Commission approves electorate-named party but rejects Palestine logo over voter confusion

Summarised by Centrist

The Electoral Commission has approved a political party named after the Te Tai Tokerau electorate, despite considering whether it could confuse voters.

However, it rejected the Free Palestine Party’s Palestinian flag logo on the grounds voters might be confused about whom they were supporting.

Both decisions turned on voter confusion, but produced different results.

Independent MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi formed the Te Tai Tokerau Party following her expulsion from Te Pāti Māori, which she successfully challenged in court.

The Commission considered whether voters could confuse the new party with the Māori electorate of the same name. It ultimately approved both the name and logo, allowing Kapa-Kingi to move into full campaign mode.

By contrast, the Free Palestine Party’s name was approved but its proposed Palestinian flag logo was rejected.

The Commission said the flag was synonymous with a wider international campaign and so widely used that voters might be uncertain about who or what they were supporting.

More than 200 submissions opposed the party’s registration, with some describing “Free Palestine” as offensive or an “implicit call for hostility against Israel and Jewish communities”. Supporters called it “a call for human rights and freedom”.

The approval of Kapa-Kingi’s party also carries potentially significant MMP consequences. If she retains Te Tai Tokerau, the party would not need to reach the 5% threshold. Its nationwide party vote could bring additional MPs into Parliament, splitting the Māori vote and potentially reshaping the left bloc.

New Zealand Loyal was also approved without a logo because its ownership is disputed between current leader Kelvyn Alp and former leader Liz Gunn.

Read more at The NZ Herald