Jason Walls: Newstalk ZB political editor on the investigation into Manurewa Marae potentially misusing census data

The Electoral Commission admits a polling booth shouldn't have operated at a Marae run by a candidate. 

The Public Service Commission is investigating claims Manurewa Marae misused Census data for Te Pati Māori's election campaign. 

Its winning candidate for the Tamaki Makaurau electorate - Takutai Tarsh Kemp - was Marae chief executive at the time.

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls unpacks the controversy further.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're going to catch up with Barry Soper a little
bit later on on news talks, he'd be he is
still yes, chick your watch, he is still at lunch
with Boris Johnson. In the meantime news talks, he'd be
hard working political lead at Jason Walter as well as
from Parliament. Hey, Jason, I'm not at a long lunch. No, no, no,
neither of us. There's two of us. Mate. Hey, we've
just received an update on the ongoing probe and to

(00:22):
Tipati Mardy in the Manuda Marii election issues, what's happened indeed.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
So it's an interesting story, this one, and I know
a lot of listeners of OZ have been hanging out
to get any developments on this one. So I'll take
you through it. I'll catch you up in case you've
forgotten about where we've got to in terms of this story.
So you'll remember, about six months ago, allegation surface that
census and COVID nineteen data was being used at the
Manurewa Marai in Auckland in relation to the election campaign

(00:48):
will It was alleged that the data was used in
a way to attract more voters to TI party. Marty
remember the Auckland Marti seat of Tamaki Makodo was won
by TI Party Mari's Takuta tash Camp by just forty
two vote, so the slimmest of margins. And yesterday Sir
Brian Wroach, the Public Service Commissioner, said the reports into
this will be unveiled shortly, didn't give a time frame,

(01:09):
just said shortly, citing the complexity of it all. Then
Nicola Willis said she the Public Service Minister, said of
the delay.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
These issues go to public trust and confidence. They need
to have utmost confidence in their findings and conclusions and
they need to live through the scrutiny of a significant
amount of public challenge.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
So living through the scrutiny of a significant significant amount
of public challenge, it's not something that you would say
if there was a complete absolval of the parties in question.
Now we have an update from the Electoral Commission itself,
who were before a Select Committee this afternoon. National's Cameron
Brewer asked of the Elections boss call Lecain why the
Commission decided to have a voting booth at the Marai.

(01:51):
Here's what he said.

Speaker 4 (01:52):
When we became aware of the candidate's relationship for that,
we quite hard about it. We acknowledged there was a risk.
We came up with goation plan and I think I
have to say we got that wrong. I don't think
the perception of a conflict in there could have been
managed in the way that we set out to do it.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
So there you heard a plane's day. They got it wrong.
This is not painting a good picture for this investigation.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
M Yeah, that's really interesting. You honestly don't usually hear
public sevens speaking. Matt frankly is somewhat refreshing. Aaviral is
in the spotlight for wearing her own microphone during New Week.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
I thought this was a bit strange. And did you
did play a clip from her before now Aichaviril. I'm
not saying that she isn't doing well in terms of
her job in opposition. In fact, she's probably one of
the best performing composition MPs. I would say, but what
we have is this interesting issue where it's becoming quite performative.
And I think Chavera Isichaviral is a great example because
listen to this is another example of her. In the

(02:52):
Health Select Committee this morning, why.

Speaker 5 (02:54):
Was the report for Health New Zealand O only tabled
yesterday when that it can these crucial issues that have
been used to justify healthcats and we're expected to be
across a two hundred something plus report in order to
hold you account. This is an unprecedented level of secrecy

(03:14):
about important public spending.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Now that's not really a question, is that it's more
of a statement, and I know they love those around
Parliament and she listened. She might even have a point
with what she was saying, but I think the message
was somewhat undercut by the fact that she was wearing
a little lapel microphone as she was doing it, and
I assume this is so the Labor Party could clip
up the comments and make social media videos about them.
Hence why the delivery of the quote unquote question was

(03:37):
the way that it was. And now she's not alone
in this. I will know that David Seymour, when he
speaks to media before going into the house every day,
he wears one as well, and we've noticed that a
lot of his answers appear to be more catered to
providing sound bites for.

Speaker 1 (03:50):
His access of social media.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
The reporters and I just unfortunately think this is just
the one.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
Well this is going yeah, this is it is happening
right across the house at the moment. Hey, thanks, Jason,
appreciate it. That is Jason More.

Speaker 5 (04:01):
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