Constitution

In order to contest the Botany by-election in March 2011, we needed some sort of constitution in force. Since there was not much time left, we elected to use a very basic constitution to begin with, and amend it later when the need arises.

This page is for minor amendment proposals to the current Constitution. The Alternative Constitution page is for the constitution as we want it to be when we make large amendments to it.

Executive Council Resolutions are available here

Article 1: Name, Principles and Constitution

 * 1) The name of the Party will be “The Pirate Party of New Zealand”, which may be abbreviated "PPNZ".
 * 2) The principles of the Party are fundamental to the purpose of the party.
 * 3) All party documents, members and policies are subject and subordinate to this constitution.

Article 2: Principles
The Principles of PPNZ are:
 * 1) Opposition to legislation permitting intellectual restrictions including copyright and patents.
 * 2) Opposition to perceptions of copyright and patent privileges as being moral rights or as being beneficial for the common interest.
 * 3) Promotion of the right to privacy for individuals, especially as it relates to electronic communication and surveilance.
 * 4) Promotion of openness in government, especially as it relates to electronic media and access.

Article 3: Administration of the Party

 * 1) Administration of the Party will be carried out by the Executive Council.
 * 2) The Executive Council will make decisions by resolution.
 * 3) An ordinary resolution of the Executive Council will be made by simple majority of members voting.
 * 4) A special resolution of the Executive Council will be made by two-thirds majority of members voting.
 * 5) The Executive Council may, by ordinary resolution, create any such subordinate bodies as it sees fit.
 * 6) The Executive Council may, by special resolution, delegate to a subordinate body any power that the Executive Council has.
 * 7) The Executive Council may, by ordinary resolution, direct a subordinate body to consider any matter.
 * 8) The Executive Council may, by special resolution, overrule any decision of a subordinate body if the Executive Council deems that decision to be inconsistent with a decision of the Executive Council or the principles of the Party.

Article 4: The Executive Council

 * 1) The Executive Council will be comprised of those persons elected by all voting members of the Party for a period of no more than fifteen months.
 * 2) Election
 * 3) A person is elected to the Executive Council as an Officer or a Council Member.
 * 4) An Officer will be one of the President, the Vice President, the Party Secretary, the Treasurer, or an officer position created by ordinary resolution of the executive council.
 * 5) Those members that are nominated by another for a position on the Executive Council must consent in writing to their nomination.
 * 6) No more than one officer position may be filled by one member of the Executive Council.
 * 7) In the event a member of the Executive Council is unable or unwilling to perform their duties, the remaining members of the Executive Council may declare the position vacant and appoint an interim replacement by two-thirds majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Council. As soon as possible, the members will elect a Member to fill that vacant position.
 * 8) Each voting member is only entitled to vote once in each election.

Article 5: Membership

 * 1) Membership is open to all persons who:
 * 2) are registered to vote in the New Zealand general elections;
 * 3) submit a completed and signed membership form; (In signing the membership form they agree to abide by the Constitution of the Party)
 * 4) pay the applicable annual membership fee set by the Executive Council.
 * 5) All members are entitled to:
 * 6) be elected into any position within the party;
 * 7) stand as a candidate in any election within the party;
 * 8) participate in the selection of candidates for elections;
 * 9) participate in policy and issue discussion and be involved in the decision making process;
 * 10) vote in any poll held by the Party; and
 * 11) resign their membership in the Party.
 * 12) Membership is for a term of twelve months.
 * 13) Executive Council Powers
 * 14) Accepting memberships is at the discretion of the recipient
 * 15) The Executive Council may, upon unanimous agreement, suspend or void, or extend by up to 6 months, the membership of any member.

Article 6: Candidate Selection

 * 1) The Executive Council must select candidates in a manner which includes participation by current financial members of the party who are or would be entitled to vote for those candidates at any election.
 * 2) After selection, the Executive Council must by special resolution declare that the candidate has been selected, that financial members have had reasonable opportunity to participate in the selection process, and that the candidate is eligible under electoral law.

Article 7: Amendments to the Constitution and Dissolution

 * 1) A resolution to amend the Constitution or Dissolve the Party requires a simple majority of voting members, with votes in favour of the amendment exceeding 15% of the Party membership.
 * 2) A resolution to amend the Constitution or dissolve the Party must be initiated by a special resolution of the executive council.