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A former election candidate for the Maori Party has been accused of grooming young teenage girls on the internet and meeting them for sex.
Kelvin Martin, who stood in the last election in Te Atatu, faces two counts of meeting girls under the age of 16 after chatting to them online.
The 48-year-old, who also has sat on a Maori community board with National MP Tau Henare, was arrested in last December in Gribblehirst Park, Sandringham.
Police say he had gone there to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex, having arranged to do so in a Yahoo chatroom.
Detective Stephen Waugh, of Auckland City District's child exploitation team, said yesterday he believed Martin might have had contact with other young people via chatrooms throughout 2007 and police now want to hear from them.
Martin, who lives in Massey, was given name suppression when he appeared in court last year, but that was lifted in Auckland District Court yesterday. He was bailed until a depositions hearing later this year.
Martin, who is married, has also stood for Waitakere City Council and held a number of roles on community committees and boards.
In 2003, he was appointed to the Te Atatu Marae Development Board. Mr Henare was also appointed to the board.
Mr Henare said he was no longer on the board but knew Martin from his time there and in other roles in the community.
He was shocked by news of the charges Martin faced.
"I'm absolutely gobsmacked, but then again I don't know any details of the case ... It's before the courts and only they will be able to determine what's behind it and if it's true or not but like I said, I'm gobsmacked."
Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples said believed Martin would have had to undergo a police check to stand as a candidate.
"He was just a member who was nominated by a group to stand on that seat I think and he had a good reputation so he stood."
Dr Sharples said he was also shocked by the news that Martin, who is no longer actively involved in the party, was now before the courts.
"I didn't know about [the arrest] and haven't seen him since last election to be honest. Anyone who's on those charges, if they are proven guilty, I hope they get the book thrown at them, it's absolutely bad news."
Martin hung up when telephoned for comment last night. A woman at his home later said there was "no comment" to be made about the charges.
* Police want to hear from anyone who believes they have information about Martin or who had contact with him last year. Ph 302 6855.
