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Electoral Commission Refers Horncastle to Police Over Billboards

7/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Electoral Commission escalated a complaint against developer Matthew Horncastle by referring him to police after two Christchurch digital billboards on Moorhouse Avenue omitted required promoter details.
The billboards urged voters not to support Labour, the Greens or Te Pati Maori and displayed the line “Approved by Matthew Horncastle”.
Section 204F of the Electoral Act 1993 requires election ads to list the promoter’s name and contact details, a rule the billboards broke.

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Story summary

The Electoral Commission escalated a complaint against developer Matthew Horncastle by referring him to police after two Christchurch digital billboards on Moorhouse Avenue omitted required promoter details.
The billboards urged voters not to support Labour, the Greens or Te Pati Maori and displayed the line “Approved by Matthew Horncastle”.
Section 204F of the Electoral Act 1993 requires election ads to list the promoter’s name and contact details, a rule the billboards broke.