ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced new election date on October 17, giving political parties a tentative nine-week times after Auckland moves out of Alert Level 3.
3rd October: Advance voting begins
Parliament will reconvene tomorrow.
The dissolution of Parliament will now take place on 6 September and 3 October is when advanced voting will begin.
“The Electoral Commission, via the Ministry of Justice, has advised me that a safe and accessible election is achievable on this date. This short delay gives the Commission more time to prepare including freeing up facilities for early voting during school holidays,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“Moving the date by four weeks also gives all parties a fair shot to campaign and delivers New Zealanders certainty without unnecessarily long delays.
“With the re-emergence of Covid-19 in our community these are not ordinary times and so while the decision as to the election date sits with me, I spoke with all party leaders to seek their views.
Prime Minister has ruled out any future change one election date regardless of any potential Covid-19 related situation.
“Covid will be with us for some time to come. Continuously pushing out an election does not lessen the risk of disruption and this is why the Electoral Commission has planned for the possibility of holding an election where the country is at Level 2, and with some parts at Level 3.
“I will not change the election date again," Ardern said.
More to come
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced new election date on October 17, giving political parties a tentative nine-week times after Auckland moves out of Alert Level 3.
3rd October: Advance voting begins
Parliament will reconvene tomorrow.
The dissolution of Parliament will now take place on 6...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced new election date on October 17, giving political parties a tentative nine-week times after Auckland moves out of Alert Level 3.
3rd October: Advance voting begins
Parliament will reconvene tomorrow.
The dissolution of Parliament will now take place on 6 September and 3 October is when advanced voting will begin.
“The Electoral Commission, via the Ministry of Justice, has advised me that a safe and accessible election is achievable on this date. This short delay gives the Commission more time to prepare including freeing up facilities for early voting during school holidays,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“Moving the date by four weeks also gives all parties a fair shot to campaign and delivers New Zealanders certainty without unnecessarily long delays.
“With the re-emergence of Covid-19 in our community these are not ordinary times and so while the decision as to the election date sits with me, I spoke with all party leaders to seek their views.
Prime Minister has ruled out any future change one election date regardless of any potential Covid-19 related situation.
“Covid will be with us for some time to come. Continuously pushing out an election does not lessen the risk of disruption and this is why the Electoral Commission has planned for the possibility of holding an election where the country is at Level 2, and with some parts at Level 3.
“I will not change the election date again," Ardern said.
More to come
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