In a strong attempt to gain exposure to the younger voting audience, the Electoral Commission has begun a prominent campaign of advertising including TV, radio, internet, and almost any other form of advertising you can think of. While it is the Electoral Commission that are determined to convince you to vote, it’s the Electoral Enrolment Centre that facilitates that vote and helps you through the process.

To facilitate your vote, this year the methods of enrolling to vote in the New Zealand Elections have been pushed across a wide variety of different options:

• Enrol online: You can enrol online on the elections.org.nz website. The website also offers frequently asked questions about how to enrol online.
• Enrol by post: You can enrol by post by downloading the enrollment application form, filling it out and sending it by post, fax or dropping it into any PostShop.
• Enrol by text message: There are even options around requesting enrollment application forms via text message from your mobile phone.

For general inquiries about enrolling to vote you can email the Electoral Enrolment Centre on enrol@elections.org.nz or phone 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56).

If you’re deciding who to vote for, you can look for information in the NZS.com New Zealand Political Parties category.

If you hadn’t noticed, it’s election year in 2008. The media, government agencies and the various political parties are really starting to ramp up the election coverage. With a few different sites competing for your attention, here’s a list of some of the key election websites:

1. Elections.org.nz is the official NZ Elections site run by the Electoral Commission. It includes information like how to enrol to vote and how MMP works.
2. Each of the major NZ political parties have a website extolling their virtues and policies which you can find in the political parties category in the NZS.com Directory.
3. Both of the major television networks have election oriented websites with TVNZ running it on their own website (http://tvnz.co.nz/election08) and TV3 launching a dedicated election website (www.decision08.co.nz).
4. There are also a few independent election information websites such as the newly launched VoteMe.co.nz which are yet to be seen to be strongly used by NZ voters.

This year appears to be the one where a good portion of the information gathering and political electioneering is going to be fought for online. The introduction of Helen Clark and John Key Facebook pages are a great example of the changing face of politics.

Image from Flickr.

The 2008 Budget has been released - how do you feel about it?

The New Zealand government announced last week that from October 1 it will introduce tax cuts to the tune of $10.6 billion, but media rife leads us to believe many are still unsatisfied with it.

Giving the average Kiwi $16 extra in the hand each week, the tax cut program was dubbed the “Colby Budget” just hours after it was released - signifying it is merely enough to buy a block of cheese with (what is our obsession with cheese in this country?). The Christchurch Press coyly pointed out that they could not find a block of cheese at the supermarket for more than $12.55, which I found quite amusing.

All workers will benefit from the tax cuts, in particular people working on minimum wage salaries. By 2011, when the final stages of the budget are rolled out, it is estimated that there will be 300,000 taxpayers throughout the country who will no longer face the highest tax bracket: 39%, and will instead fall into the 33% category.

Remember that if you earn above any threshold, only the excess in your wages is taxed at the higher rate, not the entire amount.

Here are the details of the cuts:

Image from Flickr.

The protests that have been rolling through Tibet, since Drepung monks marched from their monastery on March 10, are continuing. By March 18, protests occurred in more than 20 counties throughout Tibet. The Chinese authorities have blocked foreign reporters from Tibetan areas, but despite severe restrictions and the knowledge of reprisals, Tibetans have been successful in transmitting their story to the outside world.

The International Campaign for Tibet called upon world leaders to encourage China to allow journalists and independent observers into Tibet. “To begin to diffuse the present crisis, China should ensure that an accurate account of casualties, arrests and other conditions. Access by journalists and observers is essential to this process,” said John Ackerly, President of the International Campaign for Tibet.

For many years, one of my companies Avatar Web Promotions have been supporting Friends of Tibet (NZ) with hosting and monthly updates. Tibetans have suffered much since the Chinese invasion in 1950 and 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed. In March this year, Tibetans have been pushed over the brink, if you have empathy for Tibet’s plight, then become a member of Friends of Tibet (NZ) for a small contribution of $20.

It’s hard to miss the ramp-up of political posturing in the media as election year starts to wind up into full flight. More than ever this year, it appears that political parties are embracing the Web as an easy communication medium to get their message and often their branding across to voters.

Helen Clark has her own site as the incumbent Prime Minister of New Zealand as does John Key who even has a page on Facebook.

National have their own National Party website a Flickr account and even a YouTube page while Labour appear to be basing their campaign mostly around their main Labour Party website. The Greens have a popular website and the, Maori Party appear to be building their online presence too.

The increasing use of online video from politicians to get their messages direct to the public brings in a new era of political party posturing online.

Last month, the New Zealand government released a new website which provides free public access to online versions of all New Zealand Acts, Bills and Regulations.

This may sound like something which should have been in existence for some time; however, it’s never been done before in New Zealand and is a large step forward for providing open and easy access to legal material for the average New Zealander.

The New Zealand Legislation website is the culmination of the Public Access to Legislation (PAL) project.

One of the key factors in building a site like this is how often it is updated and therefore how correct the details are. In their About Us section, they say new Acts will be updated within five working days of Royal assent; new Regulations on the day after the date they are notified in the Gazette; and new Bills introduced into the House, on the day after introduction.

So, if you’re interested in finding out all the controversial requirements in the Electoral Finance Act 2007 that was recently introduced, you can read it all yourself and you can even download a PDF copy of the Act itself.

Image from Flickr.

We’ve always been proud of our clean human rights record and our ability to stand up for the little guy in any fight. But here’s something that, in the words of ACT MP Rodney Hide, “does away with the fundamental rights of every New Zealander.”

Protests against anti-terror law amendment
Today, hundreds of protesters will descend on Parliament to voice their opposition to anti-terrorism legislation passed yesterday. The hikoi has made its way from Ruatoki, in the Bay of Plenty, the site of police raids on so-called ‘terror suspects’ (those arrested have since faced firearms charges, but all terror charges have since been dropped). While keeping the issue of civil liberty alive, the protesters are too late to halt the passing of the Suppression of Terrorism Act amendment. The legislation passed its third reading yesterday, 108 votes to 13, with the backing of Labour and National. The Greens, ACT and the Maori Party all opposed the legislation.

Does the new terrorism legislation mean gun-toting law enforcers and reduced rights for Kiwis?
Hardly. In a nutshell, the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill:

• Extends the power of the United Nations to designate terrorist entities (this applies both internationally and within New Zealand)
• Makes committing a ‘terrorist act’ an offence under New Zealand law, punishable by life imprisonment
• Removes the ability to defend a charge with the claim that a terrorist entity was funded out of a concern for human rights and democracy

So, are we under threat? And how do new terror laws fit in to the international War on Terror?
The New Zealand Government and Police have been widely criticised for their part in the arrest and interrogation of suspects in Ruatoki, although political comment has claimed that the two issues are separate. Prime Minister Helen Clark said the Bill had to go through for New Zealand “to comply with UN conventions where we have that international obligation.”

Green MP, Keith Locke, said it was false to claim the law was required to bring New Zealand into line with international counterparts. And Solicitor-General David Collins has also failed to support the new law, rejecting the terrorism charges leveled against Ruatoki suspects.

So…
It seems the international War on Terror has been caught up in local racial politicking? The Suppression of Terrorism Act was designed to protect our country (unlikely target that we may be) from international terrorist organisations, such as Al Qaeda, but was used as a somewhat ineffective weapon against local terrrorist wannabes. Incidentally, leaked evidence from the Police case against Ruatoki suspects makes for scary reading.

Stay tuned - this surely won’t be the last we’ll hear on this political issue…

Now, I’m not commenting on recent news items, but the option of buying New Zealand made products is looking more attractive by the day.

You’re probably familiar with the little red and blue kiwi emblem that signals a product is made right here in New Zealand (it’s part of the Buy New Zealand Made programme, which has been running since 1988). And you may have heard rumblings from our government over the last few years about the importance of buying items that are true blue New Zealand made. The government Buy Kiwi Made scheme was formed as part of post-election negotiations between the Labour Party and the Green Party. Around $11.5 million has been spent on supporting manufacturing initiatives and promoting the buying of New Zealand made goods.

If you shop with an eye out for the kiwi, you’ll help:

• Increase our country’s manufacturing capabilities
• Create employment opportunities for New Zealanders
• Build brand loyalty for Kiwi brands
• Reduce consumption of fuel for transport of goods and materials
• Reduce our reliance on imported goods
• Reduce New Zealand’s trade deficit (the value of our imports exceeds the value of our exports)

Buying local starts at home: look for the Buy NZ Made kiwi and ask your local NZ shops to stock New Zealand made goods!

Have you ever worried that the government is losing its transparency or isn’t fully democratic? In a move that will keep the New Zealand public in the political loop, Parliament’s full proceedings are now broadcast live online.

Parliament will be sitting for around 17.5 hours each week, with debates and question time available to view via a number of remote-controlled cameras in the parliamentary chamber. The antics and heated debates of our favourite politicians should make for some good viewing!

This new service doesn’t come free, though, with a price tag of some $4.1 million to set up the broadcast and ongoing costs of $1.7 million every year. The new technology development brings New Zealand up to speed with the rest of the world (60 nations already broadcast similar material).

To watch the live broadcast from Parliament, just visit the site and choose from broadband (high speed / low speed) or dial up connection, make sure you have QuickTime or Windows Media Player, and you’re away laughing. If you’re new to the political game, there’s also provide plenty of information on how Parliament works.

This is a great way to find out what really goes on behind the Beehive doors, so take a minute to tune in…