(1)
The returning officer must, as soon as practicable after the close of voting, count preferences that are, in the returning officer’s opinion, valid.
(2)
The returning officer may appoint 1 or more persons to assist with counting preferences, but must personally determine all questions relating to the validity of preferences.
(3)
The returning officer must use a counting program to determine the results of the election.
(4)
The Teaching Council must be satisfied that the returning officer has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the counting program to be used produces outcomes consistent with the New Zealand method of counting single transferable votes.
Compare: 2001 No 35 s 19AB; SR 2002/192 r 22