10 July By-Election 'discriminates'

(member of the Labour Party, standing as an independent candidate,)

Peter Wakeman said "cost cutting reduces access to democracy" citing the reduction of the number of Te Tai Hauauru by-election polling booths from 302 to 100.

Further, the Election office asks people to telephone an 0800 number for voting forms when nearly 6% of some districts householders may not have access to a telephone. WWW.ELECTIONS.ORG.NZ is even less accessible with about 70% of the Te Tai Hauauru electorate having no home access to internet.

With many on limited incomes and with no access transport, poor communication is going to make democracy 'out of reach' for many.

"Where is the civic duty of print and television media on this important issue?" says Peter Wakeman.

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