CHP not responsible

“The CHP welcomes yesterday’s decision of the Disputes Tribunal, that the Party is not responsible for election debts incurred by Merepeka Raukawa-Tait,” said Party Leader Graham Capill.

“The now discredited Adam Owens made national headlines by putting out a media statement claiming, ‘the Party had been found guilty and ordered to pay costs’ after the Lower Hutt Disputes Tribunal held a hearing without notifying the CHP. The rehearing has put that right, but it beggars belief that a quasi-judicial body such as the Disputes Tribunal could get it so wrong in holding a hearing without notifying one of the respondents.

“The issue was not so much the money involved but the principle at stake. The Electoral Act is clear that candidates must meet their individual expenditure within 40 days of the election result being announced. Clearly the responsibility lies with Merepeka and Wellington City Newspapers were told this at yesterday’s hearing. It would be too onerous financially, for each Party to be held responsible for all the expenditure of its candidates during a campaign.

“This decision is another vindication of the Party’s position that it has acted with financial integrity and another blow to the now infamous Mr Owens who seems intent on causing unjustifiable trouble for the CHP.

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