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Communities & Residents (C&R) has confirmed that it will again stand Chris Latham as its candidate in the upcoming Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board by-election.
Chris is a respected educator at Papatoetoe High School, and is known for his work in the community, giving him a strong understanding of the issues facing the area.
“I am excited to get to work as C&R’s candidate for Papatoetoe and put locals first – focusing on safer streets, infrastructure that works, and supporting small businesses,” said Latham.
“Too many people have told me they feel unheard, and I’m standing to be a voice for them.”
“I will bring integrity to local governance and a balanced approach to decision-making.”
C&R President David Hay said Latham was the best candidate to restore trust in local leadership.
“Chris is a strong local advocate with a proven commitment to the Papatoetoe community,” said C&R President David Hay. “C&R is proud to support him again and to give voters a clear, credible choice in this by-election.”
The Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board election result was overturned in December 2025 following confirmed instances of irregularities that materially impacted the result.
The decision to overturn the result automatically triggered a by-election, after investigations found that voting laws had been breached.
C&R says the case highlights fundamental weaknesses in Auckland’s reliance on postal voting, which has undermined public confidence in the integrity of local elections.
C&R is calling for urgent reform of how local elections are run, including moving away from postal-only voting toward more secure, modern voting methods that protect election integrity and voter confidence.
Latham supports C&R’s position, emphasising the need for strong local democracy and for modernising the voting process.
The by-election will be held on April 9th, 2026.
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