Executive Council Resolutions

List of Executive Council Resolutions


Executive Council Resolution 1


To Supersede Memberships (passed 30 Jan 2011)

  • All current memberships are hereby superseded by 12 month memberships starting on the date the constitution came into effect, the 30th of January 2011
  • The Constitution will have authority over these memberships
  • Any member is permitted henceforth to retroactively resign their membership dating back to the time of the Constitution coming into effect.
    • This permission is nullified for any member who renews their membership or publicly accepts the Constitution.
    • Any member who joined between 30/01/2010 and 30/01/2011 who exercises this permission may claim a partial refund of their membership fee on a pro-rata basis assuming a 12 month expected term.


Executive Council Resolution 2


Permitting contestant withdrawal from the Botany by-election Candidate Selection (passed 1 Feb 2011)

  • The method used for Candidate Selection for the Botany by-election is clarified such that:
    • Any Contestant may request the Executive Council towithdraw them from the selection:
      • if his or her request is received before the declaration of the final result, OR
      • if the final result is one whichnecessitates another round of voting.
      • The contestant is not required, but may, provide a reason.
      • In the first case, and in the second case if thiswould negate the need for a second round of voting, the electoral method will be re-calculated from the beginning as though the contestant were not included in the vote.
      • In the second case, if re-calculating the vote would also require another round of voting, then the contestant is simply withdrawn from the following round of voting


Executive Council Special Resolution 3


Declaration concerning the Candidate Selection for the Botany by-election (passed 2 Feb 2011)

  • In accordance withArticle 6.2 of the Party Constitution, the Executive Council hereby declares that:
    • As a result of the Candidate Selection process described in:
      • Minutesfor PPNZ General meeting 23/01/2011 Actionable #4;
      • The forum and mailing list announcement stating that:

        A most preferred candidate will be calculated using the Schulze method.

        The most preferred candidate will then only become the PPNZ candidate in the Botany by-election if he has a preference in a majority of the valid votes. i.e. any vote which does not list a candidate is effectively supporting PPNZ not contesting the election if that candidate becomes the most preferred candidate.

        • and;

      • Executive Council Resolution 2,
    • Hussain Al-Saady is the successful contestant who shall be nominated as a PPNZ candidate in the Botany by-election;
    • the financial members of the Party have had a reasonable opportunity to participate in the Candidate Selection process; and
    • Hussain Al-Saady is eligible to stand as a candidate under NZ electoral law.
  • The final results were initially as follows:
    • There were 4 votes, all were valid.
      • The two candidates have equal preference
        • 2 preferred Al-Saady over Zeng
        • 2 preferred Zeng over Al-Saady
        • Vote was tied for preferred contestant
      • Total preferences of any value
        • 3 required for thepreferred contestant to become the candidate, there were:
        • 4 for Al-Saady, and
        • 2 for Zeng
    • The result was thus a tie betweenAl-Saady and Zeng
  • The final results after the withdrawal of Zeng are as follows:
    • There were 4 votes, all were valid.
      • Al-Saady is thepreferred contestant by default.
      • Total preferences of any value
        • 3 required for the preferred contestant to become the candidate.
        • There were 4preferences of any value for Al-Saady.
    • The result is thus that Al-Saady has been elected as the candidate.


Executive Council Special Resolution 4


To appoint Tommy as Interim President (passed 6 Mar 2011)

  • To appoint Tommy Fergusson as the interim president, following section 4, clause 4 of the Constitution, effective 6 March 2011.
    • Jason Schwarzenberger stepped down as the president on January 8, 2011. Peter Ajamian, who is the vice president, has been acting as the president.
    • The clause calls for a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Council for the appointment, and this was achieved – see minutes for detail.
    • This Resolution empowers Tommy to be the interim president. The clause calls for an election, to be held as soon as possible, that party members elect a Member to fill the position. This election shall be held at the next meeting.


Executive Council Special Resolution 5


To adopt the Statutes and Rules of Procedure of Pirate Parties International in anticipation of ordinary membership (passed 11 Mar 2011)

  • The Pirate Party of New Zealand approves the Statutes of Pirate Parties International as passed by the international Pirate Conference in Brussels from 16th-18th of April 2010.
  • The Pirate Party of New Zealand approves the Rules of Procedure of Pirate Parties International as they stand since they were changed on 28th September 2010.
  • The named PPI co-ordinator and PPI General Assembly conference delegate, Noel Zeng, has the authority to represent this approval by any means recognized by Pirate Parties International.


Executive Council Proposed Resolution 6 (Withdrawn)


To create a committee for the organization of a protest against the Copyright (infringing file sharing) Amendment Act 2011 (not passed & withdrawn)

  • A new subordinate body of the Party is hereby created.
  • The new body is called the Blackout Protest Committee.
  • The scope of the Blackout Protest Committee is to organize of a protest against the Copyright (infringing file sharing) Amendment Act 2011.
  • The Blackout Protest Committee initially consists of the following Committee Members:
    • XXXXX (“Qu4Z”)
    • XXXXX (“Abraham”)
    • Noel Zeng (“inkybutton”)
    • XXXXX (“David”)
    • XXXXX (“kiwipeso”)
    • XXXXX (“Ubergeek”)
  • The Blackout Protest Committee will initially be chaired by Qu4Z.
  • Motions of the Blackout Protest Committee may be made by a simple majority of responding Committee Members, so long as at least 3 Committee Members are in favour.
    • Motions may be made via email or in a meeting of the committee.
  • Committee Members may be added or removed by a Committee Motion moved by the chair.
  • A new Chair may be appointed by either the current Chair or by Committee Motion, so long as the new Chair consents.
  • The Blackout Protest Committee shall be dissolved by either a motion of the Committee or by agreement of a majority of the Executive Council.


Executive Council Resolution 7


To Accept the Auckland Chapter. (passed 18 May 2011)

  • The Auckland Chapter Committee is accepted as a subordinate body of the Pirate Party of New Zealand
    • The Auckland Chapter Committee is accepted as being subordinate to the Chapter Constitution (link)
    • The Executive Council Representatives from the Auckland Chapter Councils is invited to attend all executive meetings, and be privy to all communications between the Executive Council as a group (i.e. not between individual members of the Executive Council)
  • The (vacant) Executive Council office of “PPAk/YPNZ President” is abolished


Executive Council Resolution 8


To change the name of the Executive Council office “Media Spokesperson” to “Media Adviser”. (passed 18 August 2011)

  • The Executive Council officer position Media Spokesperson is now called “Media Adviser”
  • The scope of this position is now:
    • to advise the board and subordinate bodies of the Party on issues relating to media, and;
    • to organize the provision of PPNZ media for the board and for subordinate bodies of the Party.


Executive Council Special Resolution 9


To appoint Mark Brown as Interim Secretary (passed 23 Oct 2011)

  • To appoint Mark Brown as the interim Secretary, following section 4, clause 4 of the Constitution, effective 23 October 2011.
    • Current Secretary Noel Zeng is anticipated to become a Candidate in the 2011 General Election from 24 October 2011. Mark Brown, who is the Undersecretary, has been performing duties of the Secretary, and has signed a confidentiality agreement.
    • The clause calls for a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Council for the appointment.
    • This Resolution empowers Mark Brown to be the interim Secretary. The clause calls for an election, to be held as soon as possible, in which party members elect a Member to fill the position. This election shall be held at the next general meeting.


Executive Council Special Resolution 10


To extend initial memberships until May 1 2012 (passed 25 Jan 2012)

  • The term of membership for any member is subject to Clause 5.4.2 of the Party Constitution.
    • ” The Executive Council may, upon unanimous agreement, suspend or void, or extend by up to 6 months, the membership of any member.”
  • The memberships subject to this Resolution are all those signed before May 1 2011. (i.e. ones due to expire before May 1 2012).
    • This includes executive council members and other committee members, as well as members with no special responsibilities.
  • The Executive Council hereby extends these memberships until May 1 2012.
  • The purpose of this Resolution is to allow time for the development of a simpler membership renewal system.


Executive Council Resolution 11


To allow appointment of local Pirate Party agents. (passed 18 June 2012)

  • Pirate Party Agents shall be the following people:
    • All Executive Council Representatives of recognized Pirate Party Chapters, once elected or appointed as such, where they have signed an appropriate confidentiality agreement;
    • Any volunteer who has signed an appropriate confidentiality agreement, who is appointed as an agent for a particular area by an Executive Council Member in writing, and has accepted this role in writing to the Executive Council.
  • Pirate Party Agents are hereby authorized to:
    • Accept membership applications on behalf of the Pirate Party;
    • Accept payments on behalf of the Pirate Party;
    • Sign legal documents on behalf of the Pirate Party, where the document concerns only the Pirate Party and individual members or volunteers of the Pirate Party or Pirate Party Chapters.
      • This includes confidentiality agreements for Pirate Party volunteers.
  • Pirate Party Agents are required to:
    • Inform the Executive Council via appropriate channels within a week of all of the above actions they perform on behalf of the Pirate Party;
    • Transfer the proceeds of payments accepted on behalf of the Party into appropriate accounts either:
      • before, or within a week after the amount held exceeds $100, or
      • as per any particular arrangements made with the Pirate Party Treasurer.


Executive Council Special Resolution 12


(passed 7 January 2013)

  • The board will recognize Bruce’s (zcat) decision to step down as secretary. No ill will is expressed by the board or the party and we wish him the best.
  • The position of secretary will be taken by Camille Cowley (starfire), and she will vacate the position of treasurer to fulfil this.
  • The position of treasurer will be taken by Andrew McPherson.

Editor’s Comment: Under Article 4.2.4 of the Constitution, these are interim appointments and elections for these positions shall be held soon.