Portal:New Zealand/Selected article/Week 41, 2006

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Referendums (or referenda) are held only occasionally by the government of New Zealand. Eleven referendums have been held so far (excluding referendums on alcohol licensing, which were held triennially until 1989).

The government may call referendums on any issues on which it wishes. These will usually be on issues on which the government is split. For the 1997 referendum on retirement savings, the decision to hold it was part of the coalition agreement between National and New Zealand First.

The Citizens' Initiated Referenda Act 1993 allows for citizens to propose a referendum. These are non-binding referenda on any issue in which proponents have submitted a petition to Parliament signed by 10% of all registered electors within 12 months. It costs NZ$500 to file a petition asking for a referendum with the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Normally, the poll must be held within 12 months. There is also a $50,000 spending limit on promoting the petition.