New Zealand

Bungled local body nominations stand

16:15 pm on 17 August 2016

Auckland's electoral officer has declined to ratify two bungled nominations by local body candidates.

Denise Krum is Auckland Future's only sitting councillor. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

One candidate for the Auckland Future ticket accidentally nominated himself to run against the group's only councillor.

Another incorrectly filled out a form for the wrong local board area and was rejected.

The National Party-aligned group had blamed council staff in Manukau, saying they were handed the wrong paperwork.

But electoral officer Dale Ofsoske said the ward nomination was valid and must stand, while the rejected one was invalid.

Both blunders happened when Auckland Future's Manukau team went in last Thursday, the second-to-last day for nominations for October's local body elections.