Auckland, New Zealand – As the election season heats up, local government elections are drawing increasing scrutiny over candidates’ claims of local ties to the areas they wish to represent. The controversy centres around the growing concern that some candidates vying for local board seats may not be as "local" as they claim, misleading voters and skewing the integrity of the democratic process.

John Riddell, a concerned local citizen and candidate who advocates for better election transparency, raises questions regarding the practice of candidates, particularly those seeking seats on local boards, who do not reside within the areas they aim to represent. "The task is difficult for new candidates who want to be successful in local government. But when incumbents run, they often stick to a well-worn script of camaraderie and teamwork, leaving the real politics of the election out of sight," Riddell says.

Despite candidates often claiming to live within the boundaries of the local board they wish to represent, a closer look reveals troubling discrepancies. In the case of the Upper Harbour Local Board, a group named “Living Upper Harbour” claims to advocate for the area, yet only one group member resides within the local board's boundaries. Furthermore, past successful candidates from Orewa in the Henderson-Massey Local Board raise questions about the true definition of “local.”

Riddell explains, "For years, two successful candidates lived in Orewa, a completely different area outside the Upper Harbour Local Board. How can that possibly be considered 'local'?"

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As the Upper Harbour Local Board election approaches, 13 candidates are competing for just six seats. Of these, only six live within the local board boundaries: Callum Blair, Rebecca Huang, John McLean, Kent Neville-White, Kyle Parker, Selena Wong, and Sylvia Yang. "So why do candidates not try their luck where they actually live?" Riddell asks. "It seems that for some, the desire to win at all costs outweighs the principle of serving one's own community."

Local Member of Parliament for Upper Harbour Cameron Brewer has long championed reforms aimed at ensuring local government elections truly reflect the communities they serve. Brewer recently drafted a member’s bill proposing the alignment of local boards with council wards, effectively creating subdivisions and ensuring candidates reside within the areas they seek to represent. Riddell supports this reform, stating that such measures would enhance the integrity of the election process and voter turnout.

"If candidates were required to live in the area they wish to serve, much like the licensing trusts do, it would ensure greater transparency and bolster voter participation," Riddell notes. "After all, who better to represent a community than someone who actively lives within it?"

As election day draws nearer, residents of the Upper Harbour Local Board and surrounding areas are urged to pay close attention to candidates' backgrounds and ask the tough questions. Can you trust a candidate who doesn’t live in the community they want to represent?

The same issue is possibly not just an Auckland issue, but a New Zealand-wide one.

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