A protest march against the Electoral Finance Act makes its way down Queen Street in Auckland, in March 2008. Concern that groups such as the Exclusive Brethren could spend large amounts to influence elections led the Labour government to pass the Electoral Finance Act in 2007. The act placed restrictions on the amounts people could donate to political parties and to the amounts 'third parties' – groups that are not political parties but that try to influence an election – could spend during an election campaign. The act also tightened up the rules around anonymous donations and the authorisation of election advertisements. It was controversial, as many people thought it restricted freedom of expression, and was repealed in 2009.