The Electoral Commission says MP Takutai Kemp will amend her electoral returns to declare a campaign van as an expense after irregularities were identified by Q+A.
The late-model, 12-seater van was used by Te Pāti Māori's candidate in her bid for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat last year. The vehicle was wrapped in the candidate's branding and featured prominently in Kemp's marketing campaign as a mobile billboard.
However the vehicle, owned by the Manurewa Marae Trust Board, hadn't been accounted for as either a donation or as an expense in the candidate's records.
Takutai Tarsh Kemp declined to be interviewed by Q+A. (Source: 1News)
Kemp was the chief executive of the marae before the election, and charitable organisations like it are barred from making political donations. The absence of a declaration has now been put down to a "misunderstanding" of election rules.
On Friday, Electoral Commission legal and policy manager Kristina Temel said it had looked into the issue and was working with Kemp and Te Pāti Māori's party secretary.
"We’ve been advised that the candidate paid for the use of the van and intends to amend her candidate return to declare the amount as an election expense," she said.
"We are satisfied the non-disclosure was a result of a misunderstanding of the election expenses and donation rules regarding the use of vehicles. We are continuing to work with the candidate and party secretary to ensure that an amended return is filed."
Meanwhile, Charities Services told Q+A there was no update on its investigation.
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Kemp appeared with the van in a Q+A story just before the election. (Source: 1News)
MP Takutai Kemp declined to be interviewed last month.
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
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