Police close Papatoetoe election fraud investigation due to insufficient evidence

A 10-month police investigation into allegations of electoral fraud linked to the 2025 Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board election has been closed due to insufficient evidence.

The investigation began after complaints were made following the election, in which all four seats in the Papatoetoe subdivision were won by newcomers from the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team.

"A thorough review was carried out into the complaints we received," said Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers, Counties Manukau CIB.

"Ultimately there was insufficient evidence to proceed further, when taking the Solicitor General's Prosecution Guidelines into account. All files have now been closed."

A spokesperson from the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team welcomed the news.

"For our team, this brings an important chapter to a close," the spokesperson said.

"We believed throughout this process that justice and truth should be allowed to take their course," the spokesperson said.

"Sometimes that process takes longer than we would like, but our confidence in New Zealand's institutions has remained."

Police confirmed in October they were making enquiries into complaints of electoral fraud relating to the South Auckland local body election.

In November, a former Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board member filed a petition seeking a judicial inquiry into the election.

Labour candidate Lehopoaome Vi Hausia's petition raised concerns about turnout anomalies, the handling of ballot papers and the integrity of postal voting.

In December, Judge Richard McIlraith ruled that irregularities had materially affected the result and declared the election of the local board members for the Papatoetoe subdivision void.

A separate legal challenge followed in February, when four winning candidates from the voided election sought a judicial review in the High Court.

Following a hearing on 17 February, the High Court upheld the District Court's decision to void the result.

Justice Anderson also addressed social media comments suggesting the District Court's ruling demonstrated "immigrant corruption" and that the "Indian candidates masterminded fraudulent votes".

"This is a misleading and improper report of the decision," Justice Anderson said.

"Mr Hausia does not allege - nor did the [District Court] judge find - that [the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team] had any involvement in the misuse of voting papers identified in the decision."

Vi Hausia secured top spot in the new election, with three members of the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team also claiming seats.

Vi Hausia received 2788 votes, followed by Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team candidate Jeet Singh on 2484.

Fellow Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team candidate Sandeep Saini received 2479 votes, while Kushma Nair won the fourth and final seat with 2383 votes.

RNZ has approached Vi Hausia for comment.