Increase in election broadcast money first for 15 years

The amount of taxpayer funds to be dished out to political parties for election broadcasting has been increased 54.3 per cent to $3.212 million, but it is the first increase in 15 years.

Small parties, with National and Labour, unanimously agreed to the increase in a select committee report on the last election. Nonetheless, the small parties are crying "stitch-up" and "cronyism" because Labour and National select two representatives to the Electoral Commission that allocates the money.

The two reappointed yesterday were former Labour deputy leader David Caygill as Labour's nominee and business consultant John Isles as the Opposition nominee by National. Mr Isles, a former chairman of Radio New Zealand, was National's Napier candidate in 1975.

Associate Justice Minister Rick Barker yesterday foreshadowed an extensive review of the Electoral Act which, he said, would include the issue of political representation. Under law, the amount parties can spend on broadcasting is capped.

Mr Barker said 15 years was too long a gap and wanted more regular adjustments. The Cabinet would not agree to a select committee call for the increase to be indexed for automatic increases.

In response to a question, he also thought that the review could include the issue of anonymous political donations.

He said the review would include the administrative bodies the Electoral Commission, the Electoral Enrolment Centre and the Chief Electoral Office and whether three were necessary.

Greens co-leader Rod Donald said "letting party hacks divvy up broadcasting money is like asking South Africa and Australia to set the rules for all the teams in the Rugby World Cup".

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he had not been consulted about the appointment - though that was disputed by National. Act leader Rodney Hide called it a "stitch-up".

National MP Tony Ryall said Mr Isles and Mr Caygill supplemented the generally "academic experience" of the others involved in the Electoral Commission allocation.

Parties are limited to spending $1 million, with up to $20,000 for each constituency. Parties cannot use their own money to buy broadcast time but can use extra funds on production.

Party spending

What funding will buy:

* Time on television, radio and production costs

Who decides which parties get what:

* Former High Court judge, Tony Ellis; Secretary for Justice Belinda Clark; Chief Maori Land Court Judge Joe Williams; Electoral Commission chief executive Helena Catt; Labour nominee David Caygill; National nominee John Isles.