FAR and ElectioNZ have received queries about how the referendum process works. Here are some quick FAQ to explain the process.
Why do we need to have a referendum?
FAR was established under the Commodity Levies Act. We have three separate levy orders. They cover Arable Crops, Maize and Cereal Silage. The Act requires FAR to hold a referendum every five or six years, allowing levy payers to vote on whether they would like the three levy orders to be continued. Only growers of the crops covered by each levy order can vote for that order, for example, cereal and seed growers do not get a say on the maize levy order.
Who works out what goes on the voting papers?
As the referendum is governed via an Act of Parliament, the process leading up to and including the voting is formal and rigorous. In making the Levy Order, the Minister of Agriculture needs to know the outcome of a referendum of the members that will be affected by it.
Levy documents are drafted by FAR staff in discussion with our lawyers, the FAR Board and MPI. The questions asked on the voting papers provide the Minister with the necessary information to make an informed decision. Once all groups have approved the documents, they are sent to a group of levy payers for testing. Anything that members of that testing group find difficult to understand is noted and reviewed. Major changes go back into the approval process if required.
Who runs the referendum?
The FAR Referendum process is managed by ElectioNZ.com, an independent company which has managed over 6000 different elections in New Zealand over the past 23 years. Official voting papers, texts and emails are sent out by ElectioNZ.com. FAR sends out general reminders around voting. FAR does not have access to information about how individual levy payers vote.
How does the vote work?
At the end of the voting process, ElectioNZ collates the votes and sends FAR the following results.
- The percentage of eligible voters who participated in the referendum.
- The percentage of YES vs NO votes submitted for each levy category.
- The percentage of YES vs NO votes based on hectarage grown for each levy category.
FAR then includes this data plus other information on FAR’s performance and delivery in a formal application to the Minister of Agriculture. The Minister makes the final decision on whether to grant the new levy order.
To achieve a positive result for each levy category
- There must be sufficient voters (participants) taking part for the results to be deemed representative of the industry. This judgement is made by the Minister.
- There must be more than half of YES votes.
- The YES votes must represent more than half of the hectarage grown by those who voted (participants).
We believe that this is the fairest way in which we can represent the views of the industry and is similar to the criteria used by many other grower levy bodies.
The final decision around results is made by the Minister and can take several weeks. Assuming a positive vote, new levy orders are drafted and passed by Parliament within 12 months of the vote.
What happens if there is a NO vote?
If any of the levy orders fails to attract sufficient votes, the Minister may decide to cancel that order. This means that in future no levies would be collected for the crop/s in question and that FAR research, development and extension linked with that levy order would cease effective 1 July 2024.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
FAR CEO, Alison Stewart, 027 550 0558, Alison.stewart@far.org.nz
For lost Referendum voting PIN and password, ElectioNZ.com 0800 666 028 or contact the FAR office and we can put ElectioNZ in touch with you.