KEY POINTS:
Justice Minister Mark Burton has based New Zealand's election campaign time on Britain's, which has the longest regulated period bar Zimbabwe, says National deputy leader Bill English.
National, having criticised the Government for its proposals over third party advertising, yesterday turned its sights on the January 1 start date of the campaign.
The new legislation would cap at $60,000 spending by third parties during an election year and widen what was considered election advertising.
Mr Burton said the longer campaign period struck a balance between Canada's shorter regulated period but lower relative spending limit, and Britain's longer period and higher relative spending limit, thus positioning New Zealand's electoral system "credibly between the two comparable jurisdictions".
- NZPA
