Cash for Candidates: How to spend it

Electioneering can cost a fair bit of money, but there are controls in place. (Image: NZME)

Tue, 08 Aug 2023

This article is part of our Cash for Candidates series. Read more here. If New Zealand has a national pastime beyond rugby, then it's surely the trans-Tasman comparison. While on most things this yields only marginal differences, there is one area where NZ and Australia have gone down very different paths: election spending.NZ has election spending limits that cover the election period and has had regulations on spending for individual candidates stretching back two centuries.Australia has no spending limits on federal election c...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

NZX up late as Infratil rallies on datacentre deal

The S&P/NZX 50 Index closed up 0.61% or 81.70 points to 13,389.10.

Tom Raynel 16 Oct 2025

Markets

Jarden says Eroad shareprice has raced ahead of fundamentals

Jarden estimated Eroad’s rerating has added $235 million to its market value.

Gregor Thompson 16 Oct 2025

Jarden says Eroad shareprice has raced ahead of fundamentals

Primary Sector

John Nichol appointed chair of PGG Wrightson

Agria has shed some light on why it voted the way it did.

Riley Kennedy 16 Oct 2025

John Nichol appointed chair of PGG Wrightson

Sponsored

NZ stakes claim in data future

Hosting data onshore with Snowflake boost trusts, speed and sovereignty.

Snowflake

Sponsored

Diversification has never been more important, says award-winning fund manager

Harbour Asset Management

More Politics

News in Brief

Jim Bolger, New Zealand’s 35th Prime Minister, dies, aged 90

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger has died aged 90.His family said he died peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by his nine children, 18 grandchildren and wife Joan.“Over the period of his illness, Jim and the family have greatly appreciated the support and companionship of so many...

Staff reporters 16 Oct 2025