Auckland police are investigating 16 complaints relating to alleged electoral fraud in this year’s council elections for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board.
Police confirmed two separate investigations are underway into the allegations.
“We are investigating 16 complaints forwarded to us from Election Services,” said Counties Manukau Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers.
Election Services ran local elections in the Auckland region in October.
Vickers said the police “investigation remains in the early stages”.
Separately from the police investigation, a petition of inquiry filed by unsuccessful candidate Vi Hausia is set to be heard at the Manukau District Court tomorrow.
He alleged anomalies with voting patterns in the Papatoetoe subdivision.
A spokesperson for Election Services told 1News: “As the matter is before the courts, we have no comment at this time.”
Voter turnout in the Papatoetoe subdivision rose by around 7% on 2022 figures.
Overall turnout across local board areas in Auckland fell in this year’s elections compared to three years ago.
