Summarised by Centrist
Christchurch property developer Matthew Horncastle says his next political billboard will identify him by name and address, along with his star sign, blood type, height and weight.
“Authorised by Matthew Horncastle, 124 Peterborough Street, Christchurch… star sign Gemini, blood type O positive, height six-foot-two, weight 97kg,” he joked, after police advised him to include the full promoter statement required under electoral law.
Horncastle came to the Electoral Commission’s attention after displaying two billboards urging voters not to support Labour, the Greens or Te Pāti Māori.
The signs named Horncastle as the person responsible but did not include his contact details. The Commission referred the matter to police, who Horncastle said closed the case after asking him to use the full disclaimer in future.
Horncastle has agreed to comply, although begrudgingly.
“Unfortunately, I believe this disclaimer is not needed and violates my freedom of speech,” he said. “But I can’t be bothered with the fight.”
He argued that he was acting as a private citizen rather than as a party or candidate and questioned whether his digital signs should be treated as formal election advertising.
University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis said the Electoral Act was clear that the rules applied to any person publishing material intended to persuade voters to support or reject a party or candidate.
Geddis said digital billboards were covered in the same way as traditional signs, newspapers and other advertising.
Horncastle’s next message has not yet been revealed, although Horncastle said he wanted to make sure it was “really clever”.
Image: Facebook
