Photo: LDR / Mary Afemata
Police have confirmed they are investigating a complaint that has been made against newly elected Henderson-Massey Local Board member Susan Diao in Auckland.
Craig Taylor, business manager at Election Services, said a member of the public had accused Diao of interfering with or influencing voters.
"It is our understanding the complaint came in referring to section 122 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, which refers to interfering with or influencing voters," Taylor said.
"As the matter is with the police, we are unable to make any further comment."
Police confirmed they had received a complaint that had been filed in relation to Diao.
"The matter is [at] the very early stage of investigation, and we have no further updates at this time," a police spokesperson said.
A lawyer representing Diao told RNZ the candidate had complied with the Local Electoral Act during the election period.
"Ms Diao categorically denies engaging in any conduct that could constitute interference with, or influence over, any voter," wrote James R. Tait, a barrister at Tait & West Chambers, in a written response to RNZ's request for comment.
"She has at all times complied with the Local Electoral Act and conducted herself appropriately and lawfully during the election period."
The Labour Party candidate attracted 8245 votes in the local body election, ranking fifth in the eight-member board.
She missed out on a seat on the board in the 2022 local body election, ranking 10th.
The accusation followed an earlier complaint in Auckland in relation to allegations that voting papers had been stolen from letterboxes in the Papatoetoe area.
On 16 October, RNZ received a complaint about alleged "electoral malpractice" in relation to the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board.
In addition to voting paper theft, it also claimed voters were being told how to vote inside polling booths and in public places at a Sikh Temple in Papatoetoe.
Police said they were making enquiries.
On Friday, chief electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said Election Services would be guided by any court decision if the police investigation led to a prosecution.
