TOP Stories: Leader Selection, Citizens Voice, Electoral Amendment Bill

Party: TOP

Sender: Iain Lees-Galloway - TOP General Manager <[email protected]>

Date Received: 2025-09-19 16:58

HTML Version

Kia ora [Name],

Welcome to the September edition of TOP’s monthly newsletter, TOP Stories. There’s a real sense of momentum building at TOP. From a nationwide search for our next leader to the growing public appetite for Citizens’ Voice, it’s clear that more and more New Zealanders are looking for politics that puts people first, plans for the long term, and delivers results that matter.

Leadership Selection: A Turning Point

When we posted the Leader role on Seek, we hoped to reach beyond the usual political circles. It worked. More than 100 people expressed interest, and over 30 completed the nomination process. The selection panel has interviewed the long-list and is now preparing to name a short-list. The quality has been exceptional, with both long-time members and new voices impressing the panel. It’s a powerful sign of how far we’ve come as a movement, and how seriously people are taking TOP.

Many candidates have asked that their names remain private for now, given their current obligations. The panel is exploring how to create space for member engagement while protecting that privacy. We’ll keep you posted as the process progresses.

Citizens' Voice: Campaign Complete, Momentum Continues

Our Citizens' Voice campaign wrapped up at the end of August. Thanks to every volunteer who door-knocked, delivered flyers, ran stalls, and helped share the vision. We saw a measurable uptick in the polls and even more importantly, we saw minds open. People who had never considered TOP before started to take a second look.

The campaign may be over, but the policy remains at the heart of our movement. Deliberative democracy is one of the clearest ways we can show the difference between us and the establishment. Voters are responding, and we’re just getting started.

Defending Democracy: Our Submission on the Electoral Amendment Bill

TOP member Matthew Shepard delivered a strong oral submission to the Justice Select Committee, standing up for democratic participation and fairness. We opposed two major elements of the Electoral Amendment Bill: removing voting rights from prisoners with short sentences, and scrapping same-day enrolment. Both changes would disproportionately impact Māori and young voters, reduce participation, and undermine trust in our democracy. We also criticised the lack of consultation and poor legislative process behind the Bill.

On a positive note, we welcomed the proposed removal of the requirement for candidates to publish their personal addresses, which will help reduce harassment and encourage a more diverse range of people to stand for office. TOP continues to call for evidence-based reform that strengthens participation, and we recommended Citizens’ Assemblies as a way to build consensus on constitutional change.

Read our full written submission.

Authorised by Hayden Cargo, 2d Amera Pl, Auckland 2013, New Zealand

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Text Version

Kia ora [Name],
Welcome to the September edition of TOP’s monthly newsletter, TOP Stories. There’s a real sense of momentum building at TOP. From a nationwide search for our next leader to the growing public appetite for Citizens’ Voice, it’s clear that more and more New Zealanders are looking for politics that puts people first, plans for the long term, and delivers results that matter.
Leadership Selection: A Turning Point
When we posted the Leader role on Seek, we hoped to reach beyond the usual political circles. It worked. More than 100 people expressed interest, and over 30 completed the nomination process. The selection panel has interviewed the long-list and is now preparing to name a short-list. The quality has been exceptional, with both long-time members and new voices impressing the panel. It’s a powerful sign of how far we’ve come as a movement, and how seriously people are taking TOP.
Many candidates have asked that their names remain private for now, given their current obligations. The panel is exploring how to create space for member engagement while protecting that privacy. We’ll keep you posted as the process progresses.
Citizens' Voice: Campaign Complete, Momentum Continues
Our Citizens' Voice campaign wrapped up at the end of August. Thanks to every volunteer who door-knocked, delivered flyers, ran stalls, and helped share the vision. We saw a measurable uptick in the polls and even more importantly, we saw minds open. People who had never considered TOP before started to take a second look.
The campaign may be over, but the policy remains at the heart of our movement. Deliberative democracy is one of the clearest ways we can show the difference between us and the establishment. Voters are responding, and we’re just getting started.
Defending Democracy: Our Submission on the Electoral Amendment Bill
TOP member Matthew Shepard delivered a strong oral submission to the Justice Select Committee, standing up for democratic participation and fairness. We opposed two major elements of the Electoral Amendment Bill: removing voting rights from prisoners with short sentences, and scrapping same-day enrolment. Both changes would disproportionately impact Māori and young voters, reduce participation, and undermine trust in our democracy. We also criticised the lack of consultation and poor legislative process behind the Bill.
On a positive note, we welcomed the proposed removal of the requirement for candidates to publish their personal addresses, which will help reduce harassment and encourage a more diverse range of people to stand for office. TOP continues to call for evidence-based reform that strengthens participation, and we recommended Citizens’ Assemblies as a way to build consensus on constitutional change.
<https://www.top.org.nz/electoral_amendment_bill_submission>Read our full written submission. <https://www.top.org.nz/electoral_amendment_bill_submission>
<https://www.top.org.nz/donate>
<https://www.top.org.nz/volunteer>
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Authorised by Hayden Cargo, 2d Amera Pl, Auckland 2013, New Zealand
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