From:
Media Enquiries
To:
Karl Le Quesne; Leigh Deuchars; Natalie
; Suzanne Knight-Tinirau
Subject:
FW: Request for comment - links on EC website
Date:
Friday, 3 October 2025 12:57:42 pm
Attachments:
~WRD0000.jpg
FYI
From: Ethan Griffiths <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 3 October 2025 10:17 am
To: Media Enquiries <[email address]>
Subject: Request for comment - links on EC website
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Kia ora,
I'm getting in touch to seek comment from the Commission on the content of its
website.
At this link on the EC's website, which details information about upcoming local
elections, it states the following.
Māori ward polls
Some local councils that have Māori wards or constituencies will be holding polls
at the 2025 local elections to ask voters whether or not they support keeping them.
About Māori wards and constituencies (votelocal.co.nz)
There is then a link to the votelocal.co.nz website. This website is not EC material
and is not impartial or unbiased - it is run by LGNZ and Local Government
Professionals Aotearoa.
On this site which the EC links to, there are comments surrounding Maori wards
that don't appear to be impartial or unbiased. Such as:
Establishing Māori wards and constituencies provides an inclusive and democratic
avenue for councils to collaborate with Māori, fostering positive relationships and
ensuring decisions benefit the entire community.
I'm wanting to know;
Is it acceptable for the EC to link to materials that are attempting to influence
voters?
Why doesn't the EC provide its own guidance on the Maori ward vote,
instead of relying on outside sites?
Will this link be removed?
My deadline for this story is 2pm this afternoon.
Thanks,
Ethan
ETHAN GRIFFITHS
Political Reporter | Newstalk ZB
M:
E: [email address]
mage mo ed by sende NZME B an s
mage mo ed by sende NZME ogo
mage mo ed by sende NZME ogo
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