DATE: 2 September 2007
MEDIA STATEMENT - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Election Affiliation 'Illegally' Changed

The Election Office illegally modified my nomination form says Mr Dene Andre©, who is standing as an ARC candidate for Manukau in the upcoming local body elections.

"My candidate affiliation was modified without my agreement. They shortened my party name and changed the name into two words. Under law they don't have the power to do this."

Long-time Manurewa resident Mr Andre chose to register his party affiliation as GreenerCities.co.nz. The Election Office at Manukau City however took the arbitary step of rejecting Mr Andre's affiliation because it was also a website address. "This change, and those responsible, are right out of order," said keen public transport and environmental candidate Mr Andre.

It's common for some of the world's largest companies to have web names, like Amazon.com, but Mr Andre© thinks his is the first political group in the world to do this.

When asked why the name-change matters, Mr Andre© responds, "this arbitary and bureaucratic action is symptomatic of how people running our cities are not up with the play, act illegally and aren't techno-savvy."

When asked whether this issue will affect the election he says, "If they acknowledge the error and correct it, then no. Otherwise I'll be challenging this action because it is illegal and cannot stand."

"Let's hope their error doesn't hold up the election in Manukau!" said Mr Andre who has stood before for the ARC in Manukau.

END.

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