No challenge to Waitakere

Vernon Small reports at Stuff:

Labour will not challenge the cliff-hanger election result in the west Auckland seat of Waitakere, confirming National’s Social Development Minister Paula Bennett in the seat.

“We have made the decision against seeking an electoral petition,”  Labour secretary Chris Flatt said today. …

Flatt said the party had discussed the possibility of a challenge with those involved in the recount.

“We have confidence in the Electoral Commission and the process they took.”

A petition could have cost $30,000-$50,000 and possibly over $100,000 if Labour had chosen to challenge on the basis of malpractice.

Plus National has not lost an electoral petition in the last 40 years or so. I suspect the only outcome of an electoral petition in Waitakere (apart from wealth gain for lawyers) would be National to increase their majority.