“First Past the Post means the electoral system that is described generally in section 5A”.

“Single Transferable Voting means the electoral system described generally in section 5B”.

“5A General description of First Past the Post electoral system

• For local electoral purposes, the First Past the Post electoral system,—

  • “(a) in the case of an election, has the following features:—

    • “(i) voters may cast as many votes as there are positions to be filled:

    • “(ii) where a single position is to be filled, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes is elected:

    • “(iii) where more than 1 position is to be filled, the candidates equal to the number of positions who receive the highest number of votes are elected:

  • “(b) in the case of a poll, has the features specified in paragraph (a) as if, with all necessary modifications, every reference to a candidate were a reference to the matter or matters that are the subject of the poll.

“5B General description of Single Transferable Voting electoral system

• For local electoral purposes, the Single Transferable Voting electoral system,—

  • “(a) in the case of an election for multi-member vacancies, has the following features:—

    • “(i) voters express a first preference for 1 candidate and may express second and further preferences for other candidates:

    • “(ii) a quota for election is calculated from the number of votes and positions to be filled:

    • “(iii) the first preferences are counted and any candidate whose first preference votes equal or exceed the quota is elected:

    • “(iv) if insufficient candidates are elected under subparagraph (iii), the proportion of an elected candidate's votes above the quota is redistributed according to voters' further preferences, and—

      • “(A) candidates who then reach the quota are elected; and

      • “(B) the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded:

    • “(v) the excluded candidate's votes are redistributed according to voters' further preferences:

    • “(vi) if insufficient candidates are elected under subparagraphs (iv) and (v), the steps described in subparagraphs (iv) and (v) are repeated until all positions are filled:

  • “(b) in the case of an election for a mayoral or single member vacancy, has the following features:—

    • “(i) voters express a first preference for 1 candidate and may express second and further preferences for other candidates:

    • “(ii) an absolute majority of votes for election is calculated from the number of votes and positions to be filled:

    • “(iii) the first preferences are counted and, if a candidate's first preference votes equal or exceed the absolute majority of votes, that candidate is elected:

    • “(iv) if no candidate is elected under subparagraph (iii), the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and that candidate's votes are redistributed according to voters' further preferences:

    • “(v) if no candidate is elected under subparagraph (iv), the steps described in subparagraph (iv) are repeated until a candidate is elected:

  • “(c) in the case of a poll, has the features specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) as if, with all necessary modifications, every reference to a candidate were a reference to the matter or matters that are the subject of the poll.”

• “(c) the electoral officer or officers of the territorial authority or authorities that are wholly or partly within the local government area of the local authority that is not a territorial authority are responsible for—

  • “(i) issuing and receiving ordinary and special votes and other official documents; and

  • “(ii) carrying out any power or duty delegated to that officer or officers under section 12(2)(a); or

  • “(iii) carrying out any power or duty that the officer or officers have been appointed or engaged to carry out under section 12(2)(b); and”

“Duties of programmers and certifiers

“19AA Duties of programmers

• Every person responsible for the design of a counting program intended to implement the New Zealand method of counting single transferable votes must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the program produces outcomes that are consistent with the process specified in Schedule 1A of the Local Electoral Regulations 2001.

“19AB Duties of certifiers

• A counting program may not be used at an election or poll under this Act, for the purpose of implementing the New Zealand method of counting single transferable votes, unless a certifier appointed for the purpose by the Secretary for Local Government has first certified that the program produces outcomes that are consistent with the process specified in Schedule 1A of the Local Electoral Regulations 2001”.

• “(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who is a candidate for election—

  • “(a) as a member in a ward; and

  • “(b) as mayor of the territorial authority of which that ward forms part.”

• “(4) For the purposes of this section, local authority means—

  • “(a) a territorial authority; and

  • “(b) a local authority that undertakes the processing of votes for the election to which a resolution under subsection (1) or subsection (2) relates.”

• “(ab) for the purposes of assisting programmers and certifiers to perform the duties imposed by sections 19AA and 19AB, describing the technical processes involved in the implementation of the New Zealand method of counting single transferable votes:”.