22 October 2008

Media release
Ivan Moss, Chief Executive, Kea New Zealand

For immediate publication

Prizes offered for letting overseas Kiwis know about their right to vote

As tens of thousands of overseas New Zealanders begin voting in the 2008 General Election today, Kea New Zealand is upping the ante by offering prizes to people who remind offshore Kiwis of their right to vote.

``Every time you tell an overseas New Zealander about their right to vote in this year’s election, you’ll get a chance to win tickets to upcoming All Blacks matches in England, Wales and Australia,’’ says Ivan Moss, Chief Executive of Kea New Zealand, the country’s most active overseas network.

The prizes* are:
• Two tickets to the All Blacks v Wales in Cardiff, 22 November
• Two tickets to the All Blacks v England in London, 29 November
• Two tickets to the All Blacks v Australia in Sydney in 2009
• Two tickets to the All Blacks v Australia in Melbourne in 2009.
And as a bonus, two pairs of tickets to see Dave Dobbyn in London on 25 November 2008 are up for grabs.

Beginning today [editors: 22 October New Zealand time] enrolled New Zealand voters overseas can download voting papers online and vote in New Zealand’s General Election.

It’s not too late for Kiwis overseas to enrol to vote. They can enrol online, return their enrolment papers by fax or post, then download their voting papers as soon as their enrolment is officially registered.

Sadly, barely 10% of eligible overseas voters are enrolled for the New Zealand election. Kea New Zealand ’s global Every Vote Counts campaign (www.everyvotecounts.com.nz) is helping everyone to encourage eligible overseas New Zealanders to enrol and vote.

``We’re offering people the chance to encourage their friends and family to participate in deciding New Zealand’s future,’’ says Ivan Moss.

``To remind an overseas friend or relative about their right to vote, just go to www.everyvotecounts.co.nz and use the ‘Tell a Friend’ form. Your friend will be encouraged to enrol to vote in the New Zealand election, and you’ll go into the prize draw.’’

Background information

New Zealand citizens are eligible to vote from anywhere in the world if they have visited New Zealand at any time in three years before election day. Yet in 2005, only 28,000 voted from overseas of the estimated 500,000 eligible.

Enrolling and voting from overseas is simple. Eligible voters can enrol online and download their voting papers online, and return the paperwork by fax or post. There is no need to visit an Embassy or Consulate to enrol and vote.

The website www.everyvotecounts.co.nz has all the information overseas Kiwis need to enrol and vote.

Every Vote Counts is an initiative of Kea New Zealand (www.keanewzealand.com), an independent, non-government, non-profit Incorporated Society dedicated to encouraging overseas New Zealanders to maintain and deepen their connections with home.

The Every Vote Counts campaign is strictly non-partisan, and does not advocate that overseas New Zealanders vote for any particular political party or candidate, nor hold or act on any particular political opinion. No public funds are being used to support Every Vote Counts.

ENDS

* Terms and conditions: Prizes will be awarded at the sole discretion of Kea New Zealand by a random draw among valid entries received by close of play on Friday, 7 November 2008 (New Zealand time). To be eligible for prizes, referrals must be to genuine Kiwis living overseas. Winners get to choose from the pool of prizes in the order their names are drawn. No more than one prize will be awarded per individual.
Travel to events is not included. Prizes are transferable only if gifted. Employees and contractors of Kea New Zealand, and their immediate families, are not eligible.

An estimated 500,000 New Zealanders overseas were eligible to enrol and vote in 2005.

• Yet only 28,000 New Zealanders voted from overseas in the 2005 General Election.

• More than 90% of New Zealanders overseas are interested in voting this year, a Kea survey found.

•

• New Zealanders overseas can vote in the General Election right now.

• You don't have to go to your local embassy or consulate to vote.

• www.everyvotecounts.co.nz to enrol and for other information.

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