Next steps for Papatoetoe Local Board election after fraud allegations

An Auckland judge has voided the election of local board members for the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board after finding irregularities that materially affected the outcome, prompting a fresh election.

Manukau District Court Judge Richard McIlraith delivered the decision on 16 December, upholding a petition that sought a judicial inquiry into allegations of voter fraud in the South Auckland local body election. As a result, a new election will be held.

In a press statement issued on 16 December, Auckland Council confirmed the ruling and the timeline for a fresh poll.

“Today’s decision by Manukau District Court Judge RJ McIlraith voiding the election of the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board means that a new election for the subdivision will need to be completed by 9 April 2026,” the council said.

Also Read: Why every vote and every process matters

What happened 

The case was brought by the board’s former deputy chair, Vi Hausia, who lodged a petition alleged widespread theft of voting papers, and alleged fraudulent use of stolen voting papers and other “irregularities” in the election.

Ofsoske, an independent electoral officer for Auckland, was named as the respondent to the petition.

Following the judgement, Hausia said the decision upheld democratic principles. In a Facebook post, he stated that the “court had ruled in favour of democracy and electoral integrity.”

Hausia also called for an end to postal ballot voting in local elections.

“The postal ballot voting system must end. It is a stain on our democracy, and if this event is not enough to compel change, then the erosion of public trust will be a conscious and avoidable choice,” he said.

Background to the Papatoetoe election 

Papatoetoe was the only Auckland electorate to record a significant rise in voter turnout in the latest local body election.

While turnout fell across other Auckland areas, voting numbers in Papatoetoe increased by more than 7 percent.

All four seats in the subdivision were won by first-time candidates from the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team, Kunal Bhalla, Kushma Nair, Sandeep Saini and Paramjeet Singh.

Papatoetoe, which holds four seats on the local board (compared to Ōtara’s three), recorded significantly higher support for four new candidates, who achieved a clean-sweep victory. According to The Herald report in October this year, Kunal Bhalla, Kushma Nair, Sandeep Saini, and Paramjeet Singh each received between 5137 and 4540 votes. In contrast, winning candidates in 2022 received between 3267 and 3079 votes, approximately 50 percent fewer.

Also Read: Why The Alleged Vote-Stealing In PapatoetoeThreatens The Mana Of Kiwi Indians

Action Team response

Kunal Bhalla, spokesperson for the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team, told The Indian Weekender the group was reviewing the decision with legal counsel.

“Given the length and significance of the decision, we are taking the necessary time to read and consider it carefully with legal counsel,” Bhalla said.

“As the Court itself notes, the Papatoetoe-Otara Action Team candidates were not parties to the proceeding, and we have therefore have not previously addressed the issues raised through the court process. In those circumstances, it would be inappropriate to provide detailed comment until we have fully reviewed the judgment and obtained advice on our legal position and options,” he added.

Labour candidate welcomes ruling

Raj Pardeep Singh, a Labour candidate for the Papatoetoe Local Board, welcomed the court’s decision, saying the ruling reinforced the importance of democratic accountability.

"Importantly, the Court acknowledged that the known cases likely represent only the tip of the iceberg, concluding that fraudulent voting more likely than not influenced the overall result," Singh told The Indian Weekender.

He emphasised that "Democracy must be protected," and that election must remain fair.

"I remain committed to standing for a transparent, credible, and trustworthy process as Papatoetoe prepares for a fresh election in 2026,” Singh said.

He added that accountability was fundamental to the electoral process.

“Protecting the integrity of our elections is essential, and those responsible for theft, fraud, or misconduct must face the appropriate consequences. Our community deserves transparency, fairness, and absolute confidence in the electoral system,” Singh said.

What's next

Auckland Council acknowledged the judge’s comments that the election was carried out properly “and in accordance with all requirements”, including by Independent Election Services and Dale Ofsoske.

The ruling requires the Papatoetoe subdivision election to be re-run.

Nominations will open on 31 December 2025 and close at midday on 28 January 2026. Voting papers will be sent to enrolled electors from 9 March, with voting open for one month, the Auckland Council statement said.

It also noted that the three Ōtara elected members will remain on the local board, however, the board will not have the required quorum of four members to make decisions until the election is completed. 

"Until the new elected members come into office, it is likely that decisions will need to be made by staff under delegation within the terms of the existing general delegation to staff," the statement read.

Any decisions already taken by the board remain valid.

A public notice highlighting the details of the Papatoetoe subdivision election will be published on the Auckland Council website on 31 December.