SNAP NZ election to be held on Sept. 20, PM Key says

Monday 10th March 2014

New Zealand's general election will be held on Sept. 20 with the incumbent National-led administration seeking a third term in office.

Prime Minister John Key announced the date at his post-Cabinet weekly conference. There had been speculation Key would go to the polls before the November G-20 global leaders' meeting in Brisbane, to which New Zealand has been invited by host country Australia.

Under the Electoral Act, the latest date for the election would be around mid-January, but conventional wisdom dictates that is a terrible time to hold a general election. Voters are likely to be disengaged or antagonised by an election at that time and too many voters would be out of their normal electorates on holiday, which would require them to cast special votes, and would likely affect voter turnout.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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