Electoral Review Expert Panel

NEWS RELEASE
5 September 2008

Expert Panel welcomes input

The members of the Electoral Review Expert Panel announced today by Justice Minister Annette King are committed to an independent, non-partisan and open approach, welcoming input from everyone with an interest in democracy.

The three members of the Panel are Associate Professor Andrew Geddis of the University of Otago, Professor Stephen Levine of Victoria University and Dr Jean Drage of Canterbury and Victoria Universities. Each is an academic with a strong, well respected background of research and publication in the areas of elections, participation and representation.

The Panel Chair, Andrew Geddis says the Panel will provide recommendations that will support future consideration of electoral process and law by the Ministry of Justice.

The Panel will work to the terms of reference announced by the Minister, which includes the convening of a Citizen’s Forum, with representation from each electorate,

Andrew Geddis says the initial part of the project will focus on studying the work of New Zealand’s electoral agencies as this is best done during an election campaign.

“Any recommendations relating to electoral finance regulation will reflect the views of those ordinary voters participating in the Citizen's Forum, with our role simply being to provide that Forum with the information it needs to reach a fully informed decision”.

Note

Details of the Panel and its Terms of Reference are in the announcement made by the Minister of Justice, Hon Annette King on 5 September 2008.

The Panel will be supported administratively by the Department of Internal Affairs and will make decisions and recommendations independently of Government.

A website, www.expertpanel.govt.nz is being established to hold relevant material.

ENDS

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