The South

Plenty of voters in the 2010 elections chose not to make a choice on some, or in some cases any, of the local authorities they were charged with electing.

Voters have dumped three long-serving mayors in a day of sweeping change at the top in Southern local government.

Former Mackenzie District Council receptionist Claire Barlow has become Mackenzie's first female mayor.

Despite a term plagued by infighting among city councillors, New Zealand's longest serving mayor, Tim Shadbolt, has won the Invercargill mayoralty race for the sixth time.

Queenstown Lakes district voters have continued to improve the percentage of papers returned but by 2pm yesterday were still behind other regional electorates.

Fewer Otago residents have indicated they plan to vote in this year's local body elections than any other region, a poll shows.

At least six of the 11 Otago candidates for the Southern District Health Board are expected to take part in a two-hour forum on Monday

Any thrill at being the first elected members of the newly formed Southern District Health Board after the elections next month is likely to be short-lived when the reality of the next three years hits.

Famous for saying "I don't care where, as long as I'm mayor", Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt is being challenged.

Dunedin's Channel 9 is preparing to provide extensive coverage in the build-up to next month's local body elections.