Issues excluded from being the subject of an initiative at the national level

Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993

< p > Article 4, Prohibitions. < /p> < p > An indicative referendum petition shall not relate to a matter that is or could be or could have been the subject of an election petition under & nbsp; < a href = "http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0101/latest/link.aspx?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_citizens_resel_25_h&p=1&id=DLM310427">Part 8 of the Electoral Act 1993 or ofan application under this Act.

< p > < a href = "http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0087/latest/DLM307519.html">Electoral Act 1993 (Enacted in 17August 1993, last amended in 1 July 2012)

< p > Article 8, Electoral Commission must report on general election < /p> < p > (1) The Electoral Commission must, within 6 & nbsp;months of the return ofthe writ after a general election, report in writing to the Minister on the administration of that election, including— < /p> < p > (a) the services provided to electors to facilitate voting;and < /p> < p > (b) enrolment and voting statistics;and < /p> < p > (c) any substantive issue arising during the course of the election;and < /p> < p > (d) any changes that are necessary or desirable in respect of — < /p> < p > (i) administration processes or practices;or < /p> < p > (ii) this Act or any other law;and < /p> < p > (e) any matter that the Minister of Justice asks the Electoral Commission to address;and < /p> < p > (f) any other matter that the Electoral Commission considers relevant. < /p> < p > (2) The Minister must present any report received under subsection & nbsp; (1) to the House of Representatives within 5 working days after receiving it or, if Parliament is not in session, as soon as possible after the commencement of the next session of Parliament. < /p> < p > (3) The Electoral Commission must publish any report made under subsection(1) as soon as practicable after it has been presented to the House of Representatives, but in any case not later than 10 & nbsp;working days after the report is received by the Minister. < /p>

According to article 4 of the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993, citizen initiated referendum petitions should not entail challenges to an election or referendum outcome.  Apart from these exclusions, there are no further restrictions to the possible subjects or issues that could be proposed in a referendum. Since New Zealand does not have a written constitution, constitutional amendments are not applicable.