Human Rights, The Treaty of Waitangi and Governance | Institute of Policy Studies | Victoria University Wellington
 

The Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns Symposium

Held on Friday 15 June in the Hunter Building Council Chamber, Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington

The IPS, in collaboration with Transparency International (NZ), held a symposium on 15 June 2007 on the subject of the funding of political parties and election campaigns at Victoria University. Attended by about 70 people, the symposium was chaired by Dr Paul Harris (the former chief executive of the Electoral Commission) and included presentations by a range of academics, party spokespersons and other experts in the field. Amongst the various papers presented by an excellent overview of Australian policy and practice in relation to political finance by Dr JooCheong Tham from the Law School at Melbourne University. This paper, together with other formal contributions, have been placed on the
IPS website. It had been intended that the symposium would provide an opportunity for discussion about the government's legislative proposals for reforming the system of political finance in New Zealand but for various reasons the government's proposals have yet to be published. A further IPS/TINZ event may be held later in the year once the nature and extent of the proposed reforms is clearer.

Speakers include:
Dr Paul Harris (former CE Electoral Commission)
Dr Helen Catt (CE Electoral Commission)
Dr Joo-Cheong Tham (Melbourne Law School)
Associate Professor Raymond Miller (Auckland University Politics Department)
Associate Professor Andrew Geddis (Otago Law School)
Steven Joyce (Former  National Party General Manager)
Richard Northey ( former Labour MP and former Chair of the Electoral Law Select Committee)

Perspectives from party presidents were also be heard:
New Zealand First – Doug Woolerton
Greens – Dr Russell Norman
Māori Party – Whatarangi Winiata
United – Murray Smith
Act – Gary Mallett
National – Judy Kirk
Labour – Mike Williams

The symposium was strongly endorsed by as an important step in ensuring transparency in our electoral system by; The Rt. Hon. Dame Silvia Cartwright – Former Governor General; The Rt. Hon. Mike Moore – Former Prime Minister and Director General of the World Trade Organisation; The Hon. Doug  Kidd – Former Speaker of the House of Parliament; The Rt. Hon. Sir Douglas Graham – Former Minister of Justice and of Treaty Settlements; The Hon. Russell Marshall – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Education; and The Rt. Hon. Edward Thomas - Former Judge of the Court of Appeal and former Acting Judge of the Supreme Court.  A press release of this backing is available to download here         

Downloads

A copy of the programme pdf

Dr Joo-Cheong Tham (Melbourne Law School)
Draft paper - Lessons from a 'Relaxed and Comfortable' Country: Money and politics in Australia (or how not to regulate political finance)
Powerpoint presentation - Lessons from a 'Relaxed and Comfortable' Country: Money and politics in Australia (or how not to regulate political finance)