission? It
would be great to talk through if possible -
Ngā mihi nui,
Miriam Ross (she/her)
General Manager
GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
Phone 04 888 2443 | Mobile
Email [email address] | Web www.greens.org.nz
Level 5, 108 The Terrace, Wellington
Authorised by: Miriam Ross, Level 5, 108 The Terrace, Wellington.
This message contains information that is confidential and which may be subject to privilege. If the reader of this
message is not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or
reproduction of this message is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify me
immediately by telephone or by return email. Thank you.
Authorised by: Miriam Ross, Level 5, 108 The Terrace, Wellington.
This message contains information that is confidential and which may be subject to privilege. If the reader of this
message is not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or
reproduction of this message is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify me
immediately by telephone or by return email. Thank you.
From:
Dean
To:
Kristina Temel; Clare
Cc:
Natalie
Subject:
RE: question about unauthorised Green Party advert
Date:
Monday, 7 April 2025 2:16:00 pm
Hi Kristina and Clare,
How about the below for a reply? As I am heading of
Natalie can send the reply if I am not here.
Cheers
Dean
Kia ora Miriam,
Thanks for getting in touch.
We have assessed the billboards, and our view is that they are election advertisements. An
election advertisement must include a promoter statement with the promoter’s name and
street address in accordance with section 204F of the Electoral Act. The billboards contain
promoter statements that meet the requirements of the Act.
Section 204H of the Act requires a third party promoter to have obtained the prior written
authorisation of the party secretary to publish an advertisement that may reasonably be
regarded as encouraging or persuading voters to vote for a party. Based on the content of
the billboards [do we want to elaborate or say why its negative, for example, they are
intended to be mocking of the Greens etc?], our view is that they do not encourage or
persuade voters to vote for the Green Party. Accordingly, prior authorisation from you as
the party secretary is not required.
Regarding your concerns about the third party promoter using your advertising graphics, we
don’t regulate the content of election advertisements, meaning we cannot help with issues
like factual accuracy, offensiveness, or misleading advertising. If you are unhappy with the
content of the billboards, you may wish to contact the Advertising Standards Authority or
seek or your own legal advice.
From: Miriam Ross <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 7 April 2025 1:08 pm
To: Kristina Temel <
@elections.govt.nz>; Dean
<
@elections.govt.nz>
