Broadcasting Allocations

The Electoral Commission has made its broadcasting allocations. I blogged on these a few weeks ago. These are called interim allocations as if a small party fails to register, then their allocation is reallocated. This has a minor effect at best.

As expected National and Labour got the same amount – $1,000,000 each. Last time Labour got $1.1 and National $0.9.

Tier 2 sees the Greens, Maori Party and NZ First all get $240,000 each. I think that is somewhat unfair on the Greens who clearly have polled well above the other two parties.

Tier 3 are the three other parliamentary parties of ACT, Progressive and United Future who get $100,000 each,

Tier 4 has 11 non parliamentary parties getting $10,000 of broadcast time $7,000 of production costs for their one minute opening addresses.

The Libertarianz are getting the production costs only, as they said they would not spend any money allocated to them.

So how much extra or less does each parliamentary party get compared to 2005’s initial allocation?

1. National from $900,000 to $1,000,000 = +$100,000
2. Labour from $1,100,000 to $1,000,000 = -$100,000
3. Maori Party from $125,000 to $240,000 = +$115,000
4. ACT from $200,000 to $100,000 = -$100,000
5. NZ First from $200,000 to $240,000 = +$40,000
6. United Future from $200,000 to $100,000 = -$100,000
7. Greens from $200,000 to $240,000 = +$40,000
8. Progressive from $75,000 to $100,000 = +$25,000

Most of the changes can be explained away by a party having done better or worse in the last election than in 2002, or registering higher or lower in the polls. But there are two exceptions. Let’s look at each in turn:

1. National – doubled vote in 2005 and currently high in polls so increase makes sense
2. Labour – 2005 vote much the same as 2002 but down in the polls so decrease makes sense
3. Maori Party – had no MPs before 2005 so the increase makes sense as they have won four seats now.
4. ACT – lost MPs in 2005, so the decrease makes sense
5. NZ First – went from 13 MPs in 2002 to seven MPs in 2005 and have dropped to under 3% in the polls, so the increase does not make sense. NZ First have been very lucky.
6. United Future – lost MPs in 2005, so the decrease makes sense
7. Greens – lost one or two MPs in 2005, but have been up in the polls so the small gain makes sense.
8. Progressive – went from two to one MP and are at 0% in most polls – so the increase does not make sense

So NZ First and the Progressives have got extra money despite doing far worse in the last election and in subsequent polls. So they will be very happy with the result, while Greens will be fairly unhappy.