Signs which have sprung up across Napier insisting "No to amalgamation" and featuring the name of the city's Labour Party spokesman Stuart Nash have been described as "electioneering" - although Mr Nash says this is far from the case.
Napier man Ian Mayne said the signs were clearly branded with a Labour Party logo and he cited a city bylaw which states: "58.13 (c) (i) A candidate may erect a temporary sign on private property in the event of an election day, not more than three months prior to the polling day".
Mr Mayne said: "We are not three months out from a general election and the signs feature the Labour Party logo, candidate, and are authorised by a Labour Party member. This is electioneering."
However, Mr Nash said that was not the case, the signs were compliant and he had been awarded resource consent by the Napier City Council to put them up.
He submitted photographs of the signage and carried out all the relevant registration and application forms. "I went through the whole process. They all comply."