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Showing 651 to 669 of 669 written question sets.

Answered

Question 1247 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has he received any correspondence from members of the Papatoetoe-Ōtara Action Team in relation to the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board's 2025 election, or subsequent court proceedings; if so, when?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I have not received any correspondence from members of the Papatoetoe-Ōtara Action Team in relation to the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board's 2025 election, or subsequent court proceedings.

Answered

Question 1248 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has he sent any correspondence relating to the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board to Auckland Council, council staff, or elected members; if so, on what dates and to whom?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I have not sent any correspondence relating to the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board to Auckland Council, council staff, or elected members.

Answered

Question 1249 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has he received any correspondence relating to the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board from candidates, elected members, or members of the public; if so, how many items and on what dates?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I received 3 pieces of correspondence relating to the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board from members of the public: 1. Name withheld (14 October 2025); 2. Name withheld (16 October 2025); and 3. Name withheld (1…

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Question 1250 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What steps, if any, did he take to satisfy himself that appropriate safeguards were operating once the allegations of voting irregularities in the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board election became known?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Local councils are responsible for administering their own elections. In this case, the matter was brought to the attention of the Electoral Officer, who then appropriately referred it to Police in line with the required processes.

Answered

Question 1251 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did he raise the matter of claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board with the Police prior to the referral by Auckland Council; if so, when and in what capacity?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No, I did not raise the matter of claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board with the Police prior to the referral by Auckland Council. The matter had been referred to the New…

Answered

Question 1252 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did he raise claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board with the Electoral Commission, Election Services Ltd, or any other electoral body; if so, when?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No, I did not raise claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board with the Electoral Commission, Election Services Ltd, or any other electoral body. The matter had been referred to…

Answered

Question 1253 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did he raise claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board with Auckland Council; if so, when and with whom?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No, I did not raise claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board with Auckland Council. The matter had been referred to the New Zealand Police by the Electoral Officer, in…

Answered

Question 1254 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did he request any investigations, briefings, reports, or assurances after becoming aware of claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board; if so, from whom and on what dates?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No,

Answered

Question 1255 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What actions, if any, did he take after first becoming aware of claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I did not take any actions after first becoming aware of claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. Local councils are responsible for administering their own elections. In this…

Answered

Question 1256 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did he receive any legal advice relating to the claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board; if so, on what dates and from which agencies?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No, I did not receive any legal advice relating to the claims of voter fraud in the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. As this is an independent legal process I did not seek and would not expect to…

Answered

Question 1257 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did any advice received by him assess the likelihood that voting irregularities extended beyond the votes specifically identified in court in relation to claims of voter fraud for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board; if so, what was that…

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I did not receive any advice assessing the likelihood that voting irregularities extended beyond the votes specifically identified by the Court in relation to the claims of voter fraud for the Ōtara Papatoetoe Local Board

Answered

Question 1258 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did any advice received by him identify systemic weaknesses in the postal voting system highlighted by claims of voter fraud for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board; if so, what were those weaknesses?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I have received advice from the Department of Internal Affairs on the challenges facing the local electoral system, including the long term sustainability of postal voting.

Answered

Question 1259 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, did he receive from officials after the court decision voiding the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board election result?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Officials have provided me with timely updates on the judicial review decision; however, no advice was provided as this is an independent process.

Answered

Question 1260 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, did he receive from officials about the integrity of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board election prior to the court decision voiding the result?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Officials briefed me on the reports of alleged misconduct on 29 October 2025, after being advised of the situation by the Auckland Council Electoral Officer. By that stage, the matter had already been referred to the New Zealand Police in…

Answered

Question 1261 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did he receive any warnings, alerts, or informal indications that “something unusual” had occurred in the Papatoetoe subdivision election prior to the filing of the Petition for Inquiry; if so, when and from whom?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Officials first briefed me on the reports of alleged misconduct on 29 October 2025, after being advised of the situation by the Auckland Council Electoral Officer. At that point, the matter had already been referred to the New Zealand…

Answered

Question 1262 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Was he advised that all four Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board seats were won by first-time candidates from a newly formed political ticket; if so, when and by whom?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

No, advice I recieved did not reference that all four Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board seats were won by first-time candidates from a newly formed political ticket.

Answered

Question 1263 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    When did he first become aware that Papatoetoe was the only Auckland electorate to record a significant increase in voter turnout during the 2025 local elections?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

I did not receive advice or correspondence that noted Papatoetoe was the only Auckland electorate to record a significant increase in voter turnout during the 2025 local elections.

Answered

Question 1264 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Did he receive any information or advice about the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board election prior to the election result being formally challenged in court; if so, when and from whom?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Officials briefed me on the reports of alleged misconduct on 29 October 2025, after being advised of the situation by the Auckland Council Electoral Officer. Officials subsequently provided me with timely updates on the judicial review…

Answered

1265, 1266, 1267, 1268 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Questions

  • 1265 (matches this search)

    On what dates was he advised of any concerns relating to voter fraud, stolen voting papers, or irregular voting in the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board?

  • 1266 (matches this search)

    How was he first informed of allegations of voting irregularities in the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board election (e.g. written briefing, email, verbal advice, or media reporting), if at all?

  • 1267 (matches this search)

    Who, if anyone, first informed him of allegations of voting irregularities in the 2025 local government election for the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board?

  • 1268 (matches this search)

    When was he first made aware of allegations of voting irregularities in the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board election?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

Officials first briefed me in writing on the reports of alleged misconduct on 29 October 2025. That briefing advised that the matter had already been referred to the New Zealand Police by the Electoral Officer, in accordance with the…