Keep Illegal Tricks out of Auckland Central Campaign - Woods

Accusations of Labour campaign officials manipulating elderly Chinese voters in today's NZ Herald have drawn fierce criticism from RAM's Auckland Central candidate Oliver Woods.

"While there's yet to be an official confirmation of these allegations, the fact they have even surfaced is extremely disturbing"says Woods. "If true, this proves just how out of touch the Labour party is with their roots".

"These allegations could signify something far worse than violating electoral law and taking advantage of immigrants. They could be undercutting the fundamental tenets of our democracy!"

"As a candidate who can speak Mandarin and a few phrases of Cantonese, I'm particularly outraged."

"There is a Chinese proverb that I admire that goes "ÈËÒªÁ³£ Ê÷ҪƤ", which translates into English as
something like people need honest reputations to succeed."

Auckland Central has a large Asian population, with over six thousand people identify their ethnicity as Asian, making them the second biggest ethnic group in the electorate. Woods is calling on Labour's Auckland Central candidate Judith Tizard to assure the public that Labour party staffers involved in the Panmure and Blockhouse Bay incidents will be kept out of Auckland Central.

"Judith Tizard needs to assure Asian voters that their elderly family members will be able to cast their vote without interference from Labour party members if the Auckland Central result is to be accepted as true and fair," said Mr Woods.

ENDS

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