Media Statement

Clerk of the House receives referendum proposal

Mary Harris, Clerk of the House of Representatives, has received a proposal to promote an indicative referendum petition under the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993 (the CIR Act). The proposal is from Larry Baldock, and the wording of the question proposed to be put to voters in an indicative referendum is:

“Should Citizens Initiated Referenda seeking to repeal or amend a law be binding?”

Under the CIR Act, the Clerk of the House is now inviting comment on this wording. Comment should focus on the criteria set out in section 10 of the CIR Act: the wording of the question should be such as to—

• convey clearly the purpose and effect of the indicative referendum, and

• ensure that only one of two answers may be given to the question.

Anyone wishing to comment must send three written copies to:

The Clerk of the House of Representatives
Parliament House
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

The deadline for comments on the wording of the question is 5pm on Friday, 16 October 2009.

Further information about citizens initiated referenda proposals may be found at http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/GetInvolved/Referendum/

MARY HARRIS, Clerk of the House of Representatives.

15 September 2009

ENDS

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