Auckland Future puts forward convicted fraudster as candidate

  • 15/08/2016
Savea Peseta Al Harrington Lavea (Facebook)
Savea Peseta Al Harrington Lavea (Facebook)

The chair of the Whau local board says she's shocked centre-right ticket Auckland Future would support a convicted fraudster for public office.

Savea Peseta Al Harrington Lavea has withdrawn his candidacy for the board after it was revealed he had convictions for stealing the identities of seven dead babies in the late 1990s.

Chair of the board, Labour's Catherine Farmer, says voters need to be able to trust their representatives.

"As a publicly elected candidate myself, I'm very aware of the intense scrutiny for anybody who puts themself into the mode for being elected, so I was very shocked and surprised," she says.

Lavea says he stood down so fellow Auckland Future candidates wouldn't be affected by his past deeds.

Ms Farmer says Auckland Future was naive to put Lavea forward.

"There's a high level of integrity and trust that goes with the job if you get elected."

She says the community the Whau Local Board serves deserves credible representatives.

"Sure everyone's entitled to move on from their past mistakes, but it showed a complete lack of understanding of public life."

Newshub.