Mackle has a comfortable lead with 1111 votes based on progress results, with 85% of votes counted.
‘‘You just never know how things are going to go,’’ he said.
‘‘With the video calls and the phone calls it all went crazy.
‘‘It didn’t take long for word to spread around the aunts and uncles, so it’s pretty cool.’’
His closest rival, councillor John Diver, received 332 votes, while Dave Anderson received just 77 votes, as of Saturday afternoon.
Mackle said he hoped to finally turn the first sod at the much anticipated Vicarage Views sub-division this term.
He had hoped the Vicarage Views housing sub-division would be ready to do by now, but ‘‘we are just waiting on the developer to push the button’’.
Forming the water services council controlled organisation (CCO) with the Hurunui District Council, finishing off the Wakatu Quay projects, and access for Clarence Valley residents are the priorities for the next three years, he said.
‘‘That’s (the CCO) the biggest thing at the moment and there’s still a fair bit of work to do there, but we’re feeling pretty comfortable.
‘‘And then it’s about cleaning up some projects, and the Wakatu Quay is one of those and it’s looking pretty sharp.’’
Providing access to residents in the Clarence Valley has been an issue since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake destroyed the Glen Alton bridge in November 2016.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency withdrew its funding for a full replacement bridge earlier this year, leaving the project in limbo.
The council is looking at several options, including a bailey bridge.
Mr Mackle is expected to be joined around the council table by four incumbent councillors - Vicki Gulleford, Tony Blunt, Kevin Heays and John Diver.
There will be three new councillors, with Joshua McInnes, Corrina Allen Smith and Mark Redwood just ahead of the other candidates in the progress results.
The final results are expected by Thursday.
Kaikōura progress results:
Mayor:
Craig Mackle 1111, John Diver 332, Dave Anderson 77.
Council (seven positions):
Vicki Gulleford 944, Tony Blunt 876, Kevin Heays 876, John Diver 775, Joshua McInnes 705, Corrina Allen Smith 702, Mark Redwood 689, Rosie Clemett 659, Melanie Campbell 633, John Booker 502, Ted Howard 472, Te Awhina Rangimarie 395, Kd Scattergood 329, Dave Anderson 248, Barry Aylward 206, Rex Stentiford 177.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
