In May, Horncastle revealed he’d been referred to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over the billboard.
Matthew Horncastle in front of his Moorhouse Ave billboard, displaying another political message. Photo / Supplied
While the Electoral Commission hasn’t named Horncastle, he has revealed the investigation himself on social media.
“It ran for a short time period, on an unrented screen, at no cost to anyone,” Horncastle said across multiple social media posts.
“There was no secret donor. There was no hidden campaign. There was no political machine. It was me, expressing my opinion, on my billboard.”
Horncastle believed three people complained to the Electoral Commission.
He revealed the commission emailed him twice in June, but the messages went to his junk mail.
The social media posts expressed concern by Horncastle that this was an attack on free speech.
The police and Electoral Commission have been contacted for further comment.
Katie Bradford is a Senior Correspondent at the Herald. She has been a broadcast journalist for over 20 years and was based in the press gallery for 10 years. She specialises in politics, business and Auckland issues.