44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?

"70 Broadcasting election programmes

(1)  Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), a broadcaster may not, at any time, broadcast an election programme.

(2)  A broadcaster may, for the purpose of a general election, broadcast an election programme if—

(a)  the programme is promoted by a party or group of related parties; and

(b)  the programme is broadcast during the election period; and

(c)  the broadcasting costs are paid from money allocated to the party or group of related parties under section 79. 

(3)  A broadcaster may, for the purposes of a general election or by-election, broad- cast an election programme if that programme—

(a)  is promoted by—

(i)  a constituency candidate; or

(ii)  a party with the authority of a constituency candidate; and

(b)  relates solely to the constituency candidate at the election; and

(c)  encourages or persuades, or appears to encourage or persuade, voters to vote for that candidate; and

(d)  is broadcast during the election period for the election; and

(e)  is broadcast for a fee that may, but need not, be paid from money alloca- ted to a party or group of related parties under section 79.

(4)  Nothing in this section restricts—

Compare: 1989 No 25 s 70

(a)  the broadcasting, in relation to an election, of news or comments or cur- rent affairs programmes; or

(b)  the broadcasting of any non-partisan advertisement, as a community ser- vice, by a broadcaster.

71 Hours during which broadcast of election programmes prohibited

(1)  A television broadcaster may not broadcast election programmes—

(a)  during the hours between 6 am and noon on—

(i)  Sunday; or

(ii)  Anzac Day; or

(b)  on—

(i)  Christmas Day; or

(ii)  Good Friday; or

(iii)  Easter Sunday.

(2)  A radio broadcaster may not broadcast election programmes on—

Compare: 1989 No 25 s 79A

(a)  Christmas Day; or

(b)  Good Friday; or

(c)  Easter Sunday.

72 Obligation to give identical terms to each party or constituency candidate

(1) A broadcaster may not offer or give to any party terms for broadcasting time that are more favourable than those offered or given to any other party that buys, or expresses an interest in buying, comparable time from that broadcaster. 

(2) A broadcaster may not offer or give to any constituency candidate terms for broadcasting time that are more favourable than those offered or given to any other constituency candidate who buys, or expresses an interest in buying, comparable time from that broadcaster."

Sections 70-72, Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Act 2017  

But the limits on party and candidate spending given above provide such a limit indirectly.

Also, the following provisions binding broadcasters, while not addressed to spending per se, can affect spending indirectly.