Referrals to Police (election advertising, 27 September 2023)

The Commission announced two separate referrals to Police relating to election advertising. It referred Rhema Media over election programmes broadcast on radio before the election period, which under section 80I of the Broadcasting Act may be broadcast only during the election period (10 September to 13 October 2023 for this election). A separate referral related to signs promoting Te Pati Maori published without a promoter statement, which section 204F of the Electoral Act requires on an election advertisement. The Commission stated the alleged breaches were with Police and that it would not comment further. These were among several advertising referrals the Commission made during the 2023 cycle.