Dan Gordon has won a third term as Waimakariri mayor.
Mr Gordon faced a strong challenge from sitting councillor Paul Williams in campaign which at times was heated.
It saw a number of candidates using social media to challenge Mr Gordon and the council's debt levels, and to call for zero percent rate rises.
In a brief statement, Mr Gordon said he was relieved to win.
‘‘Thank you to Waimakariri residents for re-electing me as your mayor,’’ he said.
‘‘It is humbling to be representing our district for a third term.
‘‘I will continue to work hard for all of our communities, while listening carefully to your concerns and representing you to the very best of my ability.’’
Mr Gordon offered his congratulations to the successful council and community board candidates.
Mr Williams is more than 10,000 votes behind Mr Gordon and also looks set to lose his council seat, based on preliminary results.
It has not been a good result for Mr Williams' team of six candidates, Standing Together For Waimakariri, with just Tim Bartle elected to the council, while James Bourke in just two votes away from securing
a seat on the Rangiora-Ashley Community Board, pending special votes.
Based on preliminary results, Mr Gordon will be joined by six sitting councillors - Niki Mealings and Tim Fulton (Oxford-Ohoka), Jason Goldsworthy and Joan Ward (Rangiora-Ashley), and Brent Cairns and Philip Redmond (Kaiapoi-Woodend).
There will be three new councillors Bruce McLaren (Rangiora-Ashley), and Shona Powell and Mr Bartle (Kaiapoi-Woodend), while former councillor Wendy Doody (Rangiora-Ashley) will return to council table.
Sitting councillors Mr Williams and Robbie Brine (Rangiora-Ashley) have lost their seats, with Mr Brine being elected to the Rangiora-Ashley Community Board.
The voter return was 42.53%, being 20,902 votes, excluding special votes.
Waimakariri Results:
Mayor:
Dan Gordon 15,581, Paul Williams 5048.
Oxford-Ohoka Ward (2 vacancies):
Niki Mealings 2506, Tim Fulton 2395, Rob Ballantyne 1269, Gordon Malcolm 1044.Rangiora-Ashley Ward (4 vacancies):
Jason Goldsworthy 4966, Joan Ward 4379, Wendy Doody 4029, Bruce McLaren 3825, Paul Williams 3182, Robbie Brine 3047, Wayne Linton 2735, Steve Wilkinson 2572, James Bourke 2252, Sam Fisher 1093.
Brent Cairns 3897, Philip Redmond 3853, Shona Powell 3178, Tim Bartle 2754, Matt James 2314 , Nathan Atkins 2149, Sandra Stewart 1947, Henrietta Carroll 1776, Prudence Stone 1547, Natalie Leary 993.
Woodend-Sefton Community Board (5 vacancies):
Shona Powell 2068 (withdrawn), Mark Paterson 1724, Andrew Thompson 1606, Prudence Stone 1319, Joel McLachlan 1289, Mathew Potter 1207, Yu Bai 1077.
Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board (5 vacancies):
Jackie Watson 2545, Tim Bartle 2395 (withdrawn), Sandra Stewart 2309, Russell Keetley 2288, Abbie Campbell 2055, Henrietta Carroll 1649, Natalie Leary 1320.
Oxford-Ohoka Community Board - Oxford Community Subdivision (3 vacancies):
Thomas Robson 1228, Tim Fulton 1217 (withdrawn), Mark Brown 940, Pete Merrifield 517, Garth Free 505.
Rangiora-Ashley Community Board Ashley Community Subdivision (2 vacancies):
Diana Hawkins 1366, Duncan Lundy 1158, James Bourke 1156, Damon Hurley 568.
Rangiora-Ashley Community Board Rangiora Community Subdivision (6 vacancies):
Jason Goldsworthy 48323 (withdrawn), Liz McClure 4424, Bruce McLaren 4125 (withdrawn), Kirstyn Barnett 4015, Jim Gerard 3831, Robbie Brine 3123, Brent Robinson 1935, Alan Geeves 1513.
Oxford-Ohoka Community Board Ohoka-Swannanoa Community Subdivision (3 vacancies):
Sarah Barle 1470, Wayne Godfrey 958, Ray Harpur 891, Simon Hall 784, Ethan Nicholson 617.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
