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Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki: Candidates a month late and counting in filing election expenses

By Charlotte Jones
Local Democracy Reporter·Rotorua Daily Post·
21 Jan, 2020 01:00 AM3 mins to read

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Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske. Photo / File

Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske. Photo / File

Candidates who are yet to file their election donations and expenses returns have until the end of January before their names are forwarded to the police.

Seven candidates from the Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki district councils have failed to return their forms on time, which is an offence under the Local Electoral Act, and one councillor has submitted the form but failed to declare an expense.

Read more: Rotorua local politicians call for electoral donation declaration threshold to lower

Ōpōtiki councillor Barry Howe wrote on his donations and expenses form that he spent nothing on his campaign. He did, however, take out an advertisement in the Opotiki News' election special at a cost of $242 plus GST.

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Read more: Election 2019: 'Last minute rush' lengthens Rotorua candidate lists for local bodies

Howe said he did not declare this expense due to an oversight and would not resubmit his form with an updated expenses section.
"I probably won't bother because it was only $100, $200 bucks wasn't it?" he said.

Howe's advert in the paper stated that a "vote for Barry is a vote for transparency, accountability, affordability and sensibility in council".

Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said it was an offence to submit a false return. Photo / File
Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said it was an offence to submit a false return. Photo / File

Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said it was an offence to submit a false return, but the penalty was harsher if a candidate knowingly submitted a false return compared to where a candidate had no intention to mis-state or conceal facts and the candidate took all reasonable steps to ensure the information was accurate.

"If a mistake was made, a candidate is able to correct their return," said Ofsoske.

Ofsoske said candidates legally had until December 13 to return their forms but were being given a "little leeway" until mid-January. However, if these candidates had not returned their forms by January 31 they would be forwarded to the police.

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Candidates could then face a fine of up to $1000.

Read more: Updated results for Whakatāne District local elections

As of Tuesday, the late candidates included Maria Keepa from Ōpōtiki, Pouroto Ngaropo, Hans Tiakiwai, Ged Casey, Dee-Dayna Hale-Riddiford, Les Knowles and April O'Brien from Whakatāne.

Whakatāne Murupara-Galatea Community Board member April O'Brien said she had been side-tracked with life including a new job and a young family but would be getting her form in very soon.

Read more: Whakatāne candidates' election spending revealed

O'Brien said this was her first time completing the process and she was unsure about what to do as there was little guidance after candidates were elected. O'Brien said she spent nothing on her campaign.

Discover more

Call for electoral donations big and small to be declared

20 Dec 04:01 AM

Threat of $1000 fine for not submitting electoral return a 'bummer'

21 Dec 06:31 PM

Rotorua leaders share their New Year wishes

31 Dec 04:00 PM

Whakatāne candidates' election spending revealed

02 Jan 11:11 PM
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