New Zealand attorney general warns her government’s electoral reform could breach human rights law
Guardian1 day
New Zealand Attorney General Warns Electoral Reforms May Breach Bill of Rights
Above: Judith Collins, New Zealand’s attorney general, at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, on May 31, 2025. Image copyright: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The New Zealand government's reforms are essential to bring electoral laws up to date. If the current system is allowed to continue, the strain on the nation's electoral system will become ever greater, jeopardizing the government's commitment to the 20-day deadline. The enrollment changes will ensure that New Zealand's elections will continue on a sustainable footing.
Government-critical narrative
The government's latest legislation threatens to undermine New Zealand's democracy. The changes could effectively disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters while stripping prisoners of their inalienable democratic rights. The right to vote must be defended for all, with the only reforms being those tackling the specter of big money haunting New Zealand's politics.