8 July 2026
John Luke
By email to:
[FYI request #34992 email]
Kia ora John
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 2026/45
On Sunday, 28 June 2026, you made a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA) for
the following information:
1. Copies of the nomination documents submitted by Lyra Yan Zhang for the election. I note
that she previously stood for election to the Porirua City Council under the name "Yan
Zhang", and I am seeking the nomination documents submitted for her current candidacy.
2. Copies of any conflict of interest declarations or disclosures that she has provided to the
Electoral Commission as part of her candidacy.
3. Copies of any declaration relating to bankruptcy, if such a declaration was required or
provided as part of the nomination process.
4. Copies of any name change certificate or other supporting documentation provided to
verify a change of name.
I also understand that Ms Zhang is reportedly a member of the Chinese Zhi Gong Party. In
this regard, I would also like to request information on the Electoral Commission's policies or
guidance concerning candidates who are members of a foreign political party. Specifically:
Does the Electoral Commission have any policy, rule, or legal requirement that prevents or
restricts a member of a foreign political party from standing as a candidate in a New Zealand
election?
1. Copies of the nomination documents submitted by Lyra Yan Zhang for the election. I note that she
previously stood for election to the Porirua City Council under the name "Yan Zhang", and I am
seeking the nomination documents submitted for her current candidacy.
The Electoral Commission has not received any nomination documents from any candidates for the
2026 General Election, so this aspect of your request is declined under section 18(e) of the OIA.
Nominations for candidates standing at the 2026 General Election do not open until Monday 7
September 2026.
2. Copies of any conflict of interest declarations or disclosures that she has provided to the Electoral
Commission as part of her candidacy.
Please refer to our response to question 1.
Electoral Commission
Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Telephone 0800 36 76 56
www.vote.nz | www.elections.nz
3. Copies of any declaration relating to bankruptcy, if such a declaration was required or provided as
part of the nomination process.
Please refer to our response to question 1.
4. Copies of any name change certificate or other supporting documentation provided to verify a
change of name.
Please refer to our response to question 1.
I would also like to request information on the Electoral Commission's policies or guidance
concerning candidates who are members of a foreign political party. Specifically: Does the Electoral
Commission have any policy, rule, or legal requirement that prevents or restricts a member of a
foreign political party from standing as a candidate in a New Zealand election?
The rules for who can stand as a candidate at a parliamentary election are provided in the Electoral
Act 1993. There is no requirement for a candidate to declare whether they are or have been a
member of a foreign political party.
To stand as a candidate, the key legal requirements are that the person:
• is a New Zealand citizen,
• is a registered elector.
The Electoral Commission’s guidance on standing as a candidate is available on the elections.nz
website
: Becoming a candidate in the 2026 General Election | Elections NZ.
In the interests of transparency, we release responses to Official Information Act requests every 3
months. We will publish this response with your personal details redacted.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the OIA to make a complaint to the Ombudsman if you are
not satisfied with the response to your request. Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Natalie McNaught
Manager, Legal, Regulation and Policy
Electoral Commission
Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street, PO Box 3220, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Telephone 0800 36 76 56
www.vote.nz | www.elections.nz
