Three months after buying former Wanganui district councillor Michael Laws' nameplate in a Trade Me auction, the winning bidder has yet to receive the goods.
Mr Laws' council colleague Ray Stevens put the "Michael Laws - Councillor" nameplate on the auction website in April, following Mr Laws' resignation. He said the proceeds would go towards the expected $40,000 cost of holding this weekend's by-election to replace Mr Laws.
The auction closed on April 25 with "John" topping the bidding at $105. Mr Stevens said the winner would receive the plate after April 30 when the resignation came into effect. But John, who only wanted to be known by his first name, told the Chronicle yesterday that he had yet to receive it.
He said he had sent emails to Mr Stevens and left phone messages.
When contacted, Mr Stevens said he took the nameplate from the council on Wednesday and would arrange for it to be handed to its new owner today.
Mr Stevens said it had been "no problem at all" taking it from the council building.
On the delay, he said: "I forgot and I just got reminded in an email." He added that Friday worked well, as it coincided with the end of the by-election period.
John has not paid for the nameplate yet and had bid on the auction to help defray by-election costs, and to "have a reminder of a certain name that was once there".