Investigation into United Hutt electoral returns ramping up years after complaint

Monday, 11 August 2025

Glenda Barratt, Prabha Ravi and Tony Stallinger were all tied up in the original complaint about 2022 election returns, with interviews in the investigation now starting.

An investigation into a Hutt City group of candidates’ 2022 electoral returns appears to be ramping up, with the main complainant having been contacted by police.

In December 2022, Labour Party member Wayne Paaka laid a complaint with returning officer Bruce Hodgins, alleging it was unclear where the United Hutt group’s funding came from. Candidates are required to list donations over $1500.

United Hutt listed an incorporated society, United Hutt Inc, as the source of its income and it is unclear whether it received any donations of more than $1500 ‒ the level at which they must be disclosed.

Paaka’s complaint covered all 12 United Hutt candidates, including Tony Stallinger and Glenda Barratt, who made it on to council, although Stallinger missed out on the mayoral seat he was after. It also covered Prabha Ravi, who is running to be mayor in 2025. All stand by their 2022 returns.

Paaka told The Post he had given up on any action being taken, but was recently contacted by police with a view to interviewing him.

His original complaint had gone to Hutt City Council, then to police, then got passed to the Electoral Commission, then went back to police and on to the Serious Fraud Office, which referred it back to police.

Police could not confirm what had happened to the original complaint, but said the investigation was “ongoing”.

Hodgins said he was “surprised as much as anyone” to see the investigation, which he originally passed on to police as required by legislation, come back to life.

He confirmed he had been interviewed by police within the past fortnight.

In 2022, Hodgins said United Hutt's election return was not in the spirit of the legislation and lacked transparency.

Stallinger, who is running for a council seat this year, was unaware of any investigation and said he had never been contacted by authorities about it. But he said he had nothing to worry about as the returns were “100% correct”.

Ravi, now running to be Hutt City mayor, likewise confirmed she had not been contacted by authorities and stood by her 2022 returns. She could not figure out why the investigation seem to be starting now.

Barratt said she had not been contacted by authorities and she stood behind her electoral returns.