Act keeps membership under wraps

Act is refusing to disclose its party membership numbers to the Electoral Commission - even in confidence - because the party fears it will be leaked to opponents.
This is despite the numbers being one of the criteria the commission must use to allocate money and time for party broadcasts this election.

The refusal puts them out on a limb. Most other parties have either disclosed in public submissions or told the commission in confidence their membership figures.

At a public hearing yesterday, commission members asked Act to reconsider. Party president Catherine Judd said later she would weigh up the request but did not think it was a reasonable measure of party support anyway.

The Government representative, former Labour Cabinet minister David Caygill, asked Act to disclose the figure confidentially. He pointed out the commission could only act within the criteria which included indications of public support such as polling and membership.

Ms Judd told the Herald later that membership of political parties was declining across the western world and it was not a reasonable measure of support.

She pointed to other indicators of Act's support, such as the 40,000-plus who had requested to be enrolled as members, supporters or mailing list recipients.

Commission chief executive Helena Catt said membership figures given confidentially would stay confidential..

Labour said its membership was 48,609 at March 11, which included a "significant" rise in membership through affiliate unions.

The Maori Party said its membership was 13,500, the Green Party had 3027 members at December 31, 2004 and 1845 had paid up to join United Future in the past 12 months. National and NZ First wanted their membership kept confidential.