Citizens initiated referendums Referendums in New Zealand

1 citizens initiated referendums

1.1 firefighters
1.2 1999 election
1.3 parental corporal punishment
1.4 opponents of citizens initiated referendums
1.5 table of petitions , referendums

citizens initiated referendums

the citizens initiated referenda act 1993 allows citizens propose referendum. these non-binding referendums on issue in proponents have submitted petition parliament signed ten percent of registered electors within 12 months. there 3,070,847 on electoral roll 2011 general election, organisers need gather @ least 307,085 signatures @ average rate of 842 signatures per day, although in reality, organisers need collect closer 340,000 signatures allow variances in electoral roll numbers, duplicate signatures , signatures cannot matched registered elector. costs nz$500 file petition asking referendum clerk of house of representatives. clerk formally determines wording of question, may quite different original.

once clerk receives completed petition, number of signatures counted, followed sample groups of signatures being taken , signatories names , addresses checked against electoral roll. sampling of signatures used estimate number of valid signatures whole petition confidence, , if lower confidence interval more ten percent of electoral roll, petition presented house of representatives.

within 1 month of petition s presentation house, date poll must determined. poll must held within 12 months of petition s presentation, unless 75 percent of mps vote delay poll 1 year. there $50,000 spending limit on promoting petition.

new zealand, italy, , switzerland countries laws allow citizen-initiated referendums (cirs) nationally. defenders view form of direct democracy however, citizens initiated referendum 1993 went against advice of royal commission on electoral system 1986. commission stated in general, initiatives , referendums blunt , crude devices.... [that] blur lines of accountability , responsibility of governments .

a total of 33 petitions have been launched since 1993 on wide range of topics. 4 (one in 1995, 2 in 1999, 1 in 2008) have come vote. other petitions failed gain enough signatures force referendum. achieving target number of signatures requirement forcing vote on initiative proposed citizens.

firefighters

the first citizens initiated referendum held on 2 december 1995. question should number of professional fire-fighters employed full-time in new zealand fire service reduced below number employed on 1 january 1995? aimed elicit no response. turnout low referendum not held in conjunction general election. on 12% voted yes , 88% voted no.

1999 election

at 1999 election 2 referendums put before voters. 1 on whether number of members of parliament should reduced 120 99. electors overwhelmingly voted in favour of proposal, 81.47% voting proposal. however, there no moves amend electoral act 1993 in line result until 2006 when bill introduced new zealand first mp barbara stewart reduce size of parliament 100. bill passed first reading, 61 votes 60 , referred select committee. select committee returned recommending bill not passed, citing reasons including public misconception on mmp voting system, population growth, , international comparability. bill subsequently voted down 112 9 @ second reading.

the other referendum held in 1999 asked should there reform of our justice system placing greater emphasis on needs of victims, providing restitution , compensation them , imposing minimum sentences , hard labour serious violent offences? . measure passed 91.78%.

parental corporal punishment

following submission of petition on 22 august 2008, clerk of house verified parliament threshold cir had been reached. supporters hoping referendum held alongside 8 november general election, decided parliament hold referendum postal ballot between 31 july , 21 august 2009.

the question asked should smack part of parental correction criminal offence in new zealand?

voter turnout 56.1 percent. while 87.4 percent of votes answered no , question drew widespread criticism public, parliament, , prime minister john key being loaded question , use of value-judgement .

opponents of citizens initiated referendums

the perceived lack of implementation of successful referendums has led calls such referendums made binding on government of day, similar direct democracy said exist in switzerland. act new zealand, family first new zealand, sensible sentencing trust , kiwi party advocate binding referendums. however, kiwi party president larry baldock failed submit enough signatures petition might have led non-binding referendum on whether or not binding citizens referenda should introduced after being granted permission circulate petition calling innovation, status quo remains. although kiwi party applied deregistration, cause has been taken conservative party of new zealand , leader, colin craig.

by contrast, gaynz.com has run articles critical of cir lobby, expressing concerns cirs abused strip vulnerable minorities of legislative protections, has occurred referendums against same-sex marriage in united states , similar proposals target illegal immigrants in country. in new zealand media outlets, minaret controversy in switzerland has been cited 1 current example of anti-minoritarian abuse of citizens referendum process.

even amongst conservatives, issue has become contentious. maxim institute has announced opposition binding citizens referendums, citing adverse fiscal management consequences have ensued in state of california in recent paper richard ekins, university of auckland legal academic.

during 2009, there additional criticism prominent new zealand legal academics, such andrew geddis , bridget fenton @ otago university. argue cirs no substitute more deliberative processes within existing framework of representative democracy, such joining political parties, protest marches, voting within general elections , parliamentary select committee submissions. current new zealand prime minister john key opposes binding referendums on fiscal grounds, noting california s contradictory tax cap , public spending referendums have made state fiscal management chaotic.

table of petitions , referendums

the following table lists petition questions lodged clerk of house 1993 2014.

the 1999 referendums held in conjunction 1999 general election, have played role in high proportion of voters.