Paniora said<\/a> she was not surprised by Jepson\u2019s move or the likely nature of the complaint. \u201cIt appears to me that Democracy Northland<\/a> & Hobson\u2019s Pledge<\/a> in Kaipara and Northland Regional Council are not going down without a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n She believes the complaint is likely one already lodged with the Electoral Commission, possibly relating to claims that election officials were biased and that signage in Whang\u0101rei encouraged voting for M\u0101ori wards. \u201cIt sounds to me like in true Trump fashion, he\u2019s accusing the elections of being rigged, essentially,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Paniora said the complaint appears to stem from outreach voting clinics in rural, predominantly M\u0101ori communities, and accusations that staff were \u201ctargeting a specific demographic\u201d. She said right-leaning groups had made Official Information Act requests during the election about council staffing, time, and funding for the outreach initiatives. <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been horrible,\u201d she said. \u201cThey claim to be for promoting democracy \u2013 but it seems only when it suits them.\u201d<\/p>\n She believes the special votes, which tend to lean left, have tipped the balance in favour of Dargaville mayoral candidate Snow T\u0101ne and the retention of M\u0101ori wards at NRC. <\/p>\n \u201cSomething\u2019s rattled them,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n Paniora questioned why NRC\u2019s M\u0101ori ward referendum was even relevant to Jepson, given Kaipara District Council voted last year to remove its own M\u0101ori ward. <\/p>\n She said the meeting risks overshadowing the success of newly elected candidates and undermining the democratic process.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should be celebrating our staff, commending them on an amazing effort. <\/p>\n \u201cInstead, we\u2019re sending them to probably a judicial inquiry where every bit of their conduct will be scrutinised.\u201d<\/p>\n Paniora also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, saying most councillors \u2013 including herself \u2013 should not be voting on the matter due to pecuniary interests. <\/p>\n \u201cThe only two that don\u2019t have a conflict of interest would be Eryn Wilson-Collins and Mike Howard, because they\u2019re not re-standing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske from Independent Election Services stood by the independence and professionalism of his staff, despite complaints from across the community. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m aware of a number of complaints that have come through from all parts of the community regarding issues around independence and impartiality of my staff, and I have forwarded all those to the police, as I\u2019m required to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In 40 years of running elections, Ofsoske said an emergency meeting like this has never been held. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is unusual from that perspective. I\u2019m not sure what can be achieved.\u201d <\/p>\n He said legal avenues exist for candidates after results are declared, including judicial recounts and reviews. <\/p>\n \u201cIf they\u2019ve got a concern, this [a judicial review] is what the law allows for and this is what we would expect.\u201d<\/p>\n John Bain from Democracy Northland said he was not surprised the emergency meeting had been called, citing concerns about how the election was run. <\/p>\n He claimed fundamental errors were made, including allowing small groups to \u201cpress gang\u201d people into voting a particular way. Bain said Democracy Northland would consider its next steps once official results across Northland were declared, including a judicial review or ombudsman complaint.<\/p>\n Incumbent deputy mayor Jonathan Larsen \u2013 endorsed by Jepson for the mayoralty and currently sitting just five votes ahead \u2013 said he did not know the details of the meeting or the complaint. <\/p>\n Larsen is in a tight three-way race with Snow T\u0101ne and Jason Smith, with just 31 votes separating them. He noted that, like other councillors, he had no authority to call an emergency meeting.<\/p>\n Dargaville Ratepayers and Residents group has organised a protest h\u012bkoi to the venue. <\/p>\nOutgoing Kaipara mayor Craig Jepson. Photo \/ Susan Botting<\/p>\n
A handmade sign near a voting venue at Whangarei’s NorthTec.<\/p>\n
Current KDC councillor Pera Paniora. Photo \/ supplied <\/p>\n