2023 General Election
Election signs in the Taupō District
If you want to put up election signs for the general election you need to be aware of the rules: Local councils are responsible for regulating when, where and how election signs can be displayed.
In the 9 weeks before election day (from Saturday 12 August for the 2023 General Election) the Electoral Act says you can have election signs that are up to 3 square metres in size.
This applies wherever you are in New Zealand, but you’ll still need to follow your local council’s application processes and rules about where you can put them up and how many you can have.
The ‘9 week rule’ overrides any more restrictive local authority rules about the size of signs and when they can go up. However, local authority rules about the location and density of signs and any application procedures to put up election or referendum signs will still apply.
For 2023 this period begins Saturday 12 August 2023.
These rules are controlled by the Electoral Commission under the Electoral Act
All election signs must:
- Only be displayed within the nine-week period before election day commencing Saturday 12 August 2023
- Be removed before midnight on the day before election day (Friday 13 October 2023)
- Have a promoter statement
- Not be displayed within 10 metres of an advance voting place once voting starts.
Any complaints regarding above are to be redirected to the Electoral Commission.
Candidates need to adhere to the following guidelines:
- Landowner’s consent is needed to erect and site a sign [before sign is erected]
- Signs must have a maximum size of display area of three square metres
- Only one (1) sign per site per candidate is permitted
- Any structures and signs are to be removed if they are considered by Council Enforcement Officers to be unsafe or constitute a traffic hazard
- Signs must comply with the Building Act.
There are no Council reserves, streets or other Council administered property sites available for the siting of signs. This includes land owned by Council but leased to another organisation.
Queries regarding the placement, size, construct, size of lettering or non-compliant hoardings are to be made to Council’s compliance department. Such complaints may result in the sign being removed by Council staff.
Guidelines for Managing Electioneering Signs on State Highways
Waka Kotahi (NZTA) have responsibility for managing electioneering signs on state highways.
Find out more on the Waka Kotahi website
