JOBS | Accommodation

WIRES:

Scoop >> Politics

NZDF Voting Begins

Wednesday, 29 October 2008, 12:54 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Defence Force

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

NZDF Voting Begins

HMNZS Te Kaha Personnel take time out in Singapore in the New Zealand elections, LTCDR Emma Grant (WEO) in a blur, behind LT Karl Vetter. POET Luke Mason (background). Right, NZ Election Staff

*****

New Zealand Defence Force personnel making up the Kiwi contingent in Timor-Leste have begun voting in the New Zealand election.

Since last week members of the contingent have been given the opportunity to lodge overseas votes ahead of the general election held here in early November. Crew from the frigate Te Kaha have also been able to lodge their votes while passing through Singapore.

Members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan will also be able to lodge their votes well ahead of time to ensure their votes get counted.

Speaking from Timor Leste, Colonel Peter Wood, Deputy Commander of the International Stabilisation Force said, “Soldiers are coming in here, downloading the voting papers from the computer and then faxing the response back to New Zealand. There’s no voting station in Dili, so this is the solution we’ve come to.”

Private April Wright, 3 Logistics Battalion in Burnham, downloads her voting documents from the internet in the Kiwi Lines – Dili, East Timor. A driver with NZ National Support Element in Kiwi Company, it’s Pte Wright’s first overseas vote.

*****

Sergeant Marian Anderson says, “I think that voting online is a very practical way to vote in our environment.”

New Zealand currently has 876 Defence Force personnel in 14 missions and deployments around the world with 187 of those presently serving in Timor Leste.

ENDS

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

Parliament Today:

Gordon Campbell: On The Law Commission Plan To Scrap Jury Trials

Chances are, scrapping the system of trial by jury is not the top priority for most New Zealanders. Not many of us woke up this morning and felt dead keen on dumping our centuries-old right to be tried by a jury of our peers, while yearning to adopt the French system of justice by a judge and a couple of court-appointed experts. More>>

ALSO:

Law Commission - Law Commission Considers Alternative Trial Processes
Direct Link - Alternative Trial Processes Consultation | Law Commission

Scoop Audio & Video: Mondayising Holidays

David Shearer's regular pre-caucus standup. Issues include:SOE Sales, Auckland Council funding & the Labour relationship with Maori. Issue of the day was clearly the Mondayising of holidays - following this was a second standup with First Term MP David Clark. More>>

Scoop Business: Govt’s Answer To A Smaller Public Service: Google It

The government is talking seriously to the global search engine giant Google about providing software services to cut the cost and improve the efficiency of public services, Prime Minister John Key says. More>>

ALSO:

Multimedia - Prime Minister's Press Conference - 13 Feb 2012
Labour - Mindless cost-cutting won’t improve public service
2010 Office of the Privacy Commissioner - Google agrees to protect privacy better
TV3 Video - PM's vision for Smartphones replacing public servants

Urewera Raids: 'Operation 8' Trial Begins

Annemarie Thorby of the October 15 Solidarity Group: Over four years ago in New Zealand, on October 15th 2007, more than 300 police carried out dawn raids on scores of houses... More>>

ALSO:

TV3 Video - Jury chosen for Urewera trial
Martin Doyle - Martin Doyle cartoon: An Unexpected Raid
Wellington October 15th Solidarity Group - Urewera trial start, Crown propaganda begins
2009 image - Bell Murphy October 15th Solidarity - Explosive Expression: Remember State Terror Raids
TV3 Video - Urewera trial set to start today - Urewera firearms trial to begin

Review Launched: Electoral Commission Wants To Hear From The Public On MMP

The Electoral Commission today launches a review of the MMP voting system, and seeks input from the public on possible changes to the way MMP works. More>>

ALSO:

The Scoop Team - MMP Review Launch Presser - Video And Image
NZ Govt - New Zealanders urged to have their say on MMP
Greens - Green Party welcomes MMP Review
Campaign For MMP - MMP: We’ve selected it, now it’s time to perfect it
Voters for Change - Voters for Change welcome MMP review
TV3 Video - Review of MMP underway
Out-Link - MMP Review
Out-Link - It's time to put up or shut up | Pundit

Auckland: Transport Plan Goes On The Road

Aucklanders are being asked how they believe major transport projects should be funded. More>>

ALSO:

Labour - Transport funding needs leadership not nitpicking
Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Auckland mayoral transport funding debate needs innovation
No More Rates - Dump the most liveable city vision
Employers And Manufacturers Association - Realistic funding options critical for Auckland transport
TV3 Video - Footing transport bill sees disagreement in Auckland Supercity

Werewolf Satire: The Other People In Your Neighbourhood

With audio! Under a pile of unused plastic spoons I happened to find an old tin of film. There was no clue as to its contents, and it was just made more mysterious by a note scrawled on the label… More>>

Wellington.Scoop: After protests, Kapiti Mayor Suggests Different CEO Salary System

Mayor Jenny Rowan has raised the concept of a Remuneration Authority for setting Local Government CE salaries in a letter to Local Government New Zealand head Lawrence Yule. More>>