Pam Graham of NZPA looks at the odder turns in the local body campaigns.
KEY POINTS:
Some candidates aren't doing themselves any favours in the run up to local body elections.
A few have taken off to Europe to watch the Rugby World Cup.
One has been charged with offensive behaviour for allegedly urinating in a gutter and another has had to explain a past bankruptcy.
However, another is expected to poll well from the grave because he died after voting papers were mailed out.
Anyone wishing to meet Wellington city councillor candidate Robert Armstrong will have trouble as Mr Armstrong is at the World Cup.
"It does weigh on my mind that I'm not there, but I hope voters will understand," he told The Dominion Post newspaper, explaining that he had booked the tickets some years ago.
He is not alone. Queenstown mayoral candidate Phil Dunstan has been accused of "buggering off overseas" to watch the rugby.
Meantime the Timaru Herald reported that Karen Collings, who is standing for Timaru District Council, has been charged with offensive behaviour after allegedly being seen urinating in the gutter outside a Dunedin hotel.
In Christchurch, the issue is more that a popular councillor will get votes as a tribute after he died.
Hundreds turned up in Christchurch for the funeral of Graham Condon, a long-serving councillor and paralympian who was hit by a car while training on his hand-peddled road bike.
His family are urging people not to vote for him as a tribute because the votes will be treated as void.
In Auckland, the race between John Banks and sitting Mayor Dick Hubbard is hotting up, with re-electing Mr Banks being compared to a resurrection of Sir Robert Muldoon.
But a Weekend Herald Digipoll has Mr Banks ahead with 43.7 per cent support and Mr Hubbard on 35.2 per cent, leaving third-placed Alex Swney with a dilemma. Is he splitting the liberal vote?
In Wellington, restaurateur John McGrath's bid for the Wellington mayoralty has been under scrutiny as The Dominion Post has reported that the former bankrupt owes creditors tens of thousands of dollars.
Mr McGrath is running with the motto "Putting the Mojo back into the Mayoralty".
He was adjudged bankrupt in 1992 and discharged in 1995.
In Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt has been accused of being arrogant for not campaigning but has replied that his opponent is a "longshot".
Results of council elections are due on October 13.
- NZPA
