From:
Leigh Deuchars
To:
Clare 
Subject:
RE: media query re EC website
Date:
Friday, 3 October 2025 11:39:00 am
Attachments:
image001.jpg
Have let 
 know we are meeting at 12.30.  The reporter has asked for a response by 2
 
From: Leigh Deuchars 
Sent: Friday, 3 October 2025 11:20 am
To: Clare 
 <
>
Subject: FW: media query re EC website
Importance: High
 
Suggest you, me and Karl get our heads together
 
From: 
 <
> 
Sent: Friday, 3 October 2025 11:03 am
To: Karl Le Quesne <
>; Leigh Deuchars
<
>
Cc: 
 <
>; 
<
>; 
 <
>; 
 <
>; Justice.PS <
>;
Media - Justice <[email address]>
Subject: media query re EC website
 
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Hi Karl and Leigh,
 
We’ve had this media query re some info that you link to on your website, can you
please provide some brief lines that we can use to respond?
 
Thanks,
 
Act's Cameron Luxton has explained it succinctly here - but details are below. 
 
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.

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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 (which campaigned against the law change forcing the
referendums). 
 
On this site, 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;
 
Does the Minister think it is acceptable for the EC to link to materials that
appear to be attempting to influence voters? 
Does the Minister expect the EC provide its own guidance on the Maori ward
vote, instead of relying on outside sites?
 
 
 
Private Secretary – Justice | Office of Hon Paul Goldsmith
 
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
Minister of Justice
Minister for Media and Communications
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
 
Mobile: 
 | Email: 
   
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
 
Authorised by Hon Paul Goldsmith, Parliament Buildings
 

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