Election billboards appear in lead-up to September vote

The first billboards for this year's elections appeared on Saturday in the Bay. Photo/ George Novak

Election season is upon us. If the steady diet of political announcements had not clued you in, the sudden appearance of brightly coloured election hoardings all over Tauranga should do it.

Saturday marked two months to the September 23 election, and the first day billboards could be erected.

Candidates in other areas have already found themselves in hot water for jumping the gun.

Whanganui District Council has been speaking to election candidates over erecting campaign billboards too early.

At least one candidate, National Party contender Harete Hipango, has displayed a mobile hoarding in various locations around the city in what may be a breach of electoral laws.

The Electoral Act only permits billboards from two months out from the election, which is on September 23. That means Saturday, July 22, was the first day that such hoardings could be erected.

It is not yet known whether there have been any complaints made to the Electoral Commission about Bay of Plenty hoardings.