Misinformation-linked Candidate Media Roundup

Ashburton District Council

3 Candidates

• Ashburton mayoral candidate wanted to sue Government for $5m for Covid-19 business infringements
• ‘Don’t believe in mandates’ but no link to freedom group from Ashburton council hopefuls

Auckland Council

6 Candidates

• Auckland election candidate believes Covid vaccines are sterilising women
• Dog whistling’ local body candidate campaigns as a watchdog
• Auckland local board candidate claims Covid-19 vaccine ‘experimental’
• Anti-vax Auckland mayoral candidate says NZ is victim of ‘global medical tyranny’
• The six races that could make or break a mayor
• Local Elections 2022: Aucklanders warned to be careful when voting

Carterton District Council

1 Candidate

• Carterton councillor admits VFF affiliation but not make NZ ungovernable tactic
• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups
• The woman behind ‘Refreshing Local Democracy’

Central Otago District Council

1 Candidate

• Central Otago candidate named as VFF supporter
• Concern candidates not being upfront
• ‘Ungovernable’ candidates linked to Voices for Freedom in local elections
• Local body elections: The controversial candidates running for NZ councils

Christchurch City Council

9 Candidates

• Christchurch pastor Carl Bromley rants at police, says Govt ‘seeking to rape me of right to worship’ after church gathering targeted
• Christchurch mayoral hopeful Carl Bromley defends extremists
• A wizard, a pastor, and two retirees are among the lesser-known candidates vying for Christchurch’s mayoralty
• Five candidates with links to anti-vaccination groups standing for city council
• Council candidate hides behind closed door when asked about conspiracy group voices for freedom
• Meet the Nelson man running to be the mayor of six councils

Dunedin City Council

7 Candidates

• Concerns about hidden antivaxxers in local elections
• Controversial Councillor Candidate Cleared to Run As “Jedi”
• Concern candidates not being upfront
• Married council candidates omit links to Voices for Freedom
• Local body elections: Why some fringe candidates seek office and what they want to achieve
• Local body elections: The controversial candidates running for NZ councils
• Candidate affiliations with anti-vax group questioned
• High drama and low farce as 11 audition to be Dunedin’s mayor

Far North District Council

8 Candidates

• The covid19 conspiracy theorists targeting northlands local elections

Gisborne District Council

7 Candidates

• Two staff one councillor unvaccinated
• Gisborne councillor Meredith Akuhata-Brown reprimanded for spreading vaccine misinformation
• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups
• Gisborne candidates stand by controversial posts
• The married couple standing for election espousing antivax rhetoric and dangerous conspiracy theories
• Gisborne mayoral candidate stands by social media image of him wearing swastika
• Gisborne council candidate wore pig mask while on duty as police officer

Greater Wellington Regional Council

1 Candidate

• Lower Hutt regional council candidate has warned friends against vaccinating their kids

Hamilton City Council

3 Candidates

• ‘Revenge’ and anti-vax agendas – the motives behind Hamilton’s mayoral hopefuls
• Hamilton City Council mayoral candidate denies affiliations to Voices for Freedom movement

Hastings District Council

3 Candidates

• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups
• Hastings council candidates linked to antivax antimandate movements
• Local Focus: Melanie Petrowski on Candidate Camera

Hutt City Council

5 Candidates

• Council candidate wanted top US health official executed
• Election candidate calls police ‘goons’ and ‘thugs’, mocks mask-wearers

Kaipara District Council

2 Candidates

• The tiny district with conspiracy theorists standing for election

Kāpiti Coast District Council

2 Candidates

• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups

Manawatu-District Council

2 Candidates

• Manawatū mayoral candidate promises to make it NZ’s safest district
• The woman behind ‘Refreshing Local Democracy’

Marlborough District Council

1 Candidate

• When you ask a candidate if she is part of Voices for Freedom

Napier City Council

3 Candidates

• Health NZ rejects vaccine claims by former pharmacist standing for council
• Local Focus: Liz Gear on Candidate Camera

Nelson City Council

3 Candidates

• Nelson council candidates’ links to disinformation and conspiracy
• Meet the Nelson man running to be the mayor of six councils

New Plymouth District Council

6 Candidates

• Janet Wilson: Dangerous voices looking to fill the vacuum in our democracy
• Operations head of anti-vax group Voices For Freedom standing for New Plymouth District Council
• New Plymouth candidate supporting far-right platforms and spreading lies
• New Plymouth mayoral hopeful claims hoarding spot all about ‘location’, not conspiracy theories
• NP mayoral candidate claims lesson from controversial social media post
• New Plymouth council candidate removes controversial on-line posts
• New Plymouth protest group candidate says he is independent
• New Zealand anti-vax group urges supporters to stand for councils and ‘throw weight around’

Otago Regional Council

1 Candidate

• ‘Ungovernable’ candidates linked to Voices for Freedom in local elections
• Married council candidates omit links to Voices for Freedom
• Local body elections: The controversial candidates running for NZ councils

Palmerston North City Council

5 Candidates

• Palmerston North City Council candidate Sam Walmsley believed his Covid-like symptoms were radiation poisoning
• Transparency question a hot button for Palmerston North candidates
• Mayoral debate: Candidates probed on transparency, Three Waters

Porirua City Council

1 Candidate

• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups

Queenstown Lakes District Council

1 Candidate

• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups

Rotorua Lakes Council

4 Candidates

• Mayoral hopeful spread false medical claims, lied about Emmy Award
• Rotorua mayoral candidate Kalaadevi Ananda retracts a claim she won an Emmy
• Council candidate spreads false vaccine claims
• Local Focus: Kariana Black on Candidate Camera
• Anti-vax ex-gang member turned wannabe councillor: ‘Cannabis cures all diseases’
• Election candidate racially slurs Māori who backed Covid response
• Local Focus: Brendan Davis on Candidate Camera

Rangitikei District Council

1 Candidate

• Marton’s water woes, recycling and rates key issues for Rangitīkei voters
• Transparency question a hot button for Palmerston North candidates

Selwyn District Council

1 Candidate

• Council candidate hides behind closed door when asked about conspiracy group voices for freedom

South Wairarapa District Council

1 Candidate

• Carterton councillor admite VFF affiliation but not make NZ ungovernable tactic
• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups

Southland District Council

4 Candidates

• Concern candidates not being upfront
• Ungovernable candidates linked to voices for freedom in local elections
• Prominent voices for freedom host and council candidate urged supporters to run for election

Queenstown Lakes District Council

1 Candidate

• Candidate running for three councils say he’s an anthropologist, not a conspiracy theorist
• Local body elections: The controversial candidates running for NZ councils

Taranaki Regional Council

1 Candidate

• Conspiracy, central government and ‘legislation saturation’ discussed at Taranaki Regional Council meet the candidates meeting

Tararua District Council

2 Candidates

• Carterton councillor admite VFF affiliation but not make NZ ungovernable tactic
• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups
• Water woes dominate Dannevirke’s election candidates event
• The woman behind ‘Refreshing Local Democracy’

Tasman District Council

8 Candidates

• Former principal and current councillor among seven Tasman candidates with links to conspiracies and disinformation
• Climate change denier, UN conspiracy theorist standing for Tasman District Council

Taupo District Council

1 Candidate

• Taupō council candidate backs Voices For Freedom after initially not revealing stance

Timaru District Council

2 Candidates

• I am on the VFF mailing list’: Timaru candidate explains links to groups
• The woman behind ‘Refreshing Local Democracy’

Thames-Coromandel District Council

3 Candidates

• Coromandel mayoral candidate believes in multiple conspiracy theories

Upper Hutt City Council

3 Candidates

• Upper Hutt City Council candidate accused of neo-nazi links
• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups
• The woman behind ‘Refreshing Local Democracy’

Waimakariri District Council

7 Candidates

• Council candidate hosting disinformation meetings blamed ‘child’ for online posts
• North Canterbury election candidates spread misinformation
• Council candidate has one-third stake in conspiracy theorist’s new media company
• Third Canterbury council has candidates with conspiracy links

Wellington City Council

3 Candidates

• Which local government candidates in Wellington and East Coast have ties to anti-mandate groups
• NZSO musician with anti-mandate ties seeking council seat
• Wellington mayoral hopeful claimed Covid vaccine dangerous, backed Trump rioters
• Wellington Mayor Andy Foster distances himself from candidate who claims Covid vaccine is dangerous
• Dangerous voices looking to fill the vacuum in our democracy
• Anti-mandate doctor running for Wellington City Council

Whakatāne District Council

3 Candidates

• Whakatāne mayoral hopeful: Agendas are pushed by ‘Satan’s helpers’
• Voices for Freedom shows support for three Whakatāne district candidates

Whanganui District Council

3 Candidates

• Whanganui deputy mayor Jenny Duncan appeared for interviews on two far-right disinformation livestreams
• Local Focus: Jenny Duncan on Candidate Camera
• Local Focus: Phillip Reweti (Bear) on Candidate Camera
• Local Focus: Aisha Beazley on Candidate Camera
• Local elections 2022: Roy Brown wants council to retain local control

Whangarei District Council

2 Candidates

• Whangārei mayoral race: Mix of experience and youth running to succeed Sheryl Mai
• The conspiracy theorists Groundswell is trying to weed out