6 Oct 2010

Hundreds of South Auckland voting papers missing

4:07 pm on 6 October 2010

As many as 400 South Aucklanders have been told their local body voting papers have been dumped and cannot be re-delivered.

The residents in eight Mangere streets are the second group found to have missed out after a postie dumped up to 800 voting packs.

New Zealand Post says the first residents were identified early and their packs were re-delivered 10 days ago, but the missing papers on the second set of streets came to light later.

It says people in three streets are known to have not received voting papers, but it has written to those in a further five nearby streets as a precaution.

Residents will have to apply in person to make special votes, and Returning Officer Dale Ofsoske says a special polling booth will be set up in the Mangere East Library to help those whose have not received the papers.

Mr Ofsoske says he alerted New Zealand Post on Monday to the new problem after complaints from residents who have to vote by Saturday.