Know your campaign advertising limit
2026 General Election · figures checked 25 October 2026 · NZ dollars, including GST.
Candidates and parties raise their own funds. VoteMate does not know what any campaign has raised, spent or committed. This calculator uses figures you enter and cannot certify compliance.
The 2026 limits
| Campaign type | Advertising limit |
|---|---|
| Electorate candidate | NZ$36,000 |
| Registered party contesting the party vote | NZ$1,503,000 + NZ$36,000 per electorate contested |
| Unregistered third party promoter | NZ$17,000 |
| Registered third party promoter | NZ$424,000 |
These limits apply to election advertising published in the regulated period, 7 August–6 November 2026. The party formula above is for parties contesting the party vote. A list-only candidate does not receive a separate NZ$36,000 electorate advertising allowance.
Check the Electoral Commission’s current limits →Estimate headroom from your records
Enter known amounts including GST. Use 0 only if you have established that an amount is zero. Include relevant third-party advertising and in-kind value under the applicable rules. Enter each item once; do not count a paid invoice again as a commitment. Your entries stay in this page’s memory and are cleared when you leave or reload.
Complete all three amounts to see an estimate. Blank fields are unknown, not zero.
What a VoteMate charge would mean
A service fee and an election expense are separate questions. A free listing does not by itself establish zero attributable expense. Keep the scope, invoice, delivery dates and any allocation between candidate and party. Obtain the required written advertising authority before publication.
VoteMate’s directory, questionnaire and ordinary candidate-response participation remain free. Optional production work is separate and cannot purchase a better match, placement or publication approval. See the proposed production pilot →
Candidate expense rules · Advertising and authorisation rules
Dates that matter now
- 25 October: final day to enrol for this election.
- 26 October: advance voting begins.
- 6 November: regulated period and campaigning end.
- 7 November: election day; no campaigning.
- 9 March 2027: candidate expense, donation and loan returns due.