Inquiry into election-day party pamphlets

By ALAN PERROTT

An investigation has begun into 10 complaints of political pamphlets arriving in voters' letterboxes on election day.

Chief electoral officer David Henry said he would decide next week if any of the complaints should be passed to the police for legal action.

The electoral act prohibits any campaigning on election day, including the display of political banners or the handing out of party political information.

The Labour Party drew complaints from the electorates of Pakuranga, Palmerston North and Bay of Plenty; National and Christian Heritage in Mana; Act in Tamaki, Christchurch, Ohariu-Belmont and Hutt South; and the Green Party in Wellington Central.

Mr Henry said he had written to the secretaries of each party seeking an explanation and was also waiting for the complainants to send him the material they received and details of the circumstances.

Labour Party president Mike Williams said he was warned letters were arriving in Pakuranga on election day by former National Party president John Slater.

But he said he was not worried as he had discussed the possibility of late-arriving election material landing with NZ Post before Labour began its mailout campaign.

Mr Williams said NZ Post had a legal opinion that a few late electoral letters spilling over would not be considered a deliberate flouting of the law.

His own investigation found the letters sent to Pakuranga had left the Epuni letter centre in Wellington last Wednesday.

"There's nothing we can do about it, it's happened. But I have to say, in all my dealings with New Zealand Post, it's never happened before."

A spokeswoman for NZ Post said it would not comment until the Electoral Office sent notification of complaints resulting from late deliveries.

A complaint against New Zealand First from Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition has been called a waste of time by Winston Peters.

Coalition MP Matt Robson complained about a leaflet handed out on election day supporting New Zealand First which he said incited racism.

Mr Peters said he had no knowledge of the unauthorised leaflet.

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