"It's a re-cap of all that's been achieved and what the challenges have been - I wrote my part of the report because I was acting mayor at the time - it's talking about what has been in the past and it was ready to go out to the community."
She said whoever the mayor was after the byelection would feature in the document when it came to be published after the financial year next year.
Chief executive Ross McLeod said the publication of the report followed the existing timetable and audit processes.
"Late last month the report was adopted and we published it in the normal manner.
"It did not even enter our minds it might give someone an unfair advantage - we were just following the normal template - it's the normal way we do business."
Mr Perry said there was nothing in the local government legislation to say the document could not have been published after the close of the election.
"I am sure they will trot out an excuse that such documents have specific timelines but in truth, under the circumstances, as the acting mayor is contesting an election, it does put the impartiality in question."
Mr McLeod iterated the council was following normal protocols.
"We have not gone out of our way to give any candidates unfair treatment - it was published in the normal way after being signed off at an October meeting."
Mayoral candidate Waitawhara Tupaea said he considered the issue to be insignificant, as there were only a few days left for voting, and whoever was elected mayor would feature in next year's annual report.
"I'm a lot more concerned about how we treat our people and land and the underlying issues that get ignored like giving all our people love, hope and care."
Although he agreed that it gave Mrs Hazlehurst an advantage, candidate Simon Nixon said how much was unclear and he wasn't really concerned about it.
Candidate Bayden Barber said that he was always aware that the acting mayor, and to a lesser extent the deputy acting mayor would get additional opportunities to promote their candidacy not available to others.
In this case, while they may have fronted the annual report, it was credit to all councillors, staff and communities that contributed to the work, he said.
"There are still many challenges, which is why I have been focused on my own campaign promoting a vision for Hastings being the best place to live and do business."