KEY POINTS:
Labour and National are getting equal air time to try to win the hearts and minds of voters before this year's election.
The Election Commission yesterday announced the broadcasting allocation of money and free air time on state television and radio for political parties.
The two major parties get $1 million each, 12 minutes for opening addresses and six minutes for closing addresses. The Green, Maori and New Zealand First parties get $240,000 each plus eight and three minutes for their addresses.
Act, Progressive and United Future each get $100,000 in funding and four and three minutes for their addresses. Ten non-parliamentary parties will get $10,000 plus a production package for the opening address worth more than $7000.
The parties plus the Libertarianz (who said they would not spend the money so were not granted any) would each get one minute to have their say. The allocation is based on share of votes, seats, membership and support in opinion polls.
The order of opening addresses is: Labour, National, Greens, NZ First, Maori, Act, United Future, Progressive, followed by the non-parliamentary parties. The order for closing addresses is reversed.
- NZPA
