Police Open Inquiry Into Harry Mowbray's $100,000 Strategic Voting Site

Police are formally investigating the website of businessman Harry Mowbray, a move that follows a referral from the Electoral Commission. Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Compton confirmed on Sunday that inquiries are underway into the platform, which urges National Party supporters to direct their party vote to Act or New Zealand First.

The campaign, known as Split Your Vote, aims to create an overhang in the House of Representatives. By reducing the number of seats won by National, the strategy seeks to increase the likelihood that opposition parties can form a coalition government. Mowbray, whose children founded the toy company Zuru, took the site offline briefly after the Electoral Commission raised concerns about its adherence to advertising laws.

The website returned to the public sphere on Monday. Mowbray told The New Zealand Herald that he tweaked the content to ensure it aligned with legal requirements. The National Party, which has pushed back against the campaign, confirmed on Friday afternoon that it filed a complaint with the Electoral Commission regarding the site's operation.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressed the matter on Tuesday morning in Marlborough. When asked about the police investigation, the Prime Minister declined to provide extensive detail. "I've talked about that," Luxon said. "You know, the strategic voting campaign over the last few days. I've got nothing further to say, and frankly, now that it's a matter before the police, I'll leave it there."

Compton stated that no further comment could be released at this stage as detectives continue their review of the digital campaign and its interaction with current electoral statutes.