Hold on affiliated orgs signing up third parties under EFA

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The Electoral Commission is not considering registering unions affiliated to political parties as third parties until a court case finishes.

The High Court at Wellington last week heard arguments over whether the commission should have approved the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) as a third party under the Electoral Finance Act.

Under the Act third parties – organisations which are not political parties – are allowed to spend up to $120,000 on campaign activities.

Justice Alan Mackenzie reserved his decision over whether the commission's decision to register the EPMU as a third party should be cancelled.

Today the commission said it had received applications from two unions with "some affiliation" to the Labour Party.

"Their applications will not be considered until the current court case relating to the listing of the EPMU has been concluded," it said.

At its meeting yesterday a party New World Order was registered and a logo for No Commercial Airport at Whenuapai Airbase was registered.

- NZPA