Electoral commission to remind the Advanced Party of the campaign rules

An Advance NZ party trailer is being towed

Hamilton

raised a few eyebrows today after getting too close to a polling place.

The trailer with a large build of Jami-lee Ross and Billy Te Kahika from the Advance Party co-leader was driven through the Linden Court parking lot in Chartwell around 2.30pm this afternoon.

Former Hamilton mayoral candidate Louise Hutt noticed the billboard when she, her partner and a friend went to the neighboring Warehouse Stationery.

The voting booth has been installed in an empty store between the vegetable store and the bakery.

Hutt said he only saw them do one lap, which took about five minutes, before leaving.

“They just came to the parking lot and they didn’t stop or slow down or pretend to try to park in a park. There is literally no way you can try to park a car with a trailer in that parking lot.”

Hutt said the parking lot was “pretty full” and there were only a few left.

Hutt posted video of the white Toyota Camry turning around, and also asked if it was legal to campaign near a polling place.

A spokesman for the Election Commission said staff reported that the car and trailer made a turn into the parking lot, which would have violated the rules, as it would have brought them within 10 meters of the polling place entrance, which it’s not allowed.

“We will follow up with the party to remind them of the rules,” the spokesperson said.

Advance NZ co-leader Jami-Lee Ross said it was the first time he had heard of the violation and that the Election Commission had not yet contacted him.

He said that all of his candidates had received the candidate’s manual which emphasized that following the electoral rules was important.

“If some overzealous volunteer has made a mistake, I would expect our candidates to remind their volunteers of the rules when they notify us of any infractions.”