From:
Karl Le Quesne
To:
@coalitionewzealand.org.nz
Subject:
Letter re corrections to be made to a small number of election results
Date:
Tuesday, 7 November 2023 6:34:09 pm
Attachments:
image001.png
Party vote changes.pdf
Nov 7 Communication
(3).pdf
Tēnā koe
Please find attached a letter to inform you of a small number of data entry errors the Electoral
Commission has discovered in the recording of the official results of the election.
Karl Le Quesne (He/Him) | Chief Electoral Officer
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | 34-42 Manners Street
| Wellington
|
vote.nz |
elections.nz
@vision.org.nz (
@vision.org.nz).
It was CC'd to:
From:
@vision.org.nz
Date: Mon, Oct 9, 2023 at 9:32 pm
Name:
Email:
@vision.org.nz
From site: elections.nz
Subject: Election advertising
Type: Complaint
Message:
I would like to make a complaint about the Te Parti Maori offering treats to those voters who
go to Manurewa Marae to cast their vote this week. There is also a Tik Tok advertisement
promising hangi for those who vote, with a photo of Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, the Te
Parti Maori candidate for Tamaki Makaurau. Please see the evidence below. I look forward to
hearing from you.
From: Dean
<
@elections.govt.nz>
Sent: Monday, 13 November 2023 12:28 pm
To:
<
@vision.org.nz>
Cc: Karl Le Quesne
@elections.govt.nz>; Kristina Temel
@elections.govt.nz>
Subject: RE: [Enquiry Subject] Election advertising enquiry from
Kia ora
Further to your telephone conversation with Karl today, I would like to apologise for not advising you of the
outcome of your complaint – this was an administrative oversight by me. The email that should have sent to you
is copied below.
Ngā mihi
Dean
|
Senior Advisor Legal |
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34-42 Manners Street
| Wellington
Phone +
Treating – Manurewa Marae
The Electoral Commission works to make voting accessible to all communities and to increasing participation
within communities that have lower rates of engagement in the electoral process. In selecting voting places, it
engages with people in different locations, particularly where voter turnout is low, to understand which
potential venues will work for different communities. Following this, a formal assessment is done of each site
to ensure it meets the Commission’s requirements.
The Manurewa Marae was identified as a potential venue that members of the surrounding community would
readily vote in. It was noted that it had recently offered COVID-19 vaccinations, food support and opportunities
to participate in the Census. In our discussions with the marae, it was mentioned that they might provide kai and
or activities to create a family friendly environment around the voting place. We were clear that the opportunity
to receive kai or participate in the activities must be available to anyone coming to the marae and cannot be
dependent on people voting. It is not uncommon for a schools or other community organisations to host
activities around voting places on this basis.
On 3 October, we were first made aware that the Manurewa Marae was making an association, via a social
media post, between voting at the marae and receiving a free hangi. The Electorate Manager contacted the
marae management, on the same day, to make it clear that the hangi (or any other incentive) cannot be tied to
having voted but should be available to everyone whether they have voted or not. They were asked to amend
their posts to reflect this. We received confirmation from our contact at the marae that they are providing kai to
anyone who comes to the voting place, and this is not conditional on whether they have voted or not.
On 9 October, the Commission received Vision New Zealand’s complaint regarding a social media post by an
individual which linked voting for Te Pati Māori to receiving kai at the Manurewa Marae. The Electorate
Manager contacted the Marae again. The Marae confirmed again that they are providing kai to anyone who
comes to the voting place, and this is not conditional on whether they have voted or not and not linked to voting
for any particular party.
Based on the information we have gathered and the assurances from the Manurewa Marae, we will not be
taking the matter further.
