Papatoetoe candidates highlight magnitude of new local body election

Photo: RNZ / Eveline Harvey The upcoming election for the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board is shaping up to be a crowded and closely watched contest. Eight new candidates have joined 12 individuals that campaigned for a seat in last year's void election, with one person declining to stand again after nominations closed on 28 January. Voting opens on 9 March and closes at noon on 9 April, with ballot papers posted to all eligible voters. The election follows a District Court ruling in December to void the 2025 Papatoetoe subdivision result after irregularities were found on some ballot papers, giving voters another chance to choose their local representatives. In October, police confirmed they were making enquiries after receiving complaints about alleged electoral fraud in the area. Police were unable to provide any update on the investigation last week. However, the four winning candidates from last year's ballot have filed a petition seeking a High Court judicial review of the District Court ruling. A court hearing has been scheduled for 17 February. Photo: Supplied Among those standing in the upcoming ballot is the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team, which swept all four seats in last year's election. Paramajeet Singh topped last year's poll with 4338 votes, followed by Sandeep Saini on 4318, Kushma Nair on 4001 and Kunal Bhalla with 3832. All four are contesting the new election. "We are confident and encouraged," Bhalla told RNZ. "The level of community support we are seeing has been strong and very visible, with many local leaders, residents and small business owners stepping forward publicly," he said. Bhalla said the new election was significant because it gave Papatoetoe residents the opportunity to confirm their democratic choice. "We believe voters deserve the opportunity to confirm their mandate freely and fairly, without confusion or distortion," he said. He said the new election was also about continuity, with the team keen to continue its work without disruption. Bhalla said he had full confidence in the legal process and that the team was engaging respectfully with the judicial review. "The judicial review is about ensuring clarity, fairness and due process," he said. "We categorically deny any wrongdoing and believe the issues raised will be properly tested and resolved through the courts." Bhalla said the team's strong showing in last year's ballot had been driven by grassroots engagement, inclusion and unity. "We were visible, accessible and encouraged participation from across the community, particularly people who had not previously felt represented or engaged in local elections," he said. He said he was expecting a higher voter turnout this time. "We are seeing strong conversations on the ground and increased awareness, which we believe will lead to a solid turnout," he said. Photo: Facebook / 2025 Labour Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board Candidates Labour-affiliated candidates are also returning to the contest, led by former Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board deputy chair Lehopoaome Vi Hausia, who lodged the District Court petition challenging the 2025 election results. "It's really encouraging to see a mix of returning candidates and new people stepping forward," Vi Hausia said. "Papatoetoe deserves the best, and a strong, fair contest of ideas helps ensure we have high-quality local board members representing our community." He said the Labour-aligned team included former local board member and ex-Labour MP Ashraf Choudhary, as well as Avinash Kaur Dhaliwal and Raj Pardeep Singh. In last year's election, Vi Hausia placed fifth with 2493 votes, followed by Choudhary with 2100 votes, Dhaliwal with 1864 votes and Raj Pardeep Singh received 1645. Vi Hausia said the court's findings of irregularities, including fraudulent voting, meant the previous result did not fully reflect the true outcome. "This [new] election is important for Papatoetoe, and for local democracy in New Zealand," he said. "I know it's frustrating for our community to be in this situation in the first place, but the cost of losing trust in our democratic system would be far worse." He said what mattered most was that Papatoetoe voters could make a free and fair choice about who represented them. "What happened at the last election is an unfortunate chapter in our local history," he said. Photo: Supplied Independent group Independently Papatoetoe is also mounting a comeback, led by former local board member Albert Lim and returning candidate Peter Dons. Dons shared a similar view to Vi Hausia. "This new election is very important not only for Papatoetoe but for the whole country, and I don't think due recognition has been given to what actually happened there," Dons said. The team included new candidates Chris Webb and Alison Weakley. "We're very confident because we are very well known in the community, and we have strong new candidates," he said. In the previous...

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