A simple question for Winston Peters: Where do you live?

Press release: ACT New Zealand
February 27, 2015. 4:05pm

"Winston Peters has set a new record, being economical with the truth only hours into his campaign," claims Northland ACT candidate Robin Grieve.

Mr Peters is announcing he will stand in his home electorate. The electoral law is very clear about what makes a candidate's electorate a place of residence:

72 Rules for determining place of residence within New Zealand
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the place where a person resides within New Zealand at any material time or during any material period shall be determined for the purposes of this Act by reference to the facts of the case.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person can reside in one place only.
(3) A person resides at the place where that person chooses to make his or her home by reason of family or personal relations, or for other domestic or personal reasons.

"How will Mr Peters get out of this?" asks Grieve.

"Clause 1 tells us we must look at the facts, so:

"Will he deny clause 2 and tell the people of Northland that he can be in two places at once?

"Will he deny clause 3 and deny he makes his home in St Mary's Bay?

"Or will he apologise for having mislead the public within hours of his announcement?"

ENDS

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