Election 2026: Western Springs College removes Labour candidate’s leaflets after complaint
An Auckland secondary school has removed pamphlets featuring the Labour Party logo encouraging students to vote in the election.
The pamphlets – titled “Have your say – enrol to vote” – feature branding from Mt Albert candidate Helen White and also the logo of the Labour Party.
But on the eve of the election, Western Springs College has removed them after being told by education officials they breached the rules.
It comes after a student and his parents contacted the Herald, concerned about the pamphlets – which were available in the school’s library – and questioned whether the school was being “politically neutral”.
The Ministry of Education confirmed the pamphlets have now been removed, following an enquiry from the Herald.
Ministry of Education’s director Auckland integration, Leisa Maddix, said in a statement: “Schools can encourage participation in elections and the democratic process but must remain politically neutral.
“They can encourage students, staff, parents and communities to participate in elections and vote. They cannot encourage people to vote for or against a specific political party or candidate.
“Political advertising material, including posters, pamphlets and billboards promoting political parties or candidates, cannot be displayed or distributed.”
The deadline to enrol to vote in the election ended on October 26.
Election candidates can use school facilities for public meetings, free of charge, in line with the Electoral Act 1993.
“We are not commenting on the circumstances of an individual school and are instead setting out the guidance that applies to all state and state-integrated schools.”
Earlier, principal Ivan Davis said White had been the school’s MP when Western Springs College was in the Mt Albert electorate and remained a friend of the school.
The area is now in the Auckland Central electorate.
“Jacinda [Ardern] was a frequent visitor to the school as Prime Minister and our local MP and actually opened the new school in 2020. Helen followed on in this role after Jacinda’s resignation.
“She remains a friend of the school as her mother worked here as an English teacher. Her electorate office has dropped pamphlets off that we make available in our library, as we would any other party who cared to drop pamphlets off.”
The parents of a senior Western Springs College student also questioned the appropriateness of Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick talking to students in September.
The student claimed neither parents nor students were aware that Swarbrick, the Auckland Central MP seeking re-election, had been invited to address a special assembly for Year 12 and 13 students.
Numerous politicians from differing parties have visited schools in the months and weeks leading up to the election.
In the school’s September online newsletter, Davis said Swarbrick’s visit was part of its work with the Electoral Commission to encourage Year 13 students to enrol to vote.
The school had been working with the commission to register students aged 17 and over, who are automatically enrolled when they turn 18.
Following electoral boundary changes, Western Springs College had returned to the Auckland Central electorate from Mt Albert.
Davis said Swarbrick’s office had requested the visit because she was the electorate’s sitting MP. He also said the school would have hosted other parties if they asked.
“Chlöe clearly resonates with our young people, and I was able to share with our students that she entered Parliament when she was just 23 years old – barely five years out of high school!
“I know many of our young people have the passion and smarts to emulate that – but would they want to, given the way we treat our representatives these days? Let’s hope this experience will get the ‘youth quake’ activated to vote at least!”
He went on to predict Swarbrick would “easily” retain the electorate.
“On the basis of the response Chlöe received from our students, I reckon she’ll easily hold Auckland Central – remember you read it here first!”
In an email to the Herald, Davis said Swarbrick’s office had requested the visit so she could meet Year 13 students, many of whom were of voting age.
He defended the invitation, saying Swarbrick had visited in her capacity as the MP for Auckland Central, not as Green Party co-leader.
“At no point was the Green Party or her role as co-leader mentioned.
“Similarly, when Jacinda Ardern visited as Prime Minister or our local MP for Mt Albert, she did so in those capacities, not as a Labour Party representative.
“Would this parent suggest we turn down opportunities for dignitaries of this standing to visit?”
National Party Auckland Central candidate Candace Kinser questioned Davis’ judgement in predicting Swarbrick would easily retain the seat in an official school publication.
“My view is that an official publication predicting that Chlöe will easily hold the electorate shows poor judgement,” she told the Herald.
“My concern is the use of the school’s authority to lend any sort of weight or branding to a political party.”
A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said it had no role in determining how schools managed politicians’ visits or whether signs and campaign material could be displayed on school grounds.
Carolyne Meng-Yee is an Auckland-based investigative journalist who won Best Documentary at the Voyager Media Awards. This year, she was a finalist for Best Current Affairs. She worked for the Herald on Sunday from 2007 to 2011 and rejoined the Herald in 2016 after working as an award-winning current affairs producer at TVNZ’s 60 Minutes, 20/20 and Sunday.