In the booming Queenstown Lakes district money talks, it would seem.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult was re-elected in October with a sizeable margin over his nearest rival, securing about 1.5 times as many votes as Nik Kiddle — but he spent about 2.7 times more on electioneering than the local hotelier vying to unseat him.
Expenses from this year's local government election, published by the Queenstown Lakes District Council on Monday, show Mr Boult spent $18,703.66, while Mr Kiddle spent $6987.19, and third-place finisher Al Angus spent $310.
Mr Boult received 6175 votes; Mr Kiddle received 3999, and Mr Angus 1344.
Mr Boult, who spent roughly the same amount ($17,423.33) on his 2016 campaign, said
his election win this year showed he "spent the money wisely".
"We’ve got a widely spread district — two major population centres — it’s not like you can put an ad in one paper, or an ad on one radio station and get to everybody. Basically, that doubles up the cost.
"Advertising is always the unknown fact. If I didn’t advertise would I have got the same result? I might have done. "Then again I might have had a completely different result. You pay your money and the outcome is what it is.
"I simply take a bit of PR advice from a few people and spend my money accordingly."
None of the three mayoral candidates recorded any donations to their campaigns that exceeded $1500.
The two council candidates who each received 2183 votes this year, and had to break their tie with a coin-toss, spent roughly the same amount: the victor Cr Glyn Lewers spent $1350.42, while AJ Mason spent $1183.13.
The spending in Queenstown Lakes was dwarfed by Dunedin candidates’ investment in advertising.
In her campaign for a seat at the Dunedin City Council table, deputy mayor Christine Garey spent $54,641.56, which was covered by a donation from the Garey Family Trust.
Electionz.com electoral officer Anthony Morton said officials continued to chase some candidates for figures.
"We haven’t got particularly excited given that it’s just about Christmas. These remaining ones, they will come in, most of them will be next to nothing in terms of expenditure," he said.
Some candidates declared nomination deposits and petrol as expenses unnecessarily.
At a glance
Queenstown Lakes District Council donation and expenses from this year's local government election
MAYORALTY
Alistair Angus $310.00
Jim Boult $18,703.66
Nicholas Kiddle $6987.19
QUEENSTOWN-WAKATIPU WARD
Penny Clark $1005.77
Peter Faul $1419.10
Craig Ferguson $267.12
Niki Gladding $664.70
John Glover $2618.78
Glyn Lewers $1350.42
John MacDonald $207.95
AJ Mason $1183.13
Valerie Miller $223.00
Grant Scannell $557.75
WANAKA WARD
Barry Bruce $925.75
Lincoln Haworth $1005.90
Calum MacLeod $734.85
Niamh Shaw $760.74
Quentin Smith $581.28
Cherilyn Walthew $587.78
ARROWTOWN WARD
Heath Copland $0
*Included $200 nomination fee as an expense
+ran for multiple roles
