[M-Squared]

Hi all,

Very silly question probably... If Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs have been tax residents in NZ for over a year before the elections, but have held PR for less than a year, are they eligible to vote?

Ta. :)

[jackie m]

Hi

I'm sure you have to have been in the country 12 months & you can vote. If you get an information pack through the post there is a number on there they will confirm it either way for you.

Jackie

[Tanya]

Eligibility - General
How do I know if I am eligible to enrol?
Basically, you are qualified to enrol if:

you are 18 years or older
you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and
you have lived in New Zealand for one year or more without leaving the country
There are some restrictions. These are listed on the enrolment form. You can pick up the form called "Enrolling to vote: Application" from your nearest New Zealand PostShop which you can fill in and leave at the counter or send back freepost. Or, phone us free on 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56) or send your name and address to Freetext 3676, and we will post the form out to you.

[migratory birds]

Hmmm, it was my understanding that, with PR, I was eligible to vote the moment I stepped off the plane. Even asked my CO about it (if I'd be eligible to vote with PR) - her response was 'yes' but perhaps she didn't give me all the details!

[craig1234564]

when is the election anyway?

[peebles16]

We got papers through from NZ Electoral Office soon after we arrived in rental. We checked criteria and realised we didn't meet it cos hadn't been in NZ for more than one year so ignored them. NZ office chased us so we gave them a call and they confirmed that we wouldn't be able to vote till next year. Electionn is in November me thinks :)

Karenx

[James 1077]

Oddly enough the rules are if you have EVER lived in New Zealand for a year. I'm a Kiwi who was born here and lived here for the first three years of my life. Which means that I'm allowed to vote now that I've returned 27 years later.

If I hadn't been born here, or if my parents had left before my first birthday, then I wouldn't be allowed to vote in the upcoming elections - even though I would still be a Kiwi living in NZ.

Oh, and when I enrolled I had to do it at the address that I last lived in for more than a month - so that was our address in Bulls from 27 years ago! Now that we've been in our Auckland place for over a month I've changed it but it was a bit strange asking my parents to try and remember our Bulls address!

[Alive&Kicking]

when is the election anyway?

There is no date set yet, but most probably end of November or early December - Helen Clark is still making up her mind on what would be the right timing.

[M-Squared]

Thanks all for the replies. I wonder how far ahead of the election (when they eventually decide when it is) you have to register to be eligible. If I can't register until mid-October, then I need to make sure the elections office knows that. They've sent us a couple of enrollment forms but I had no idea if we were eligible or not.

[craig1234564]

what are the indications in the polls for this election? a change of government?
plus what would this mean for people applying to come to NZ should we get our applications in sharpish?

[kanatakiwi]

There is no date set yet, but most probably end of November or early December - Helen Clark is still making up her mind on what would be the right timing.

The law requires the election be held by November 15. The Prime Minister can call the election earlier than that but voting day must be by Nov. 15.

It will be an interesting election.... polls are almost useless in this country as such a high percentage of people do not have land lines, so the polling results are quite skewed.

[mgbridges]

Hmmm... very confusing! We were sent enrolment forms so we filled them in, sent them back and received confirmations to say we were now on the register. We even had a 'reminder' confirmation form just recently to reconfirm our details.

However, although we have PR we haven't been in the country for 12mths yet but we will have been if election day happens after 11th August.

Don't know if we'll be eligible or not - anyone know the answer?

Anneliese

[Tanya]

May be worth a call?!

(0800 36 76 56)

Tanya

[James 1077]

what are the indications in the polls for this election? a change of government?
plus what would this mean for people applying to come to NZ should we get our applications in sharpish?

Polls are as rubbish as everywhere else but if you believe them then we'll have a change of government to the Nationals (NZ equivalent of Tories).

Not sure what this will mean for immigration though as I don't think that there is the same anti-immigration feeling over here (mainly due to the points system ensuring only top-notch immigrants come in! :D)

[dharder]

mainly due to the points system ensuring only top-notch immigrants come in! :D)

plus the riff raff that is partnered to a Kiwi :)

Daniela

[Jo Jo]

plus the riff raff that is partnered to a Kiwi :)

Daniela

:D