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Electoral Commission chief executive Helena Catt says commission members are divided over whether party logos can be regarded as an election advertisement under the new definition in the Electoral Finance Act.
But she disputes claims by National deputy leader Bill English that she suggested logos were advertisements needing authorisation during a private meeting of political parties in the Speaker's office last week.
"What he said we said is not what we said and we have not yet received Crown Law opinion on the relationship between logos and election advertisements," Dr Catt said.
"We are aware that this is a pressing issue but it is not an easy issue so we have to work through differing views."
The Chief Electoral Officer, Robert Peden, was also at the Speaker's office meeting.
Dr Catt said while it was desirable that the Chief Electoral Office, which regulates candidates' election advertising, and the Electoral Commission, which regulates parties' advertising, held the same view about logos, it was possible that they could differ.
Both receive advice from Crown Law but Mr Peden is a single statutory officer.
Dr Catt is the chief executive of a statutory commission comprised of Justice Andrew McGechan; Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court, Joe Williams; the Secretary for Justice: Belinda Clark; and Dr Catt herself.
She said: "It is fair to say there are some differences of opinion among commissioners and that is what we are working through and why it is taking some time."
That is what she said at the meeting of MPs.
