Papatoetoe by-elections: Where you can vote & where you can't
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Auckland Council has responded to concerns over the removal of the ‘Vote on the Go’ option for the upcoming Papatoetoe subdivision by-election, outlining measures to boost voter participation and procedures for eligible voters who do not receive their voting papers in the mail. Voting opens on March 9 and closes at 12pm on April 9, with ballot papers sent by post to all eligible voters. The election will be conducted using the first-past-the-post (FPP) system.
The option (Vote on the Go), which allowed voters to enrol and cast their vote on the spot without identification or paperwork, will no longer be available. This option specifically helped voters whose voting papers had not arrived in the mail or got lost.
“We will not be holding Vote on the Go events this time; however special voting will be available throughout the month-long voting period at both our Papatoetoe and Manukau libraries and at the Electoral Office. This service will be provided by fully trained staff,” Oliver Roberts, Head of Governance Programmes and Policies at Auckland Council, told The Indian Weekender.
Raj Pardeep Singh, Labour candidate for the upcoming by-election, told The Indian Weekender that he “supports” the council’s decision.
Singh noted that protecting “electoral integrity, particularly in response to the voting irregularities, fraud risks, and concerns about vote stealing identified by District Court in the previous election and out of 53 Special votes 50 votes cast for Action team (94.3%) Unexplained 3254 extra votes.” He added that safeguarding public confidence in the democratic process is essential.
All four Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team candidates from the voided October election — Kunal Bhalla, Kushma Nair, Sandeep Saini, and Jeet Singh, have re-nominated for the by elections.
On the removal of the “Vote on the Go” option, Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team spokesperson Kunal Bhalla said he was “disappointed”, noting that the option had been effective in encouraging participation from community members.
Bhalla said it was the first time “we saw voting facilities set up in places that people already trust and regularly attend—such as gurdwaras on Sundays. In areas like Papatoetoe, where more than a third of the community is of Indian origin, this made a real difference.”
He added that members of the community were able to enrol and vote while attending their place of worship, “something that removed long-standing barriers to participation.” Bhalla also noted that an increase in special votes reflected higher engagement.
“Removing these options risks reversing that progress, and I do have concerns that it could lead to lower voter turnout—particularly among communities that were only just beginning to feel included in the process,” he said.
“If we are serious about improving democratic participation, we should be expanding accessible voting options, not scaling them back,” he added.
Auckland Council said it is working with local libraries and internal teams to develop a communications and engagement strategy to raise awareness of the re-run election and encourage eligible voters to watch for their postal votes.
“The plan is likely to include posters and flyers at local events, held up to and during the voting period, local social media and community pages, and adverts at libraries and bus stops,” Roberts told The Indian Weekender.
“Our engagement at events, along with social media and other communications, will include a focus on younger voters, and we will also promote voting through local networks,” Roberts added.
Raj Singh also weighed in on the importance of accessible voting, noting it would “ensure that reforms do not unintentionally make voting harder for eligible residents.”
“Auckland Council should work closely with communities — especially seniors, young people, migrants, and people with disabilities — to provide secure, trusted, and accessible voting options, whether by post, at libraries, or through well-supervised and transparent voting arrangements,” he told The Indian Weekender.
“The upcoming by-elections is a critical opportunity for the community members to restore trust in local democracy,” Singh said. “It also underscores that voter participation must improve,” he added.
Council said its marketing strategy will help ensure voters look out for their ballot papers. “We also encourage people to vote as soon as they receive their papers, rather than put them aside for action later,” Roberts explained.
Addressing concerns about missing ballot papers, the council clarified that if someone has not received their voting pack by March 21, they can call Election Services, who can confirm whether a pack was sent. Voters in this situation can cast a Special Vote at either Papatoetoe or Manukau Library.
Candidates contesting the by-election have also encouraged voter participation. Singh said, “My personal message to residents is simple: your vote matters — local decisions impact schools, parks, transport, safety, and community wellbeing. No matter what your background, every voice counts in shaping Papatoetoe’s future.”
Bhalla added that despite challenges regarding local board elections, “public engagement and support on the ground has only strengthened. I expect strong community participation in the by-election.”
In an earlier report by RNZ, local board candidate Vi Hausia said ahead of nominations closing that he wanted the focus to remain on community issues rather than past allegations. “I don't want this election to be overpowered by fraud allegations. I want the focus to be on our vision for Papatoetoe,” RNZ quoted Hausia as saying.
Nominations opened on December 31 and closed at midday on January 28. Election signage can be displayed from February 5 and must be removed by midnight on April 8. Preliminary results are expected on April 9, with final results due the following day.
The confirmed candidates for the Papatoetoe subdivision by-election are: Kunal Bhalla (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Ashraf Choudhary (Labour), Harold Hirdeshwar Deo (no affiliation declared), Avinash Kaur Dhaliwal (Labour), Peter Dons (Independently Papatoetoe), Vi Hausia (Labour), Tuafuti Ka (Independent), Namrata Nandika Kumar (no affiliation declared), Chris Latham (Communities and Residents), Albert Lim (Independently Papatoetoe), John Loau (no affiliation declared), Karl Mokaraka (Independent), Kushma Nair (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Swanie Nelson (Independent), Taitosaua Bill Peace (Independent), Sandeep Saini (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Jeet Singh (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Raj Singh (Labour), Alison Weakley (Independently Papatoetoe), and Chris Webb (Independently Papatoetoe).
Auckland Council has responded to concerns over the removal of the ‘Vote on the Go’ option for the upcoming Papatoetoe subdivision by-election, outlining measures to boost voter participation and procedures for eligible voters who do not receive their voting papers in the mail. Voting opens on...
Auckland Council has responded to concerns over the removal of the ‘Vote on the Go’ option for the upcoming Papatoetoe subdivision by-election, outlining measures to boost voter participation and procedures for eligible voters who do not receive their voting papers in the mail. Voting opens on March 9 and closes at 12pm on April 9, with ballot papers sent by post to all eligible voters. The election will be conducted using the first-past-the-post (FPP) system.
The option (Vote on the Go), which allowed voters to enrol and cast their vote on the spot without identification or paperwork, will no longer be available. This option specifically helped voters whose voting papers had not arrived in the mail or got lost.
“We will not be holding Vote on the Go events this time; however special voting will be available throughout the month-long voting period at both our Papatoetoe and Manukau libraries and at the Electoral Office. This service will be provided by fully trained staff,” Oliver Roberts, Head of Governance Programmes and Policies at Auckland Council, told The Indian Weekender.
Raj Pardeep Singh, Labour candidate for the upcoming by-election, told The Indian Weekender that he “supports” the council’s decision.
Singh noted that protecting “electoral integrity, particularly in response to the voting irregularities, fraud risks, and concerns about vote stealing identified by District Court in the previous election and out of 53 Special votes 50 votes cast for Action team (94.3%) Unexplained 3254 extra votes.” He added that safeguarding public confidence in the democratic process is essential.
All four Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team candidates from the voided October election — Kunal Bhalla, Kushma Nair, Sandeep Saini, and Jeet Singh, have re-nominated for the by elections.
On the removal of the “Vote on the Go” option, Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team spokesperson Kunal Bhalla said he was “disappointed”, noting that the option had been effective in encouraging participation from community members.
Bhalla said it was the first time “we saw voting facilities set up in places that people already trust and regularly attend—such as gurdwaras on Sundays. In areas like Papatoetoe, where more than a third of the community is of Indian origin, this made a real difference.”
He added that members of the community were able to enrol and vote while attending their place of worship, “something that removed long-standing barriers to participation.” Bhalla also noted that an increase in special votes reflected higher engagement.
“Removing these options risks reversing that progress, and I do have concerns that it could lead to lower voter turnout—particularly among communities that were only just beginning to feel included in the process,” he said.
“If we are serious about improving democratic participation, we should be expanding accessible voting options, not scaling them back,” he added.
Auckland Council said it is working with local libraries and internal teams to develop a communications and engagement strategy to raise awareness of the re-run election and encourage eligible voters to watch for their postal votes.
“The plan is likely to include posters and flyers at local events, held up to and during the voting period, local social media and community pages, and adverts at libraries and bus stops,” Roberts told The Indian Weekender.
“Our engagement at events, along with social media and other communications, will include a focus on younger voters, and we will also promote voting through local networks,” Roberts added.
Raj Singh also weighed in on the importance of accessible voting, noting it would “ensure that reforms do not unintentionally make voting harder for eligible residents.”
“Auckland Council should work closely with communities — especially seniors, young people, migrants, and people with disabilities — to provide secure, trusted, and accessible voting options, whether by post, at libraries, or through well-supervised and transparent voting arrangements,” he told The Indian Weekender.
“The upcoming by-elections is a critical opportunity for the community members to restore trust in local democracy,” Singh said. “It also underscores that voter participation must improve,” he added.
Council said its marketing strategy will help ensure voters look out for their ballot papers. “We also encourage people to vote as soon as they receive their papers, rather than put them aside for action later,” Roberts explained.
Addressing concerns about missing ballot papers, the council clarified that if someone has not received their voting pack by March 21, they can call Election Services, who can confirm whether a pack was sent. Voters in this situation can cast a Special Vote at either Papatoetoe or Manukau Library.
Candidates contesting the by-election have also encouraged voter participation. Singh said, “My personal message to residents is simple: your vote matters — local decisions impact schools, parks, transport, safety, and community wellbeing. No matter what your background, every voice counts in shaping Papatoetoe’s future.”
Bhalla added that despite challenges regarding local board elections, “public engagement and support on the ground has only strengthened. I expect strong community participation in the by-election.”
In an earlier report by RNZ, local board candidate Vi Hausia said ahead of nominations closing that he wanted the focus to remain on community issues rather than past allegations. “I don't want this election to be overpowered by fraud allegations. I want the focus to be on our vision for Papatoetoe,” RNZ quoted Hausia as saying.
Nominations opened on December 31 and closed at midday on January 28. Election signage can be displayed from February 5 and must be removed by midnight on April 8. Preliminary results are expected on April 9, with final results due the following day.
The confirmed candidates for the Papatoetoe subdivision by-election are: Kunal Bhalla (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Ashraf Choudhary (Labour), Harold Hirdeshwar Deo (no affiliation declared), Avinash Kaur Dhaliwal (Labour), Peter Dons (Independently Papatoetoe), Vi Hausia (Labour), Tuafuti Ka (Independent), Namrata Nandika Kumar (no affiliation declared), Chris Latham (Communities and Residents), Albert Lim (Independently Papatoetoe), John Loau (no affiliation declared), Karl Mokaraka (Independent), Kushma Nair (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Swanie Nelson (Independent), Taitosaua Bill Peace (Independent), Sandeep Saini (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Jeet Singh (Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team), Raj Singh (Labour), Alison Weakley (Independently Papatoetoe), and Chris Webb (Independently Papatoetoe).
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