2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, National Competition
Auckland was coached by Brent Gemmell, who was assisted by Ken McIntosh. The team included Malo Solomona, Kitiona Pasene, Sala Fa'alogo and Jeremiah Pai. The Counties Manukau Stingrays were coached by Rusty Matua and included Anthony Gelling, Roman Hifo and Rusty Bristow. Brent Stuart coached the South Island Scorpions. Mike Culley and Mike Dorreen coached the Under-17 side while Tom Ball and Jeff Whittaker again guided the South Island 15s. They held a trial match on 21 August.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, National Competition, Schedule
The Scorpions dedicated their win over Auckland to Blair Sims, a Scorpions player who died in the Pike River Mine disaster.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, National Competition, Schedule
If the South Island Scorpions had defeated the Counties Manukau Stingrays they would have hosted the final. If Counties Manukau had won by over 50 points they would have made the final instead of the South Island.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, National Competition, Schedule
The final was refereed by Shane Rehm and Auckland led 20–10 at halftime. Auckland's Suaia Matagi was named man of the match.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Upper Central Zone
Waikato defeated Coastline 32-0 on 23 April. Coastline then lost to the Bay of Plenty 20-14 on 4 June in Tauranga. Waikato then defeated Bay of Plenty 44–12 at Puketawhero Park in Rotorua on 2 July to win the tri-series.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, South Island Zone competition
A home and away series was held between Canterbury A, Canterbury under-20s, Tasman Titans, the West Coast Chargers, Otago Whalers and Southland Rams.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, South Island Zone competition
Tasmna, who were coached by Phil Bergman, defeated the West Coast 28–20 in the first round while the Otago Whalers defeated the Southland Rams 36–28.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, South Island Zone competition
The competition was played between 27 August and 24 September. Canterbury A, who were coached by Shane Endacott, defeated Canterbury 20s in the final played at Halswell Domain on 2 October.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, National Secondary Schools competition
Sixteen schools competed in the Secondary School National tournament at Bruce Pulman Park in Papakura between 22 and 26 August. Otahuhu College defeated defending champions St. Paul's College 26–22 in the grand final which required extra time after being 22-all at full-time. Viliami Lolohea from Otahuhu won the Manukau Institute of Technology Most Valuable Player of the Tournament award.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, National Secondary Schools competition
The tournament team was; Roger Sheck (Otahuhu College), Fine Faingaa (Aorere College), Vili Iloahefaiva (Otahuhu College), Viliami Lolohea (Otahuhu College), Pharaoh Tumupu (St Paul's College), Axl Kingi (Tokoroa High School), Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu (Wainuiomata High School), Samuel Lisone (Tangaroa College), Matthew Halalilo (Southern Cross College), Vincent Afoa (Otahuhu College), Miro Atera (Tangaroa College), Sione Feao (Otahuhu College), Tala Mamea (Southern Cross College), Christopher Satae (St Paul's College), Metia Lisati (Mt Roskill Grammar), Tyler Tane (Wainuiomata College) and Matthew Shortland (Papakura High School). The coach of the tournament was Tama Teaukura from Tokoroa High School.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, National Secondary Schools competition
The other participating schools included Wainuiomata High School, Taita College, St Johns College (Tokoroa), Hamilton's Fraser High School, Mount Albert Grammar School, Kelston Boys' High School, Mount Roskill Grammar School, Aorere College, Southern Cross College, Tangaroa College, Manurewa High School, Papakura High School and Aranui High School.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Australian competitions
The New Zealand Warriors spent their 17th first grade season in Australian competition, playing in the National Rugby League. They made the 2011 NRL Grand Final, losing to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24–10. 692,000 New Zealanders watched the Grand Final on either live on Sky Network Television or delayed on Prime.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Australian competitions
The Junior Warriors again competed in the Toyota Cup, defending their title, while the Auckland Vulcans played in the NSW Cup, making the grand final and losing to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. The Auckland Vulcans were coached by former New Zealand international, Richie Blackmore.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
In their 50th year, the Howick Hornets won the Fox Memorial Trophy and the Rukutai Shield as minor premiers. They defeated the Otahuhu Leopards 24–14 in the Grand Final. The Glenora Bears won the Stormont Shield while Mount Albert won the Kiwi Shield.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Mount Albert, Otahuhu, Glenora, Howick, Manurewa, Papakura, Marist and Northcote qualified for the 2011 and 2012 Fox Memorials. 2012 will not feature a grading round.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
The Bay Roskill Vikings and Point Chevalier Pirates made the Sharman Shield Grand Final, with Point Chevalier winning 24–16. Both teams qualified for the 2012 Fox Memorial. Te Atatu, Otara, Mangere East, Richmond, Manukau and East Coast Bays also competed in the Sharman Shield.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
The New Lynn Stags defeated the Papatoetoe Panthers 32–30 in the Phelan Shield Grand Final. Nine players from the Mount Wellington Warriors club were suspended, including two for five years each, after a fight in a Phelan Shield match against the Glenfield Greyhounds.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Jeremiah Pai (Northcote) won the Player of the Year award, David Bhana (Northcote) won the Rookie of the Year award, Tasha Tapu (Richmond) won the Women's Player of the Year award, Lee Wetherill (Howick) won the coach of the year award, William Stowers (Papakura) won the Lance Painter Rose Bowl as the top goal kicker, Rusty Bristow (Papakura) won the Masters of Rugby League trophy for the top try scorer, Daniel Mauafu (Navy/North Shore) was the Phelan Shield player of the year and Trent Bishop (Otara) was the Sharman Cup player of the year.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Craig Pascoe won the John Percival Memorial Trophy as referee of the year. The Team of the Year was; Peta Hiku (Manurewa), Karl Hill (Howick), Rusty Bristow (Papakura), Jeremiah Pai (Northcote), Aaron Booth (Glenora), Kyle Bos (Otahuhu), Tony Tuia (Howick), Suaia Matagi (Mount Albert), Manu Mau (Marist). Tony Tuia (Howick) won the Doug Price Medal as Player of the Grand Final.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
In addition to Manukau, the Otahuhu Leopards also celebrated their centenary during the season.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Otahuhu College won the Auckland Secondary Schools competition and the Counties Manukau Zone Dean Bell Shield. They defeated the Auckland Zone Nigel Vagana Shield winning Mount Albert Grammar School 22-2 to win the 1st XIII University Shield. Tamaki College won the Girls Premier First XIII Grand Final, St Pauls College won the under-85 kg Jack Fagan Cup and Aorere College won the under 15, 9-a-side Graham Lowe Cup.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Wellington
The Te Aroha Eels and Porirua Vikings met in the Wellington Rugby League's grand final on 13 August at Fraser Park. The Eels won the title, defeating the Vikings by one point 23–22.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Canterbury
Minor premiers the Halswell Hornets played the Celebration Lions in the Canterbury Rugby League grand final at Denton Oval on 14 August. The match was refereed by Glen Black. The grand final was the first in the events 44-year history that was not be played at Rugby League Park.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Canterbury
Following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Canterbury Rugby League cancelled the pre-season competition. Rugby League Park was damaged during the earthquake and is currently closed. Halswell won the Tavendale Cup as winners of the first round.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other competitions
The Hamilton City Tigers defeated the Taniwharau Rugby League Club in the Waicoa Bay final, a replay of last years Waikato Rugby League final. The Tigers defeated the Otumoetai Eels 40-8 while Taniwharau won their semifinal 15-4 over the Ngaruawahia Panthers. Taniwharau were coached by Herewini Rangi. Other teams in the competition include the Hamilton Hornets, Taupo Phoenix, Pikiao, Pacific, Central, College Old Boys, Turangawaewae, the Tauranga Whalers and the Ngongotaha Chiefs.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other competitions
Ngaruawahia, who celebrated their centenary in Labour weekend, after being founded in 1911, won the Waikato Rugby League's premiership, defeating the Hamilton City Tigers 30–8 in the grand final. David Peachey played for the Taupo Phoenix while organising the Cronulla Sharks NRL match in Taupo. The Tauranga Whalers defeated the Pacific Sharks 24–18 in extra time to win the Bay of Plenty Rugby League championship.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other competitions
The Waitara Bears, Fielding Falcons, Bell Block Marist Dragons and Kia Ora Warriors all made the Western Alliance final series. The final was held on 30 July and won by the Dragonas who defeated the Fielding Falcons 33–32. The Dragons also won the Taranaki Rugby League's Lile Shield. During the year the Marist Dragons held a fundraiser for their sister Marist club in Canterbury. The Hawera Hawks refused to play on the South Taranaki District Council's Hub ground due to the state of the ground. Other teams included the Dannevirke Tigers, Western Suburbs Tigers, Linton Cobras and the Normanby/Okaiawa Knights. The Hawke's Bay Rugby League celebrated its centenary in August.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other competitions
Tasman Rugby League was to host a Nines competition at Nelson's Trafalgar Park in April. However, following the Christchurch earthquake, a number of Canterbury and West Coast teams withdrew and the event was postponed until March 2012. Six teams competed in the Tasman Rugby League competition which held its Grand Final on 20 August. The Stoke Cobras qualified for the Grand Final.


2011 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other competitions
The Southland Rugby League was refused use of Rugby Park Stadium by the Southland Rugby Football Union. Southland Rugby League had proposed to hold their club final there on 19 June. The competition was won by the Lone Star Cowboys, who defeated the Wakatipu Giants 34–20 in the final at George Oval. The Kia Toa Tigers defeated the South Pacific Raiders 34-14 to win the Otago Rugby League's Winter final. The South Pacific Raiders then defeated Wakatipu He Tauaa 50–26 in Queenstown to win the combined Southland-Otago competition.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms
The 2011 New Zealand snowstorms were a series of record breaking snow falls that affected both the North Island and South Island. The storms occurred over the span of a few weeks, beginning on 25 July 2011 in the North Island and subsequently spreading to the South. The storms subsided in late July and returned in August. It was the worst winter storm to hit New Zealand in seventy years. The heavy snowfalls caused widespread closures in many cities, including Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms
The South Island was the hardest hit, although the North Island was significantly affected, with the climatically mild cities of Auckland and Wellington reporting the first notable snowfall in over twenty years. The storms caused chaos around the country, leaving people stranded at airports, blocking state highways and resulting in entire regions, particularly Canterbury and Otago, being completely closed. The initial storm of July was relatively short lived, only to return again in August. The winter storm also caused mixed precipitation.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms
The snowfall was caused by Antarctic storms which moved northward. A large high pressure system had developed and stretched from Antarctica to the subtropics, where it had then merged with three neighbouring low pressure systems, causing cold temperatures and heavy snowfall.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, 25 July 2011
On 25 July 2011, New Zealand was gripped by its coldest winter snap in fifteen years. The lowest temperature set during the month was −10.2 °C (13.6 °F) at Manapouri (in the southwest corner of the South Island) on 26 July, which was a new all-time record for the town. Christchurch Airport recorded its second-coldest day on 25 July. The severe winter storm was well predicted, with forecasters warning of the potential of heavy snow down to sea level in south and east of the South Island and to low levels in the North Island. This snowstorm was especially threatening as it was the school holidays, and many people were travelling.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, 25 July 2011
Up to 30 cm (12 in) of snow was recorded in parts of Christchurch, the heaviest recorded there in sixteen years. The snowfalls also flattened sand dunes in Brighton and completely coated nearby Sumner Beach 1,700 homes within the Christchurch metropolitan area were without power. The city's bus service was also shut down for almost two days. Various highways were closed, including parts of State Highway 1 between Invercargill and Dunedin and State Highway 94, the road from Te Anau into Milford Sound. The storms lasted for roughly three days, before subsiding and returning early in the following month.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, 14 - 15 August 2011
A few days prior to this date, forecasters were warning of a severe snowstorm heading for New Zealand, even going as far as calling it the "perfect snowstorm". Snow fell consistently down to sea level in Wellington for the first time since 1976, and snow even fell for a brief time in Auckland for the first time in 80 years.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, 14 - 15 August 2011
Much of the South Island was heavily blanketed, with schools closed in Queenstown, Dunedin, and Christchurch. The heavy snow also disrupted flights in and out of these centres, and also in and out of Wellington. Schools were also closed there due to the snow. Power was also lost to around 4,000 homes in South Taranaki, Manawatu, Whanganui, and Wairarapa. The storms caused airport closures in Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin. The Christchurch and Dunedin Donor Centres were closed and Westport and Mosgiel mobile collections were cancelled as a result of bad weather. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) closed access to the Christchurch's earthquake-damaged red zone due to potential safety hazards. The snow caused power outages in rural areas of Canterbury, namely Rakaia, Westmelton, Leeston and Greendale due to fallen tree branches.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, 14 - 15 August 2011
On 15 August, national electricity demand peaked at 6,902 megawatts, breaking the previous record of 6,635 MW set on 24 June 2007. The record would stand for nearly ten years before being broken by a peak demand of 6,924 MW on 29 June 2021.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, 14 - 15 August 2011
Although Wellington received its largest snowfall in 30 years, the South Island received the most during the storms, with some regions receiving snowfall of up to 20–30 cm. The storm was reportedly the worst since 1939, when snow fell on the top of Maungawhau / Mount Eden and outer suburbs of Auckland, a city which does not generally receive any snowfall.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, Impact, Power outages
Many homes around the country were without power, due to trees falling on power lines.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, Impact, Road closures
Widespread road closures occurred across the Otago region on the South Island.


2011 New Zealand snowstorms, Impact, Ski resorts
Many ski resorts were completely closed due to being covered in dangerous amounts of snow and damage to infrastructure.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum
The 2011 New Zealand voting system referendum was a referendum on whether to keep the existing mixed member proportional (MMP) voting system, or to change to another voting system, for electing Members of Parliament to New Zealand's House of Representatives. It was held on 26 November 2011 in conjunction with the 2011 general election.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum
The referendum was indicative (non-binding), and asked two questions. The first question asked voters if they wished to keep the existing MMP voting system, or change to a different voting system. The second question asked which alternative voting system the voter would prefer if New Zealand were to change voting system: first past the post, preferential voting, single transferable vote, or supplementary member.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum
The official results were returned on 10 December 2011, with voters voting by majority to keep the MMP voting system. First-past-the-post received the plurality of the alternative system vote.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, History
New Zealand's electoral system was reformed during the year 1996. A Royal Commission on the Electoral System was established in 1985 by the Fourth Labour Government, after the Labour Party had received more votes, yet won fewer seats than the National Party in both the 1978 and 1981 elections as a result of the existing first-past-the-post (FPP) system. It recommended the adoption of the mixed-member proportional (MMP) voting system.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, History
On 19 September 1992, an indicative referendum was held on whether to keep the existing FPP system or change to a new system, and if the system was changed, which system should replace FPP. By an overwhelming majority, 84.7% voted to change the system, and 70.5% chose MMP as the replacement system.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, History
A second binding referendum was held alongside the 1993 general election on 6 November 1993, asking voters to choose between changing to MMP and keeping the existing FPP system. The final result much closer than in 1992, with MMP winning the referendum 53.9% to 46.1% (1,032,919 votes to 884,964).


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, History
The first general election under MMP was in 1996. The 2011 general election was the sixth taken under this system.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Current system
A New Zealand MMP election gives the voter two votes: one for a party and one for the person they want to represent their electorate. The party votes determine what share of the 120 seats each party gets in Parliament, and the percentage of votes a party gets is ideally proportional to the percentage of seats the party gets. For example, if a party gets 25% of the votes, then they get 25% of the seats (i.e. 30 seats) more or less.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Current system
A party qualifies for seats only if it passes the electoral threshold – one electorate seat or 5% of the party vote – so the number of seats a party gets may not be fully proportional to the votes (e.g. in 2008, the National Party got 44.93% of the votes and 47.54% of the seats; and while ACT got 3.65% of the votes and 5 seats, New Zealand First got 4.07% of the votes but no seats as they did not win an electorate seat).


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Current system
Seventy electorate MPs are elected, one from each of the 70 electorates across New Zealand, using first past the post (one vote; highest number of votes wins). These MPs fill their party's share of the seats first. A party may win more electorates than seats it is entitled proportionally, resulting in one or more overhang seats and increasing the size of Parliament, as happened with the Māori Party in 2005 and 2008. Any seats vacant after a party has allocated its electorate seats are filled by MPs from the party's list.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Referendum planning
During the 2008 general election campaign, the National Party promised that if elected to Government it would hold a referendum on the voting system no later than 2011. National was of the view that it was time for the voting public to review the way they elected representatives. All the major political parties agreed with holding a referendum, although the Labour Party and the Green Party criticised the lack of an independent review of MMP before the referendum.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Referendum planning
They were of the view that National had a hidden agenda to replace the proportional MMP system with the semi-proportional Supplementary Member (SM) system, which has been described by Labour Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel and Green co-leader Metiria Turei as "first-past-the-post in drag".


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Referendum planning
In the referendum legislation it was announced by Amy Adams, MP for Selwyn and Chair of the Electoral Legislation Committee, that she did not believe the National Party would campaign in the referendum and instead suggested that "The whole purpose of this bill is for New Zealanders to make that decision" and this view has been reaffirmed so far at National Party regional conferences.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Referendum planning
On 20 October 2009, Justice Minister Simon Power announced that a referendum on the voting system would be held alongside the 2011 general election.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Enabling legislation
The Electoral Referendum Bill to legislate the referendum was introduced to Parliament on 25 March 2010, and passed all three readings unanimously. The bill received its Royal Assent and became the  (Public Act 2010 No 139) on 20 December 2010.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Enabling legislation
In the original version of the bill, there was no advertising spending limits. At the Select Committee stage, a $12,000 spending limit for unregistered promoters and a $300,000 spending limit for registered promoters was added in response to public consultation to "level the playing field", to "protect the integrity" of what is a constitutionally significant referendum, and to prevent wealthy individuals from influencing the outcome.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Enabling legislation
This largely came from the original 1993 referendum legislation not having spending limits, allowing the anti-MMP Campaign for Better Government (CBG), which was backed by a large business lobby, to spend an estimated $1.5 million in advertising compared to the pro-MMP Electoral Reform Coalition's $300,000. The limits were also designed to match the new spending limits by third parties in general elections, which were introduced by the Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Act 2010 that commenced at the same time as the Electoral Referendum Act on 1 January 2011.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Background, Enabling legislation
Other amendments were proposed at Select Committee and Committee of the House but were not passed. The ACT Party proposed including a third question on whether to retain or remove the separate Maori seats (rejected due to a clause in the confidence and supply agreement between the National and Maori parties) and to increase the registered promoter spending limit to $500,000 or $750,000. The Labour and Green parties proposed holding the review of the MMP system regardless of the referendum results.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Referendum
When voting in the 2011 general election, voters received a purple referendum ballot paper in addition to their normal orange voting paper. The ballot paper asks two questions. Voters could choose to answer both questions, only one of the questions, or neither question. Once the voters made their choice, the referendum ballot paper was deposited in a separate purple-coloured ballot box under their respective electorates.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Referendum
The first question is "Should New Zealand keep the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system?" The options provided are:


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Referendum
Simple Yes or No answers to this question have been avoided to reduce ambiguity – a problem that was encountered with the 2009 citizens-initiated referendum.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Referendum
The second question is "If New Zealand were to change to another voting system, which voting system would you choose?" The four choices offered are:


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Referendum, Alternative voting systems
First past the post was used in New Zealand prior to MMP, and the three other systems were recommended by the Royal Commission on the Electoral System for further scrutiny in 1986 and were voted on in 1992.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, After the referendum
Under the Electoral Referendum Act 2010, the referendum results could trigger the two possible outcomes. In the unlikely event of a tie, then the keep MMP option would eventuate.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, After the referendum, Majority vote to keep the MMP system
If the voters voted in majority to keep the existing MMP system, then the system would be retained.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, After the referendum, Majority vote to keep the MMP system
Also under the Electoral Referendum Act, if the majority of voters voted to keep MMP, then an inquiry into the MMP system would automatically be undertaken by the Electoral Commission to see if any modification is desirable, including to thresholds (currently a party needs 5% of the party vote or one electorate to get seats in Parliament), the order of candidates on party lists (the inability of voters to rank list candidates in order of preference), proportionality (overhangs, and the effects of population change on the number of general electorate seats), and dual candidacy (electorate candidates also running as list candidates).


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, After the referendum, Majority vote to keep the MMP system
There were calls from the Labour and Green parties, and even the opposing Vote for Change group, to hold the review of MMP regardless of the result of the referendum to resolve problems in the current system before it goes to the second referendum.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, After the referendum, Majority vote to change the electoral system
If the voters voted in majority to change to another electoral system, then the government following the 2011 election could call a second referendum to be held on or before the next general election (which assuming the 2011 election is held on 26 November, would have to occur on or before 31 January 2015). This second referendum, like in 1993, would allow voters to choose between the MMP system, and the alternative system that received the most votes in the 2011 referendum. The system that received the majority in the second referendum would become the voting system for the following general elections.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Campaigning, Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission started its information campaign in late May 2011, sending out information on the voting process with its enrollment update campaign. It has launched a , with information on the five voting systems.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Campaigning, Electoral Commission
On the decision for which voting system to vote for, the Electoral Commission said that no voting system is perfect, each system has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to the voters to decide. It did pose five questions for people to consider answers to on selecting a voting system:


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Campaigning, In favour of keeping MMP
The  group has been established to mobilise support for the mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation electoral system leading up to the 2011 referendum. It is headed by three spokespeople: New Zealand Tertiary Education Union president Sandra Grey, chair of the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand Lewis Holden and Dunedin writer and historian Philip Temple, and is supported by multiple people including former All Black captain Anton Oliver.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Campaigning, In favour of keeping MMP
The Green Party "welcomed" the referendum proposal, but argued for the questions to be written by an independent body, and to have spending limits on the campaign. The party supports the retention of MMP, saying it is a fair and representative system. Its late co-leader Rod Donald was a major advocate for the implementation of MMP in 1992/93, with the former co-leader alongside Donald, Jeanette Fitzsimons, saying the implementation of MMP was his greatest legacy.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Campaigning, In favour of changing system
The   group has been established to mobilise support for a change in the electoral system. It is headed as spokesperson by Wellington lawyer Jordan Williams, and the group is supported by multiple people, including former Crown Minister Michael Bassett, former chairman of Telecom (and main opponent of MMP in the 1993 referendum) Peter Shirtcliffe, and former Mayor of Wellington Kerry Prendergast. Bob Harvey, former Mayor of Waitakere City, withdrew his support for the group on 3 July 2011 over allegations another founding member had white supremacist links.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Campaigning, In favour of changing system
Peter Shirtcliffe, who campaigned against MMP in the 1992/93 referendums, has again supported campaigning against MMP. In April 2010, he and the late Graeme Hunt launched the  to advocate for the removal of MMP and its replacement with Supplementary Membership. However, in the announcement, he sent mixed signals on his opposition to MMP when he said that "Supplementary Membership already operates successfully in the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales" – both legislatures actually use a variant of MMP and not SM.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Campaigning, In favour of changing system
Shirtcliffe has also attacked the referendum process as flawed and called for a quicker second round of votes to allow any electoral system to be in place before the next general election, preferential voting on alternative voting systems and a question on the reduction of Parliament seats from 120 to 100.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Results
To prevent the delay of general election results, preliminary counts of the referendum results did not take place at polling places – instead the referendum ballot boxes were to be unsealed, inspected, packaged and sent to the Returning Officer of the electorate for an official count. Advance referendum votes were to be counted by the Returning Officers on election night, once he/she has completed the count of the advance election votes, and was to be released gradually on election night. In total, over 330,000 advance votes were cast, around 11% of the total New Zealand electorate. The official results, including all special votes, were released on 10 December 2011.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Results, Part A
In Part A, 57.8 percent of valid votes were in favour of keeping the MMP system, with 42.2 percent in favour of change. Around three percent of the votes were informal. Compared to the 1993 referendum, there was a 3.9 percent increase in support for the MMP system.


2011 New Zealand voting system referendum, Results, Part A
In terms of electorates, 56 voted in majority to keep MMP while 14 voted in majority to change system. The seven Maori electorates had the largest votes in favour of keeping MMP, with Waiariki having the highest percentage in favour – 85.5 percent. Clutha-Southland had the highest percentage in favour of change – 55.4 percent.


2011 Newark and Sherwood District Council election
The 2011 Shewood & Newark District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Shewood & Newark District Council in Nottinghamshire, England. The whole council was up for election. At the time of the 2011 Census the Local Authority had a population of, 114,817.


2011 Newark and Sherwood District Council election, By-elections between May 2011 - May 2015
By-elections are called when a representative councillor resigns or dies, so are unpredictable. A by-election is held to fill a political office that has become vacant between the scheduled elections.


2011 Newcastle City Council election
The 2011 Newcastle City Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect one third of the members of Newcastle City Council in England. The elections took place on the same day as other local elections.


2011 Newcastle City Council election
The result saw the Labour Party gain 12 seats from the Liberal Democrats, taking control of the council for the first time in seven years.


2011 Newcastle Knights season
The 2011 Newcastle Knights season was the 24th in the club's history. Coached by Rick Stone and captained by Kurt Gidley, they competed in the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership. The Knights finished the regular season in 8th place (out of 16), thus reaching the finals but were knocked out after losing to the Melbourne Storm in week 1.


2011 Newcastle Knights season, Jerseys and sponsors
In 2011, the Knights' jerseys were made by XBlades and their major sponsor was Coal & Allied.


2011 Newcastle Knights season, Representative honours
The following players appeared in a representative match in 2011.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Scotties Tournament of Hearts was held January 19-23 at the Bally Haly Golf and Curling Club in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The winning team of Stacie Devereaux represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where they finished the round robin with a record of 1-10.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Tankard
The 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Tankard was held February 1–5 at the Remax Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The winning team of Brad Gushue represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier in London, Ontario.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
The 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election occurred on October 11, 2011, to elect members of the 47th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party) formed a majority government in the 2007 election, with the Liberal Party serving as the Official Opposition and the New Democratic Party (NDP) serving as a third party.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Under amendments passed by the Legislature in 2004, elections in Newfoundland and Labrador are now held on fixed dates: the second Tuesday in October every four years.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
The Progressive Conservatives, led by Kathy Dunderdale, won their third straight majority government. Dunderdale became only the third woman in Canadian history to lead a political party to power. The Liberal Party, led by Kevin Aylward, formed the Official Opposition, however the party placed third in the popular vote and Aylward was not elected to the legislature. Lorraine Michael's New Democratic Party won a record number of seats and placed second in the popular vote for the first time in the province's history.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Background, Progressive Conservative Party
Under Dunderdale's leadership the PC Party won a third straight majority government, winning 37 seats in the House of Assembly and taking 56% of the popular vote.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Background, Progressive Conservative Party
The party platform included the phasing out of the payroll tax over six years, eliminating provincial student loans and replacing them with needs-based grants over four years, improving health care wait times, establishing a ceiling for new spending growth, investing a third of any surplus into unfunded public pension funds, the creation of a population growth strategy, reforming the adoption process to make it easier for people to adopt children and provide province-wide high-speed access within four years. While releasing the platform Dunderdale stated that promises outlined were contingent on fiscal conditions in the months and years to come.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Background, Liberal Party
Under Aylward's leadership the Liberal Party won a total of six seats. While they increased their number of seats, by two, the party placed third in the popular with 19.1%, the worst showing in their history.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Background, Liberal Party
The party platform advocated for the creation of a legacy fund for offshore oil revenues, a new deal to develop the Lower Churchill hydroelectric development, annual increase to retired public service pensions,  improve high-speed internet a cellphone service in rural areas, merge the Department of Business with the Department of Innovation, Trade, and Rural Development, establish a fisheries investment and diversification fund, creation of a fisheries loan board, initiate a judicial inquiry dealing with management of the fishery and operating a marine rescue subcentre in the province.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Background, New Democratic Party
Under Michael's leadership the NDP won a total of five seats and took 24.6% of the popular vote, the best result in the party's history. While the party placed second in the popular vote they placed third in seats.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Background, New Democratic Party
Their platform advocated for a 25% reduction in the small business tax, an all-day kindergarten pilot project starting in September 2012, an independent review of the health care system, elimination of the “tax on tax” on gasoline and diesel fuel, regular increases in the minimum wage, reductions in public post-secondary tuition fees with a move towards free tuition, and the introduction of a three per cent petroleum royalty surcharge on oil companies.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Party leadership
Following Liberal leader Gerry Reid's defeat in the 2007 general election he resigned as the party's leader. The party subsequently chose Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair MHA Yvonne Jones as interim leader of the party and therefore the Official Opposition Leader in the House of Assembly. The party delayed calling a leadership election until 2010, and when nominations for the leadership closed on July 30, 2010 Jones was the only candidate to come forward and was acclaimed leader of the party.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Party leadership
Only weeks later on August 13, 2010, Jones announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and would be taking time off to undergo treatment. During her time off Liberal House Leader Kelvin Parsons took over for Jones on an interim basis. The Liberal convention that would swear Jones in as leader was rescheduled from October 2010, to May 2011, due to her illness. She was sworn in as leader on May 28, 2011. On August 8, 2011, it was announced that Jones would step down as leader the following day on the advice of her doctor. The Liberal Party executive chose former MHA and cabinet minister Kevin Aylward as her successor on August 14, 2011.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Party leadership
On November 25, 2010, Premier Danny Williams made the surprise announcement that he would resign as leader and premier the next week. On December 3, 2010, Kathy Dunderdale, Williams' Deputy Premier, was sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador's tenth Premier. Although she had originally stated she would not seek the permanent leadership she announced on December 30, 2010, she would run for the Progressive Conservative leadership. Her announcement came after several high-profile cabinet ministers announced they would not run and endorsed her candidacy. In January 2011, Dunderdale was acclaimed party leader when she was the only eligible candidate to seek the leadership. On April 2, 2011, she was sworn in as leader of the Progressive Conservatives.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Campaign
At 10:00 am on September 19, 2011, Premier Dunderdale met with Lieutenant Governor John Crosbie who dissolved the 46th General Assembly, officially launching the election campaign. It was widely expected that the PCs would win the election.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Campaign, Issues
The tentative deal to develop the $6.2 billion Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador was negotiated by the Progressive Conservative government in November 2010. The Liberal Party opposes the deal, saying it is bad for the province because it will increase the province's debt and will see electricity rates increase for consumers. The NDP have had similar concerns and both party leaders have called for spending on the project to stop until more independent analysis' can be conducted to see if the current deal is the best one for the province.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Campaign, Issues
The Liberal Party announced they would provide a one-time increase to public sector pensioners of 2.5%, as well as provide annual increases equivalent to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up to 2%. While Aylward has said increasing payments would cost $13 million in the first year and about $10 million extra for each additional year, the Department of Finance stated that the plan would add $1.2 billion in additional liabilities to the pension plan. Dunderdale slammed the Liberal Party's plan calling it 'foolhardy'.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Campaign, Controversies
Toward the end of the campaign, Tory Leader Kathy Dunderdale was confronted by frustrated fisheries workers in Marystown in the district of Burin-Placentia West held by Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture Clyde Jackman. Dunderdale, accompanied by Jackman and Grand Bank district MHA Darin King, refused to negotiate with the workers until after the election. Jackman went on to win the election by only 40 votes.


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Campaign, Controversies
Controversy arose at the St. John's Board of Trade debate when Liberal candidate Danny Dumaresque was asked about an appeal by the mayor of St. John's for a new financial arrangement between the city and the provincial government. Dumaresque stated that "there are a hell of a lot more priorities outside the overpass that need to be addressed before we start forking more money over to the City of St. John's." The comment led to divisions within the party, with Liberal candidate Drew Brown stating it was an “idiotic comment by an idiotic man.”


2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, Results by district
Bold incumbents indicates party leaders. The premier's name is boldfaced and italicized.


2011 Newry and Mourne District Council election
Elections to Newry and Mourne District Council were held on 5 May 2011 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used five district electoral areas to elect a total of 30 councillors.


2011 Newry and Mourne District Council election, Districts results, Crotlieve
2005: 3 x SDLP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Green, 1 x Independent2011: 4 x SDLP, 3 x Sinn Féin2005-2011 Change: SDLP and Sinn Féin gain from Green and Independent


2011 Newry and Mourne District Council election, Districts results, Newry Town
2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 3 x SDLP, 1 x Independent2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 2 x Independent2005-2011 Change: Independent gain from SDLP


2011 Newry and Mourne District Council election, Districts results, Slieve Gullion
2005: 4 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP2011: 4 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP2005-2011 Change: No change


2011 Newry and Mourne District Council election, Districts results, The Fews
2005: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP2011: 3 x Sinn Féin, 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP2005-2011 Change: UUP gain from DUP


2011 Newry and Mourne District Council election, Districts results, The Mournes
2005: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin2011: 1 x UKIP, x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Sinn Féin2005-2011 Change: UKIP gain from UUP


2011 News Corporation scandals
In mid-2011, out of a series of investigations following up the News of the World royal phone hacking scandal of 2005–2007, a series of related scandals developed surrounding other News Corporation properties—where initially the scandal appeared contained to a single journalist at the News of the World (with the 2007 jailing of Clive Goodman and the resignation of then-editor Andy Coulson), investigations eventually revealed a much wider pattern of wrongdoing. This led to the closure of the News of the World on 10 July 2011, an apology by Rupert Murdoch in an advertisement in most British national newspapers, and the withdrawing of News Corporation's bid to take over the majority of BSkyB shares it did not own.


2011 News Corporation scandals
Investigations continued into what the company and individuals at the company knew of the phone hacking and when, as well as into other issues, including questions around police bribery. Since police renewed investigations in 2011, 90 people have been arrested and 16 charged with crimes in conjunction with illegal acquisition of confidential information, many if not most of them employees or agents of News Corp.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United Kingdom, Police corruption
In a September 2010 interview broadcast on 7 July 2011, on the BBC Radio 4 news programme The World at One, former News of the World features editor Paul McMullan made an admission relating to police corruption. He told of having used material obtained by a colleague's bribery of a police officer as the basis of a series of articles published over several years on Jennifer Elliott, the daughter of the actor Denholm Elliott.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United Kingdom, Police corruption
He stated, 'The going rate for that kind of thing might have been two to five hundred pounds and that would have been authorised, and he [i.e. the police officer] would have been paid... and he would have been on the lookout for another story...' The articles described Ms Elliott's destitute situation and stated that she had worked as a prostitute. Jennifer Elliott killed herself in 2003. In Mr McMullan's opinion the News of the World – specifically, his own articles – contributed significantly to her suicide. In 2011, the paper knowingly used private investigators to gain stories from corrupt police officers.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United Kingdom, Operation Elveden
In July 2011, the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Elveden, a probe examining illicit payments to police officers.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United Kingdom, Operation Elveden
On 11 February 2012, the BBC reported that a number of people, including five Sun employees, were arrested by police regarding allegations of corrupt payments to police and public officials. On 20 November 2012, it was reported that several individuals were to be charged with conspiring to commit misconduct in public office—former CEO Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, Clive Goodman, and Bettina Jordan-Barber.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
News Corporation owns a multitude of news outlets in the United States, including the New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Fox News Channel. Several media critics have called for investigations into whether they too engaged in phone hacking activities. In addition to any possible illegal activities in the U.S., News Corporation and/or its executives might also face civil and criminal liability under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
On 24 February 2011, The New York Times reported that court documents in another, unconnected case revealed that the senior executive at News Corporation that Judith Regan referred to in her 2007 wrongful termination case against HarperCollins was Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News. Regan claimed that Ailes had previously encouraged her to lie to federal investigators who were vetting Bernard B. Kerik, who had been nominated for Secretary of Homeland Security by President George W. Bush. Ailes allegedly gave the orders to protect his close friend, Rudy Giuliani, who was running for president at the time. HarperCollins settled their case for $10.75 million.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
According to a former New York City police officer who spoke to The Mirror in 2009, the News of the World also attempted to retrieve private phone records of victims of the 11 September attacks. In light of the suspected hacking, Senate Commerce Committee chairman Jay Rockefeller suggested that a U.S. investigation of News Corporation should be launched. On 14 July, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced it was launching an investigation into alleged hacking by News Corporation.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
New investigations might also consider issues which had been raised in the past. In 2008, Dan Cooper, one of the co-founders of Fox News, alleged that network president Roger Ailes had threatened to ruin his long-time agent's business if Cooper wasn't dropped as a client. This followed an interview Cooper had given to David Brock for New York magazine shortly after his Fox contract ended in June 1997. Cooper concluded that Ailes had pre-publication knowledge of his interview with Brock, believing that he had accessed Brock's phone records through Fox News' "Brain Room", which he claimed "housed a counterintelligence and black ops office." Fox News denied Cooper's allegations.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
On 20 July 2011, US Senator Frank Lautenberg wrote a letter to the Department of Justice requesting that the ongoing FBI probe include allegations that Floorgraphics had also been hacked by News America Marketing, a major marketing business owned by News Corporation. On 21 July, it was reported that representatives of the US Dept. of Justice and the FBI had begun investigation into the Floorgraphics allegations.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
News Corp is also being investigated over claims that senior executives misled investors in 2011, causing the company's stock to be traded at an artificially high price. A US class action has been filed for investors who purchased News Corporation common stock between 3 March 2011, and 11 July 2011.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
On 11 July 2011, a group of shareholders led by Amalgamated Bank who were already suing News Corps over the purchase of Rupert Murdoch's daughter's media company, Shine Group, updated the lawsuit to include accusations that the board of News Corp "fail[ed] to exercise proper oversight and take sufficient action since news of the hacking first surfaced at its subsidiary nearly six years ago." On 13 September they added further charges concerning the Floorgraphics case and the behaviour of another of News Corps subsidiary companies, NDS Group.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
The shareholders' attorney said that the phone hacking which took place in the UK was "part of a much broader, historic pattern of corruption at News Corp., under the acquiescence of a board that was fully aware of the wrongdoing, if not directly complicit in the actions." News Corp has yet to issue a statement on the new allegations.


2011 News Corporation scandals, United States
In November 2012, it was reported that agents of News Corp had illegally bribed a member of the US military to obtain a photograph of an imprisoned Saddam Hussein wearing only his underwear. The photo was subsequently published in a News Corp outlet. Bribing public officials is a violation of the US's Foreign corrupt practices act.


2011 News Corporation scandals, Australia
In light of News Corporations global review, John Hartigan the boss of News Corps Australian company News Limited, announced a review of all payments in the previous three years, and that he was personally willing to co-operate with any Australian Government led inquiry. On 22 July, it was reported that two former Victorian Supreme Court Judges, Frank Vincent and Bernard Teague, will act as independent assessors of how the review is run and will also assess its outcome.


2011 News Corporation scandals, Australia
In a recent action of wrongful dismissal by the editor in chief of the highest read daily newspaper against The Herald Sun newspaper, published by a subsidiary of the defendant, News Limited, accusations about the reliability of Mr Hartigan as a witness under oath have been made. During the period relevant to the proceedings, Mr John Hartigan was the chairman, and chief executive officer, of News Limited. Justice J Kaye deliberated in his 2010 findings against him in his role as boss of NewsCorp. Specifically Justice Kaye found Hartigan's evidence to be unreliable. Justice Kaye further commented that "were aspects about his evidence, which lead him to be cautious about accepting a number of critical features of it."


2011 News Corporation scandals, Australia
The Australian Greens called for a parliamentary inquiry into News Limited, but Hartigan directly denied allegations by both the Greens and the governing Labor party that News Limited has been running a campaign against them, describing his group's journalism as "aggressive but fair."


2011 News Corporation scandals, Australia
The administration of Prime Minister Julia Gillard stalled a ruling by an independent panel for Sky's bid to run the Australia Network, imposing a "national interest" bar on the process. After the Murdochs had appeared in front of the UK Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 19 July, Gillard commented that: "When people have seen telephones hacked into, when people have seen individuals grieving having to deal with all of this, then I do think that causes them to ask some questions here in our country."


2011 News Corporation scandals, Australia
On 13 September 2011, the government announced an inquiry into the country's media. Areas of scrutiny include the protection of privacy and the role of the Australian Press Council.


2011 News Corporation scandals, Australia
On 21 September 2011, documents were leaked to the news website Crikey detailing a proposed rebranding of News Limited as News Australia.


2011 News Corporation scandals, Australia
In 2012 following a BBC Panorama report, allegations were made that News Corp subsidiary, News Datacom Systems (NDS) had used hackers to undermine pay TV rivals in Australia and elsewhere. Some of the victims of the alleged hacking, such as Austar were later taken over by News Corp. NDS had originally been set up to provide security to News Corp's pay TV interests but emails obtained by Fairfax Media revealed they had also pursued a wider agenda by distributing the keys to rival set top box operators and seeking to obtain phone records of suspected rivals. The emails were from the hard drive of NDS European chief, Ray Adams. In 2012 it was also revealed that Australian Federal police were working with UK police to investigate hacking by News Corp.


2011 News Corporation scandals, Criticism of coverage by News Corporation-owned outlets
Various News Corporation owned media outlets have come out in defense of News Corporation, these defenses have themselves met with criticism. The Wall Street Journal, a News Corporation owned outlet, opined that "politicians and our competitors are using the phone-hacking years ago at a British corner of News Corp. to assail the Journal, and perhaps injure press freedom in general." The Times of London, also owned by NewsCorp, published an editorial cartoon labeled "Priorities" that depicted three naked Somalians holding empty bowls. One said, "I've had a bellyful of phone-hacking ...".


2011 News Corporation scandals, Criticism of coverage by News Corporation-owned outlets
Researchers from the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism reported that Newscorp's Australian papers gave the scandal much less coverage than independent papers. The authors also reported that "all papers carried at least one editorial [...] on phone hacking [...] Not one editorial supported the idea that there should be an inquiry into Australia's media."


2011 Newtownabbey Borough Council election
Elections to Newtownabbey Borough Council were held on 5 May 2011 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used four district electoral areas to elect a total of 25 councillors.


2011 Newtownabbey Borough Council election, Districts results, Antrim Line
2005: 3 x DUP, 1 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP2011: 2 x DUP, 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x Alliance, 1 x SDLP, 1 x UUP2005-2011 Change: Sinn Féin gain from DUP


2011 Newtownabbey Borough Council election, Districts results, Ballyclare
2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP2011: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance2005-2011 Change: Alliance gain from UUP


2011 Newtownabbey Borough Council election, Districts results, Macedon
2005: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Newtownabbey Ratepayers, 1 x Independent2011: 4 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance2005-2011 Change: DUP gain from Independent, Newtownabbey Ratepayers joins Alliance


2011 Newtownabbey Borough Council election, Districts results, University
2005: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x United Unionist2011: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 2 x Alliance2005-2011 Change: Alliance gain from UUP, United Unionist joins UUP


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250
The 2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250 was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on February 18, 2011. The race was the first of the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing won the pole position, while Michael Waltrip of Vision Aviation Racing won.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Qualifying
46 trucks entered the race. Todd Bodine led the first practice session with a top speed of 193.175 miles per hour (310.885 km/h), while Cole Whitt led the second and final with a speed of 191.026 mph (307.427 km/h). Qualifying was held on February 17. Austin Dillon clinched the pole position with a lap speed of 179.047 mph (288.148 km/h), his eighth-career Truck Series pole. Following Dillon was James Buescher, Ron Hornaday, Jr., Ricky Carmichael and rookie Johanna Long, while the top ten closed with Elliott Sadler, Matt Crafton, Joey Coulter, Johnny Sauter and Brad Sweet.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Qualifying
Nelson Piquet, Jr. initially qualified fourth, but, along with Aric Almirola, were disqualified after post-qualifying inspection when it was revealed that their trucks were too low, and were forced to start from the rear. Rick Crawford, Cole Whitt, Tayler Malsam, Chris Eggleston, Alli Owens, Mike Skinner, Jamie Dick, Brent Raymer, Grant Enfinger and Clay Greenfield failed to qualify. Although Skinner was eligible for the past champion's provisional, due to being the 1995 series champion, his team, Eddie Sharp Racing, failed to enter the race in time.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Race
James Buescher led the first 55 laps, and on lap 37, rookie Joey Coulter cut down a tire and crashed into the turn 2 wall, bringing out the first caution of the race. On the second caution for Donnie Neuenberger's bed cover falling off the truck in turn 4, Timothy Peters took the lead after taking only fuel on lap 56, followed by Ricky Carmichael and Buescher. On lap 66, Justin Marks' hood loosened and covered the windshield, causing him to crash into turn 1.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Race
The green flag flew from lap 70 to 75, when Travis Kvapil's tire blew and hit five trucks, while Neuenberger, who was running in the back, failed to slow down in time and collided with other trucks; altogether, 14 trucks (Kvapil, Neuenberger, Max Papis, Matt Crafton, Todd Bodine, Johnny Sauter, Ron Hornaday Jr., Johanna Long, Justin Lofton, Brendan Gaughan, T. J. Bell, Jason White, Craig Goess and Jennifer Jo Cobb) were involved. On lap 85, the caution was flown after Lofton crashed into David Starr.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Race
The green flag flew from lap 89 to 97, when Aric Almirola collided with Brad Sweet, creating a nine-truck crash also involving Austin Dillon, Papis, Kyle Busch, Parker Kligerman, Bodine, Chris Fontaine and Buscher. As a result, officials stopped the race for ten minutes to clean up, and the 100-lap race was extended to initiate a green-white-checker finish.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Race
Sometime during the lap under caution before the final restart, the right half of Waltrip's rear spoiler collapsed and fell flat, greatly reducing the aerodynamic drag on his truck that the spoiler is designed to do at Daytona, to limit top speed and encourage drafting. This suddenly gave his truck a prohibitive advantage.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Race
On the final lap, Waltrip pushed Elliott Sadler far ahead of the pack, and with his illegally advantaged truck, easily passed him on his outside in the final yards to claim his first Truck Series win, becoming the 22nd driver to win in all three of NASCAR's top series (Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Trucks). The win was on the ten-year anniversary of Waltrip's first career NASCAR Cup Series win in the 2001 Daytona 500, which was also the site of Waltrip's team owner Dale Earnhardt's death. Clay Rogers, Miguel Paludo and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five, followed by Cobb (the highest finish by a woman in the Truck Series, and the first top 10 by a female in NASCAR's top three series), Jeffrey Earnhardt, Carmichael, Buescher and Crafton.


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Post-race
"This day, it was hard. I've been emotional all day long. It's been really emotional. I just was determined to win the race for him. So I'm drained. I'm thankful. I didn't come here to celebrate winning the 2001 Daytona 500. I came here to celebrate Dale's life and honor him."


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Post-race
Afterwards, NASCAR confiscated Waltrip's rear spoiler, half of it having fallen; NASCAR reported it to be a failure, but continued to examine it. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp stated, "It appeared to be a failed part. The spoiler broke on the green-white-checkered finish. Our typical procedure is, instead of having an immediate reaction, we'll take a look and, if necessary, we'll have whatever reaction is appropriate the first of the week."


2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250, Post-race
Eventually, the team was revealed to have "violated Sections 12–1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules), and 20B-3.1.2E (rear spoiler did not meet specifications in post-race inspection)". Vision Aviation Racing owner Billy Ballew was penalized 25 owner points, while crew chief Doug Howe was fined $25,000, and was placed on probation for the remainder of the year. As Waltrip was not competing for Truck Series points, he was not penalized any drivers points.


2011 Nicaraguan general election
General elections were held in Nicaragua on 6 November 2011. The incumbent president Daniel Ortega, won a third term in this election, with a landslide victory.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Background
The Sandinista National Liberation Front (Spanish: Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional, FSLN) returned to power with Daniel Ortega as president in 2007 after losing the 1990 general elections to the National Opposition Union (UNO) and its candidate, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. It was the third election (1984, 1990, 2011) that the Sandinista National Liberation Front contested an election being in power.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Background
Although the constitution had banned the re-election of a sitting president, the Constitutional Court ruled in 2009 that the ban was unenforcable and that Ortega could run again.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Background
He faced Fabio Gadea Mantilla of the Independent Liberal Party, who was in alliance with other opposition forces both to the right and to the center-left of the national political spectrum including the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS).


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Background
Another candidate was former President Arnoldo Alemán, backed by the traditional Constitutionalist Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Constitucionalista – PLC). Alemán had been convicted in 2003 for corruption and money laundering and been given a 20-year jail sentence, but his conviction was controversially overturned in 2009.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Electoral system
Nicaragua's legislative elections operate within a list proportional representation voting system and so the percentage of votes that each party receives grants it the same proportion of seats in the legislature, with no minimum vote boundary. The 62.69% of the vote Ortega received in the election translated to nearly two-thirds of government seats for his party, falling just a few seats short of the two-thirds required to amend the constitution in Nicaragua.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Alliance for the Republic (APRE)
President: Miguel Angel García, then Róger Guevara MenaMiguel Angel García is a leader of the evangelical organization Asamblea de Dios and a former education minister in the government of Enrique Bolaños. In an interview, García stated that God guided his acceptance of this candidacy and is assuring him he will win with the backing of a million votes.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Alliance for the Republic (APRE)
Elizabeth Rojas is an evangelical pastor and the running mate of Miguel Angel García on the APRE ticket.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Constitutionalist Liberal Party
President: Arnoldo AlemánArnoldo Alemán was President of Nicaragua from 1997 to 2002. In the early 1990s he became Mayor of Managua after serving for two months as a councillor in Managua. He was popular due to his urban renewal projects which helped spruce up the city, severely damaged and never rebuilt after a 1972 earthquake. Alemán was constitutionally barred from running for another term, and was succeeded by his vice president, Enrique Bolaños. Allegations emerged that Alemán was concealing massive corruption in his administration. At the end of his presidency, public information about alleged corruption committed under his government became available.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Constitutionalist Liberal Party
Vice-President: Francisco Aguirre SacasaFrancisco Aguirre, national secretary of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party, is the running mate of Arnoldo Alemán in the 2011 general election.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Independent Liberal Party
President: Fabio Gadea MantillaFabio Gadea Mantilla is a radio journalist, writer, and politician. He is owner and co-founder of the news radio station Radio Corporación. He also represents Nicaragua as deputy to the Central American Parliament and was President of that body in 2004–2005, as well as having been a member of its Commission of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology from 2007 onward.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Independent Liberal Party
Vice-President: Edmundo JarquínEdmundo Jarquín was the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) vice-presidential candidate in the 2006 general elections. He finished in fourth place, receiving 6.29% of the votes. Jarquín founded in 1974, together with Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal, editor of newspaper La Prensa, the Democratic Liberation Union (UDEL) in the struggle against the Anastasio Somoza Debayle regime. Jarquín was head of the Ministry of Foreign Cooperation between 1981–84 and ambassador to Mexico (1984–88) and to Spain (1988–1990). In the 1990 elections he gained a seat in the National Assembly. Jarquín worked as an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) official from 1992 to 2005 when he resigned and joined the MRS electoral alliance.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Sandinista National Liberation Front
President: Daniel OrtegaDaniel Ortega, coordinator of the Junta of National Reconstruction (1979–1985), ascended to the presidency after the 1984 elections. Ortega, general secretary of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), was President of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990 and presidential candidate of the FSLN in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2006. In the 2006 general elections, Ortega won with 37.99% of the votes. Daniel Ortega placed first in all major polling prior to the election. Ortega ran his campaign ran on an anti-poverty platform, pulling broad support from across the country. After 85.2% of the votes were counted, The Electoral Council said that Ortega had 62.69% of the vote and the Liberal Party's Fabio Gadea had 30.96%. They confirmed Ortega's victory on 8 November.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Presidential candidates, Sandinista National Liberation Front
Omar Halleslevens, a former Sandinista guerilla fighter, founder of the Sandinista Popular Army in 1979 and head of the armed forces between 2005 and 2010 is the vice-presidential candidate of the FSLN. In a poll conducted by M&R in 2009, Hallesleven was the second most popular public figure in the country, only behind Aminta Granera, the head of the National Police. In the same poll, 73.3% of the public regarded the National Army as the most trustworthy public institution in the country.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Alliance for the Republic
The Alliance for the Republic (Spanish: Alianza por la República – APRE) is formed by dissidents of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party and the Conservative Party (PC). In the 2006 general elections, APRE contested the elections in alliance with the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance, an election in which the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance's candidate placed second. For the 2011 election, these two parties remained allied and it was rumoured that they were being financed by and working with the governing party.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Constitutionalist Liberal Party
The Constitutionalist Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Constitucionalista – PLC) is leading the GANA PLC-PC alliance together with the members of the Conservative Party. The Constitutionalist Liberal Party is one of the two major parties in the Nicaraguan 2 party system, along with the FSLN. Other parties struggle to achieve electoral success against these two parties. The Constitutionalist Liberal Party emerged from the Liberal Party of Nicaragua, along with the FSLN. The PLC merged with other smaller liberal groups in order to form a strong enough opposition to the FSLN.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Independent Liberal Party
The Independent Liberal Party is leading the UNE alliance (Nicaraguan Unity for the Hope – Spanish: Unidad Nicaragüense por la Esperanza). The UNE is composed by the Sandinista Renovation Movement, the liberal Vamos con Eduardo and Liberales por un proyecto de nación movements, the Citizens Union for Democracy (an alliance of 14 local non-profits), a faction of the Nicaraguan Resistance Party, the Conservative Unity Movement (formed by dissidents of the Conservative Party) and the Alcaldes 9 de Noviembre movement (former allies of the Liberal Constitutionalist Party).


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance
The Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (Spanish: Alianza Liberal Nicaragüense – ALN) is formed by dissidents of the Constitutionalist Liberal Party and the Conservative Party (PC). The group was formed as a response to Arnoldo Alemán's leadership of the Constitutional Liberal Party after allegations of his corruption. Along with general disgust of Alemán, the party formed when the PLC publicly allied with Daniel Ortega. Under the leadership of Eduardo Montealegre, other smaller liberal parties formed an alliance with the Conservative Party.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Sandinista National Liberation Front
Headed by Daniel Ortega since 1978, the Sandinista National Liberation front was formed in order to overthrow the Samoza family dictatorship that had been running the country for 46 years. In 1979, Ortega's Third Tendencia, a political sect of the party, overthrew the dictatorship and the new government quickly disposed of the Samoza family's land holdings and made public the country's major industries, but allowed smaller and medium-sized businesses to stay private.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Sandinista National Liberation Front
Since then, the party has yielded much power and even since the establishment of elections, has still managed to make up the majority of seats in the National Assembly, have major influence over the Nicaraguan Supreme Court, and maintain a passionate support base that consistently has good election turnout, despite supporters only making up around 30% of the population. The success of the FSLN in elections can be attributed to combination of passionate support base (with good voter turnout) and relatively inactive and indifferent Independent voters in Nicaragua, who have notoriously weak turnout for elections.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Sandinista National Liberation Front
After the break-up of the FSLN-Convergence alliance in 2005, the FSLN formed the United Nicaragua Triumphs alliance. The allied political forces of the FSLN are; Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA), the indigenous party from Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast, Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Christian Unity Movement (MUC), Popular Conservative Alliance (APC) and a few smaller organisations of dissidents from the Constitutionalist Liberal Party and the Conservative Party and a fraction of members from the Nicaraguan Resistance Party, including members of the PLN, Anastasio Somoza Debayle's Liberal Party.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Contending parties and electoral alliances, Sandinista National Liberation Front
However, in years later, the YATAMA indigenous advocacy organization turned political party announced their opposition to the FSLN when they clashed on issues of demarcation of indigenous lands and violence towards indigenous people. In 2006, YATAMA decided to ally with the FSLN to get their leader, Brooklyn Rivera, into a government position to represent the party; Rivera was elected as an Assemblyman but broke with FSLN in 2014 when he accused the party of stealing regional elections.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
In October 2009, the Supreme Court, which has a majority of Sandinista judges, overturned presidential term limits as set by the constitution. Previously, the constitution of Nicaragua specifically prohibited consecutive terms and limited presidents to holding office for two terms. Many opponents claim that the bid to overturn the term limits should have been taken to Congress, because it requires full constitutional reform. Ortega initially proposed a congressional referendum amending the constitution, but his plan never came to fruition.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
The case was tried in the Constitutional Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Justice (or CSJ) as a case of amparo, a method through which citizens whose constitutional rights have been violated may approach the courts for compensation. The amparo framework functions as a redress of grievances, wherein the court's decision impacts only the plaintiff, or individual(s) bringing forth the complaint.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
The use of amparo to address electoral reform greatly narrows the impact of the decision: because the injunction was filed by Ortega and 109 Sandinista mayors, the topic in question was whether the Constitution's ban on re-election violated the political rights of that group specifically. As a result, the ruling on re-elections applied solely to Ortega and the FSLN mayors; any opposition candidates seeking exemption to the re-election limits would have to file their own petition.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
The decision was made unanimously by six judges from the governing Sandinista party, including three who were summoned as replacements when opposition magistrates did not attend. One such magistrate, Sergio Cuarezma, a member of the court's constitutional chamber, claims he was never informed of the afternoon session that overturned the ban. Another magistrate also claimed they were not given enough time to meet, and the third magistrate was out of the country, leading to allegations that the court convened without establishing a legal quorum.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
Critics said this constitutional change could set the stage for Ortega to have the presidency for life. Furthermore, with a commanding majority in the election he could also promote constitutional changes to allow for his re-election indefinitely.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
The results of the election were widely protested and produced diverse reactions. Fabio Gadea, an opposition candidate, said that "We cannot accept these results, since they represent not the will of the Nicaraguan people but of the Supreme Electoral Council," which was also controlled by Ortega's Sandinistas. Several Nicaraguan groups were forbidden from monitoring the election, causing the leader of the group of observers from the EU to note that the fact that domestic observation groups were not accredited "represents a problem for the transparency of the whole exercise."


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
Hagamos Democracia and Etica y Transparencia, the largest domestic election organizations, were also critical of the election. Etica y Transparencia— which was not granted observer accreditation by the Ortega administration— later released a statement saying that "We estimate that the electoral process does not meet with the required minimum universal guarantees for an election," and Hagamos Democracia reported that four people suffered gunshot wounds and 20 were arrested in the north of the country. The leader of the Organization of American States observers, Dante Caputo, claimed that his staff was blocked from ten polling stations midway through voting, and the EU team of observers said they faced "sometimes inexplicable obstacles" to access.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
Additionally, complaints from international observers raised questions about the validity of Ortega's margin of victory. Observers from the United States and other countries claim that the 2011 elections were flawed, and were manipulated by Ortega to strengthen his control of national institutions. However, the Sandinistas are widely popular and have strong public support as a result of their social programs (which have improved the standards of living for many poor Nicaraguans), so many observers conceded that Ortega would most likely have won the elections regardless of whether or not he committed fraud.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
Freedom of the press was another area of contention, as many Nicaraguan journalists felt that they lacked the ability to speak freely. In June 2011, Journalist Roberto Mora spoke about the fear felt by independent journalists and how many feel that this has led to their self-censorship, saying "In order to avoid problems with the government, independent journalists are forced to censor themselves and avoid covering any controversial issues that may arouse the ire of the government." The Ortega family owns TV and radio stations, giving him control over much of the mass media, which, as a result, rarely gave air time to the opposition.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Controversy
After the polls closed, the Organisation of American States' observer mission, led by former Argentine foreign minister Dante Caputo, said that its job was hindered in 10 of 52 polling stations and was "worrying. If we had trouble in 10 out of 52 polling stations, that means that in 20 per cent of the sample on which we normally base our assessment, we haven't been able to work as we normally do. That means that we can't say that things went appropriately in 100 per cent of the polling stations."


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
Reactions were diverse and not unified on the result of the election, both in Nicaragua and internationally.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
To illustrate the disparity of opinions and statements, below are a series of deviating positions on the election:


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
Those who did not recognize the election results:Local Electoral Observers such as the "Hagamos Democracia" and "Etica and Transparencia" have rejected the electoral results.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
The Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua considered the election not to be transparent. They claimed that the election results did not accurately represent the will of the people.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
The European Union Electoral Observers stated that "the process was led by an electoral system that was not independent and that failed to fulfill its job of transparency and collaboration with all political parties."


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
The Higher Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) called for a replacement for the CSE.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
The main opposition candidate, Fabio Gadea of the Liberal Independent Party, has also denounced the election as "fraud". President Ortega has urged his opponents to accept the results several times. The president of Nicaragua's election authority, Roberto Rivas, stated that "a process is legitimate if the people's wishes were respected, and that is what we are experiencing here." Gadea said that the result was allegedly plagued with vices and "that we suspect that we are in the presence of fraud of unprecedented proportions;" he also added that members of his party should await instructions as "the struggle continues."


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
The United States coincided with European Union Observers "that the Supreme Electoral Council did not operate in a transparent and impartial manner".


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
There have been three notable post-election violent clashes. Three opposition supporters were killed by the National Police in San Jose de Cusmapa, while one activist was killed in Siuna. The government and opposition has also clashed several times in the capital, Managua, during weekly protests for fair and transparent elections. The demonstrators gathered every week in front of the Supreme Electoral Council in the center of Managua.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
Those who did recognize the election results:The Organization of American States ratified, that the results of the Nicaraguan general elections of 2011, won by Daniel Ortega Saavedra with more than 62 percent of the vote, corresponded to the count realized by this and other organizations during their electoral observer mission in Nicaragua. While they recognize the results, their report noted that there were several irregularities during the election involving providing identification cards to vote, proper accreditation of the election observers, and an imbalance in political parties present at polling stations.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
The Carter Center issued a statement in the election aftermath stating "We acknowledge the strong electoral support given to President Ortega in Sunday's election".


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
The head of accompanying mission of the European Union (EU), Luis Yáñez called the triumph of Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista Front in the Nicaraguan General Elections indubitable and ruled out any possibility of fraud during them.


2011 Nicaraguan general election, Reactions
Rosario Murillo, Ortega's wife and spokeswoman, said of the win that: "This is the victory of Christianity, socialism and solidarity;" she also repeated Ortega's campaign slogan – "Our promise is to keep building the common good." Ortega's flourishing social programs and improvements to the economy has made him increasingly popular with both the working class and the poor.


2011 Nicholls State Colonels football team
The 2011 Nicholls State Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonels were led by second-year head coach Charlie Stubbs and played their home games at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium. They are a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 1–10, 0–7 in Southland play to finish in last place.


2011 Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards
The 2011 Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards were held on 23 July 2011, at the Tennis Indoor Senayan in Setiabudi, South Jakarta and hosted by Tika Panggabean, Djoni Permanto, and Hermann Josis Mokalu. The ceremony held the theme for "Slime Factory".


2011 Nickelodeon Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards
Agnes Monica, Afgan, Irfan Bachdim, Nikita Willy, Olga Syahputra, and Raffi Ahmad led the nominations with two categories. Nikita Willy and SM*SH were biggest winner of the night, taking home two awards apiece.


2011 Nicky Rackard Cup
The 2011 Nicky Rackard Cup is the seventh season of the Nicky Rackard Cup since its establishment in 2005. A total of six teams will contest the Nicky Rackard Cup, including five sides from the 2010 Nicky Rackard Cup and one promoted team from the 2010 Lory Meagher Cup. The teams are:


2011 Nicky Rackard Cup, Structure
The tournament has a double elimination format - each team will play at least two games before being knocked out.


2011 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships
The 2011 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships was a professional tennis tournament played on hard courts. It was the 20th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2011 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Winnetka, United States between June 26 and July 3 2011.


2011 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships, ATP entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2011 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships, ATP entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received entry as a special exempt into the singles main draw:


2011 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships, Champions, Doubles
Treat Conrad Huey /  Bobby Reynolds def. Jordan Kerr /  Travis Parrott, 7–6(9–7), 6–4


2011 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships – Doubles
Ryler DeHeart and Pierre-Ludovic Duclos were the defending champions and only Duclos decided to participate. He played with Alex Kuznetsov, but they lost to Jordan Kerr and Travis Parrott in the first round. The Australian/American pair reached the final, where Treat Conrad Huey and Bobby Reynolds defeated them 7–6(9–7), 6–4.


2011 Nielsen Pro Tennis Championships – Singles
Brian Dabul was the defending champion. He lost in the first round to Robby Ginepri. 2nd seed James Blake defeated 5th seed Bobby Reynolds in the all-American final 6–3, 6–1.


2011 Niger State gubernatorial election
The 2011 Niger State gubernatorial election was the 7th gubernatorial election of Niger State. Held on April 26, 2011, the People's Democratic Party nominee Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu won the election, defeating Ibrahim Bako Shettima of the Congress for Progressive Change.


2011 Niger State gubernatorial election, Results
A total of 7 candidates contested in the election. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu from the People's Democratic Party won the election, defeating Ibrahim Bako Shettima from the Congress for Progressive Change. Valid votes was 905,829.


2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
The 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards was the 6th edition of the ceremony to reward outstanding contribution to Nigerian entertainment industry. It was held at Sharp Theater, Symphony Space, New York City on September 5, 2011. It was hosted by Funke Akindele and Julius Agwu.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State
The 2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Kwara State, Nigeria.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State, Results, Asa/Ilorin West
PDP candidate Mustafa Moshood won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State, Results, Baruten/Kaiama
PDP candidate Zakari Mohammed won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State, Results, Edu/Moro/Patigi
PDP candidate Aliyu Ahman-Pategi won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State, Results, Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-ero
PDP candidate Aiyedun Olayinka Akeem won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State, Results, Ilorin East/South
PDP candidate Ali Ahmed won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Kwara State, Results, Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun
PDP candidate Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in the Federal Capital Territory
The 2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Federal Capital Territory was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in the Federal Capital Territory, Results, Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje
Party candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP candidate Isah Egah Dobi won the election, defeating ANPP Aliyu Daniel Baka Kwali and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in the Federal Capital Territory, Results, Amac/Bwari
Party candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP candidate Zaphaniah Jisalo won the election, defeating CPC Yakubu M. Adamu and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate election in the Federal Capital Territory
The 2011 Nigerian Senate election in Federal Capital Territory was held on Aprill 9, 2011, to elect the member of the Nigerian Senate to represent the Federal Capital Territory. Philips Tanimu Aduda representing FCT Senatorial District won on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party.


2011 Nigerian Senate election in the Federal Capital Territory, Results, FCT Senatorial District
Peoples Democratic Party candidate Philips Tanimu Aduda won the election, defeating Congress for Progressive Change candidate Musa Abari and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State
The 2011 Nigerian Senate election in Abia State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Abia State. Nwaogu Nkechi Justina representing Abia Central, Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South and CHukwumerije Uche representing Abia North all won on the platform of People's Democratic Party (Nigeria).


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State, Results, Abia Central
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) candidate Nwaogu Nkechi Justina won the election, defeating All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate Anamah Uzomah Kingsley and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State, Results, Abia South
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) candidate Enyinnaya Abaribe won the election, defeating All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate Anyim Chinyere Nyere and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State, Results, Abia River North
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) candidate Chukwumerije Uche won the election, defeating All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate Nnennaya Lancaster-Okoro and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Adamawa State
The 2011 Nigerian Senate election in Adamawa State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Adamawa State. Bindo Jibrilla representing Adamawa North, Ahmed Hassan Barata representing Adamawa South and Bello Muhammed Tukur representing Adamawa Central all won on the platform of People's Democratic Party.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Adamawa State, Summary, Adamawa North
People's Democratic Party candidate Bindo Jibrilla won the election, defeating Action Congress candidate Haruna Boni and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Adamawa State, Summary, Adamawa South
People's Democratic Party candidate Ahmed Hassan Barata won the election, defeating Action Congress candidate Jada Koiriga Mohammed and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Adamawa State, Summary, Adamawa Central
People's Democratic Party candidate Bello Muhammed Tukur won the election, defeating Labour Party candidate Dahiru Bobbo and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Akwa Ibom State
The 2011 Nigerian Senate election in Akwa Ibom State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Akwa Ibom State. Ita Enang representing Akwa Ibom North East, Aloysius Akan Etok representing Akwa Ibom North West and Helen Esuene representing Akwa Ibom South all won on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Akwa Ibom State, Results, Akwa Ibom North East
Peoples Democratic Party candidate Ita Enang won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Akwa Ibom State, Results, Akwa Ibom North West
Peoples Democratic Party candidate Aloysius Akan Etok won the election, defeating Action Congress of Nigeria candidate Joseph Upkong and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Akwa Ibom State, Results, Akwa Ibom South
Peoples Democratic Party candidate Helen Uduoakaha won the election, defeating Action Congress of Nigeria candidate Joseph Upkong and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Anambra State
The 2011 Nigerian Senate election in Anambra State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Anambra State. John Emeka Okey representing Anambra North, and Andy Ubah representing Anambra South both won on the platform of the People's Democratic Party. While Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central won on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Anambra State, Results, Anambra Central
The three major parties Action Congress of Nigeria, All Progressives Grand Alliance and People's Democratic Party registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. ACN Chris Ngige won the election, defeating PDP candidate Ogugua Okoye, APGA candidate Dora Akunyili and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Anambra State, Results, Anambra South
The three major parties Action Congress of Nigeria, All Progressives Grand Alliance and People's Democratic Party registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP candidate Andy Ubah won the election, defeating, APGA candidate Chukwuma Nzeribe, ACN Chris Atuegbu and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Anambra State, Results, Anambra North
The three major parties Action Congress of Nigeria, All Progressives Grand Alliance and People's Democratic Party registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP candidate John Emeka Okey won the election, defeating, APGA candidate Joy Emordi, ACN J Balohun and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Bauchi State
The 2011 Nigerian Senate election in Bauchi State was held on April 11, 2011, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Bauchi State. Abdul Ahmed Ningi representing Bauchi Central, Adamu Gumba Ibrahim representing Bauchi South and. Babayo Garba Gamawa representing Bauchi North all won on the platform of People's Democratic Party.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Bauchi State, Results, Bauchi Central
People's Democratic Party candidate Ahmed Ningi won the election, defeating Action Congress of Nigeria candidate Isah Hamma Misau and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Bauchi State, Results, Bauchi South
People's Democratic Party candidate Ibrahim Adamu Gumba won the election, defeating other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Bauchi State, Results, Bauchi North
People's Democratic Party candidate Babayo Garba Gamawa won the election, defeating Action Congress of Nigeria candidate Faruq Mustapha and other party candidates.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Bayelsa State
The 2011 Nigerian Senate election in Bayelsa State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Bayelsa State. Clever Ikisikpo representing Bayelsa East, Emmanuel Paulker representing Bayelsa Central and Heineken Lokpobiri representing Bayelsa West all won on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party.


2011 Nigerian Senate elections in Bayelsa State, Results, Bayelsa East
Peoples Democratic Party candidate Clever Ikisikpo won the election, defeating other party candidates.