Voting method

Legislative Elections

Electoral Act 1996, Section 61(1): electors may apply for a ‘specialdeclaration vote’ (special vote) for a number of reasons, including “if theelector is outside his or her electoral district and intends to be, or is,outside New Zealand on polling day.” http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0087/latest/DLM308567.html?search=ts_act_Electoral+Act_resel_25_h&p=1

Electoral Regulations 1996, Regulations 45 and 45A authorise ‘OverseasReturning Officers’ and ‘Overseas Issuing Officers’ to issue paper orelectronic special ballots to electors.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1996/0093/latest/DLM210519.html?search=ts_regulation%40deemedreg_Electoral_resel_25_h&p=1

Electoral Regulations 1996, Regulation 47 permits electors who have beenissued a paper or electronic (special) ballot to return ballot in person or bypost to either a Returning Officer, the Electoral Commission in New Zealand, oran  Overseas Returning Officer. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1996/0093/latest/DLM210525.html?search=ts_regulation%40deemedreg_Electoral_resel_25_h&p=1

Electoral Regulations 1996, Regulation 47A permits electors who havebeen issued a paper or electronic special ballot by an Overseas ReturningOfficer to return the ballot by facsimile. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1996/0093/latest/DLM210527.html?search=ts_regulation%40deemedreg_Electoral_resel_25_h&p=1

Referenda (conductedby post)

Legislation provides for both postal and non-postal referenda.  The Referenda (Postal Voting) Act does notspecifically exclude voting by overseas electors.  All electors may vote: Referenda (PostalVoting) Act, Section 31.  Ballot papersare posted to the registered address of the elector: Referenda (Postal Voting)Act, Sections 32-34. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2000/0048/latest/DLM74607.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_referenda_resel_25_h&p=1

Electors may apply to have a ballot faxed to them for a number ofreasons, including if they are “in some remote location overseas”: Section 35(1).  http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2000/0048/latest/DLM74609.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_referenda_resel_25_h&p=1

Referenda (conductedtraditionally)

Non-postal voting referenda arrangements provide that the Electoral Actwill apply except where explicitly excluded: see Citizens Initiated ReferendaAct 2000, Section 24 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0101/latest/DLM318602.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_referenda_resel_25_h&p=1

Since none of the provisions governing special voting (see CitizensInitiated Referenda Act 2000 Sections 61 and 172) are excluded, the voting fromabroad arrangements established for legislative elections extend to non-postalreferenda. 

Local Government

There is no explicit provision permitting or excluding overseas votersto vote in local authority elections.  Localauthority elections are conducted exclusively by post, at least by default: seeLocal Electorate Act Section 36: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0035/latest/DLM94305.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_Local+electoral+act_resel_25_h&p=1

The official Electoral Commission website’s FAQs state:  “I am overseas, can I enrol?  Ifyou are enrolled with an overseas postal address then your voting papers will besent  to you at this address.:

http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/local-elections/2013-local-elections.html

Thisis consistent with the Local Electoral Regulations 2001, regulation 6 whichenvisages electors having a postal address different from theirlocal/residential enrolment address:  http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2001/0145/latest/DLM49294.html