LGOIMA Request Details: LG2389

Date received: 23/09/2025

Requested information: Further questions about unopposed candidates and the candidate booklet

Status: Complete

Response:

The answers to your questions are below.  All documents are included in this link – LG_2389_Documents_for_release.zip
The link will expire after 7 days so remember to save any documents you wish to have continued access to. We recommend that this link is opened on a PC. 

 

Please note that some documents have had details redacted under Section 7(2)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to protect the privacy of individuals. 

 

  1. Any policies, guidance, advice, or instructions (internal or external) regarding the treatment, inclusion, or exclusion of unopposed candidates in the candidate profile booklet. 

            There are no policies or instructions regarding this. All guidance, advice and instructions are provided in response to question 4.  

  1. Any correspondence (including but not limited to emails, letters, meeting notes, reports, and Teams or chat messages) between Council staff, Electoral Officers, contractors, or third parties relating to the treatment or handling of unopposed candidates in the candidate profile booklet. 

There was no correspondence on this prior to the candidate profile booklet being published (except for that which is supplied in response to question 3). All correspondence post-publication is supplied in response to question 4. 

  1. The full correspondence referenced in your response, being the email(s) between the Electoral Officer and the Deputy Electoral Officer relating to the proofing of voting documents and the candidate profile booklet. 

Documents are included in the link above  

  1. Any subsequent correspondence, advice, decisions, or discussions since the release of the candidate profile booklet that address or explain the approach taken to unopposed candidates, including how this has been communicated to elected members, staff, or the public. 
    Documents are included in the link above. 
    This article is referenced in the document ‘Q4 - 16 Sep - Legal advice’ 
    Old software blamed for wiping ‘face of Māori ward’ from voter booklet | The Post