2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?

"207K Overseas donation or contribution may not exceed $1,500

(1)  For the purposes of this section, overseas person means—

1. (a)  an individual who—

   1. (i)  resides outside New Zealand; and

   2. (ii)  is not a New Zealand citizen or registered as an elector; or

2. (b)  a body corporate incorporated outside New Zealand; or

3. (c)  an unincorporated body that has its head office or principal place of business outside New Zealand.

(2)  If a candidate receives from an overseas person a donation that either on its own or when aggregated with all other donations made by or on behalf of the same overseas person for use in the same campaign exceeds $1,500, the candi- date must, within 20 working days of receipt of the donation,—

1. (a)  return to the overseas person the total amount donated by the overseas person, or its value, less $1,500; or

(b)  if this is not possible, pay the total amount donated by the overseas per- son, or its value, less $1,500 to the Electoral Commission.

(3)  If a candidate or party secretary receives, from a donor who is not an overseas person (as defined in subsection (1)), a donation funded from contributions that includes any contribution exceeding $1,500 made by or on behalf of an over- seas person or any contributions made by or on behalf of the same overseas person that when aggregated exceed $1,500, the candidate or party secretary must, within 20 working days after notification of that fact under section 207C,—

1. (a)  give back to the donor the amount of the donation, or its value; or

2. (b)  if this is not possible, pay the amount of the donation, or its value, to the Electoral Commission." 

Section 207K, Electoral Act of 1993. 

There is no ban, but there is a $1,500 limit.