The strange goings on in Papatoetoe

Auckland Council’s final election result has now been declared. Overall the result is an improvement for the left compared to 2022. The Council looks either stable or slightly more progressive. And a few local boards have seen a significant shift to the left.

The one exception is the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Otara Papatoetoe local board area where a new group, the Papatoetoe-Otara Action Team stormed home and captured all four seats. Three of them are pictured in the above photograph. I think it is safe to conclude they are on the right of the political spectrum.

But I cannot say that I have heard of the candidates, none of who have as far as I can see stood for office before.

The team appears to be modelled on the Manurewa Action Team, headed by National aligned Daniel Newman, which has dominated the local board elections for some time. Earlier this year this team’s actions have been the subject to criticism and a warning from the Electoral Officer.

From Radio New Zealand:

Concerns have been raised over election material circulated in Manurewa that allegedly urged support for a list of candidates, offered help with ballot papers, and linked to community funding discussions.

The material was circulated through local churches and community networks, prompting complaints to the electoral officer and raising questions about vote integrity.

Principal Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske has confirmed that several complaints were received and followed up directly with a phone call to someone connected with the matter on 19 September.

“The allegations of vote collection and delivery by others were put to him and denied. I did state that if he becomes aware of this type of activity, then this could be unlawful behaviour and should cease. Based on this conversation, with a denial, the matter has not been forwarded to the police,” Ofsoske says.

But following complaints of voting paper theft the returning officer is not as sanguine about what has been happening in Papatoetoe and has referred the complaints to the police.

From Radio New Zealand:

The chief electoral officer has filed a complaint with police over alleged electoral fraud in Auckland Council elections.

Chief electoral officer Dale Ofsoske confirmed that complaints had been made and one had been passed onto police.

The New Zealand Herald reported it had seen the complaint and said it involved voting papers being stolen from letterboxes in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe and voters being told how to vote inside polling booths and in public places.

There is also news of a second complaint being made to the police.

Apart from anecdote evidence the reason for the deep suspision that something untoward has occurred is the absolute bonkers turnout that occurred.

In neighbouring socio economic areas such as Otara, Mangere Otahuhu and Manurewa voter turnout was down this year with turnout being between 21 and 25% and showing a consistent drop of 1-2% points compared to 2022.

In Papatoetoe turnout increased by a massive 7.5% points and went from from 24.1% last election to 31.6% this election.

And it appears that all of the increase in the vote went the way of the Action Team. Labour’s Vi Hausia, who is a future star in the making gained 3,254 votes, an increase over the 3,117 votes he gained last time. At the last election he came third. This time he finished 5th and was 1,239 votes behind the fourth placed candidate.

Maybe there is an innocent explanation for this. Maybe the Action Team campaigned their little hearts out and energised the population even though their social media presence was limited. Their campaign page only had 105 followers and their individual social media presence appears to be limited.

Time will tell.

The authorities may also want to also investigate whether the Action Team engaged in treating. Although more trivial there is a clear prohibition on the offering of food to try and persuade people to vote for you unless it is a light supper offered after a meeting.

If you have any first hand information about what has been happening drop us a line. Clearly the Labour candidates are considering their options.