Nats cited in claims of election law breaches

John Slater, C & R president. Citizens & Ratepayers announce their selections. Photo / Natalie Slade

Former National Party president John Slater has linked several party members to allegations of electoral law breaches on the North Shore.

Five members of the National Party, including Foreign Minister Murray McCully's former electorate chairwoman Margaret Miles and a Young Nats leader, Joseph Bergin, are part of a police investigation into the Shore Voice ticket.

Police are probing allegations that Shore Voice asked voters to take part in a survey with a $15,000 prize draw.

Under a clause in the Local Electoral Act, it is an offence punishable by up to two years in jail to offer or give money to voters.

Shore Voice leader Chris Darby said the ticket planned to meet police today to clear up the matter.

"Our legal advisers have reassured us Shore Voice has not broken any law," Mr Darby said.

The allegation centres on email survey work by a private company asking voters to register with Shore Voice.

In the next sentence, the email invites voters to click on another information link to go into a draw for $15,000.

The new political group has accused the Auckland City-based Citizens & Ratepayers ticket of a smear campaign in the contest for voters in the traditional National Party heartland of the North Shore.

"This is just sad and sorry politics from the Citrats who will do and say anything from alleging corruption to 'Reds under the bed' to win at the ballot box," Mr Darby said.

Last night, Mr Slater, who is president of C&R, acknowledged there were some National Party links to the allegations, but insisted Shore Voice was a "left-leaning ticket" because its most senior candidate was former Labour MP and North Shore City councillor Ann Hartley.

Ann Hartley is one of two Labour Party members standing under the banner. The other is Richard Hills.

Kevin Schwass, who has been with National since 1982, said he, Mrs Miles, Mr Bergin and fellow party members Jennifer Yorke and Brian Casey were standing for Shore Voice.

"I have been called a lot of things in my life," said the Takapuna businessman, "but the worst thing you could call me is left-leaning."

Mrs Miles said she, Mr Darby and Mr Schwass had been approached to stand for C&R and Mr Slater "knew full well we are not a Labour ticket".

Mr Bergin, who is 18 and deputy chairman of the North Harbour branch of the Young Nats, said the actions of C&R were typical old-school politics.

"It's the same old people playing the same old way. It's not productive, doesn't get anything done, it upsets a lot of people and is not conducive to what we want to do."