Belief whistleblowers are vital to exposing voting failures, after a South Auckland local body election was overturned.

Judge Richard McIlraith ruled irregularities altered the outcome of the Papatoetoe vote for the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board.

The case involved stolen voting papers and fraudulent use.

A new election must be held by April 9.

Transparency International NZ CEO Julie Haggie told Andrew Dickens there’s no sign of wider system problems nationally.

She says it does seem to be picking up them, as someone made a case for a district court inquiry and got a result.