Pakuranga residents recieve Labour letter on election day

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Residents of Manukau City suburb of Pakuranga have complained to the Electoral Office after receiving in today's mail a letter signed by the Prime Minister urging them to vote Labour.

The Electoral Act prohibits anything to promote a candidate on election day.

Mary Pepping, of Prince Regent Dr, Pakuranga, said she was outraged when she discovered the contents of the letter.

"The postie put it in my hand," she said.

Mrs Pepping said she had voted already but another resident who received a letter, Alan Galpin, of Himalaya Rd, said he had not voted when he received the letter at 11.55 am.

"It was addressed to both my wife and I."

Mr Galpin said that later he heard six other residents complaining about the letters.

Labour Party assistant general secretary, Murdo Macmillan, said the delivery of the letters today was unintentional.

He said NZ Post had been contracted to deliver the letters before today.

The chief electoral officer David Henry said he would take the complaints up with the Labour Party secretariat.

Pakuranga has been held by National's Maurice Williamson since 1987 and last time his majority was 5314.

Results coverage begins 7.00 this evening (0700GMT) on nzherald.co.nz