The current count for Mauger as of this afternoon was 54,644 votes - a majority of almost 20,000. His nearest rival, Sara Templeton, received 34,726 votes.
The next highest polling mayoral candidate was Thomas Healey with 1547 votes.
Mayor-elect Mauger will be joined at the city council table by two new councillors and 14 returning councillors, as progress results stand.
Not all ordinary votes have been counted yet. Votes received this morning and special votes are yet to be counted, therefore results could change.
Results of individual wards:
- In the Banks Peninsula ward, Tyrone Fields won the seat with 2649 votes
- In the Burwood ward, Kelly Barber won the seat with 4925 votes
- In the Cashmere ward, Tim Scandrett won the seat with 5076 votes
- In the Central ward, Jake McLellan won the seat with 1634 votes
- In the Coastal ward, Celeste Donovan won the seat with 4155 votes
- In the Fendalton ward, David Cartwright won the seat with 4707 votes
- In the Halswell ward, Andrei Moore won the seat with 6691 votes
- In the Heathcote ward, Nathaniel Herz Jardine won the seat with 4486 votes
- In the Innes ward, Pauline Cotter won the seat with 2873 votes
- In the Linwood ward, Yani Johanson won the seat with 3290 votes
- In the Papanui ward, Victoria Henstock won the seat with 3991 votes
- In the Riccarton, Tyla Harrison-Hunt won the seat with 1431 votes
- In the Spreydon ward, Melanie Coker won the seat with 3733 votes
Three sitting Councillors were re-elected unopposed. These are:
- Aaron Keown, Harewood Ward
- Mark Peters, Hornby Ward
- Sam MacDonald, Waimairi Ward
Mauger will hold an event at his Avonhead home at 3pm today.
His re-election campaign was based around making rates increases affordable, delivering major projects like One New Zealand Stadium on time and on budget and stable leadership at the council table.
Templeton, who is with supporters and family at her parents' home in Bryndwr, released a statement this afternoon.
Templeton ran a progressive, future-focused campaign which focused on fixing the city’s leaking water infrastructure, providing better public transport and opposing sales of the city’s strategic assets including Lyttelton Port Company and the airport.
Said Templeton: “While today’s result wasn’t what we hoped for, I’m deeply proud of the positive, future-focused campaign we ran and so grateful to everyone who believed in a better future for our city.
“Going into this campaign, I always knew it would be a tough ask to beat an incumbent mayor, but it was important that residents had a real choice. We focused on the issues that matter: fixing infrastructure, building strong communities, and creating a fairer, greener, more connected and resilient city ready to face the challenges ahead.”
“Over the past twelve years, we’ve achieved so much together, from rebuilding community facilities to creating the stunning Coastal Pathway. It has been an absolute privilege to serve and to see Ōtautahi grow and evolve. I’ve been proud to lead Council’s efforts to make progress in the climate change space, both in lowering our emissions and planning for the challenges and opportunities coming our way."
Star News is following the vote tallies in Canterbury and reporting on the major milestones as they come in today.
New Heathcote Ward city councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine won the seat with 4486 votes.
Herz Jardine thanked his family and supporters.
"I was feeling nervous this morning but I'm so proud of the work we've put in. We knocked on over 3000 doors. I'm just so excited and so thrilled and ready to get into it."
He called his opponent Ian Kearney to thank him for a good campaign.
"He's always been very friendly and deeply cares about the community too."
Kearney said he is "extremely disappointed" by his loss after a hard fought campaign. But he sent his "best wishes" to Herz-Jardine.
New Fendalton Ward city councillor David Cartwright won his seat with 4707 votes.
"Very excited. Thanks so much to my friends and family," Cartwright said.
"I acknowledge Xavier and Diane for campaigning too and standing up.
"I'm extremely honoured and excited. I've had 15 years of experience on the community board. I'm a ratepayer and business owner and JP. I bring lots of skills and experience."
The preliminary results, including today’s votes but not special votes, are due to be released by 4pm tomorrow. The final results are set to be declared by October 16.
Turnout in Christchurch was 33.4% on Friday, lower than the 39% at the same time last election.
This morning, Broughton was representing the Darfield Bowling Club against a Burnside team at the Burnside Bowling Club.
Gliddon was in South Malvern earlier today for the official re-opening of Whitecliffs Hall.
Waimakariri incumbent Dan Gordon is seeking a third term and is up against councillor Paul Williams.
At noon, voting boxes across the country were sealed and taken to vote processing centres to be counted.
Some 3500 candidates are competing for 1500 positions across New Zealand.
Sixteen of the country's 57 mayors have stood down from the race, while the mayors of Christchurch, Auckland, Nelson and Dunedin are seeking a second term.
- additional reporting from RNZ
