Special votes counted and final election results in

Final election results released today have confirmed a second term for Moko Tepania as Far North Mayor and welcomed 16 of 30 new faces onto the council – four new members around the council table and 12 newly elected to community boards.

The release of the final election results early this morning includes special votes showing that Moko Tepania has boosted his winning tally by 692 to reach a total of 12744 votes, 4885 ahead of nearest rival Ann Court.

Final election results have revealed just two changes to the preliminary results announced last Sunday. The changes are to community board positions where candidates have successfully been elected to both the council and community boards. Where this happens, the candidate must take the council role and relinquish their community board position.

For Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board, Edward Court has now been elected to represent the Kaikohe Subdivision, replacing Chicky Rudkin who was elected to the Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward. Likewise, Adele Gardner has been returned to Te Hiku Community Board following Rachel Bauke’s successful run for a seat on the council representing Te Hiku General Ward.

Final results include all verified votes and all special votes cast before polls closed on Saturday 11 October at midday. Voters could cast a special vote if they had not received a voting pack, their voting pack was lost or damaged, they were on the unpublished roll, or if they had enrolled or updated their enrolment details after 1 August.

Māori Ward Poll

The vote to retain Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward increased with the addition of special votes, boosting the margin to 2727 with a final count of 13346 today.

Voter turnout

Far North voters have bucked the national trend this year, with special votes taking the district’s participation in the local election from 48.8 per cent at the preliminary results stage to 50.7 per cent with release of today’s final results. This is a record high for Far North District Council. Across Aotearoa New Zealand figures from Local Government New Zealand pegged the average voter turnout at 32 per cent, as of Saturday.

Council Chief Executive Guy Holroyd says, “I’m delighted we have lifted our voter participation in this local government election and bucked the national trend, we expect to continue to positively engage with our Far North communities throughout this triennium.”

Elected member results in detail

Final results have confirmed there will be 16 new elected members joining FNDC, of which four will sit at the council table and 12 will become part of the district’s community boards.

The elected members who now form the Far North District Council are listed below.

COUNCIL:

Mayor

Moko Tepania

Kaikohe-Hokianga General Ward

John Vujcich

Te Hiku General Ward

Felicity Foy

Rachel Bauke

Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Ward

Ann Court

Davina Smolders

Kelly Stratford

Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward

Hilda Halkyard-Harawira

Tāmati Rākena

Chicky Rudkin

Arohanui Allen

FAR NORTH COMMUNITY BOARDS:

Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board

Kelly Van Galen (Kaikohe)

Eddie Court (Kaikohe)

Scarlett Mokoraka (Kaikohe)

Doug Te Wake (North Hokianga)

Jessie McVeagh (South Hokianga)

Denis Orme (South Hokianga)

Te Hiku Community Board

Mike Te Wake (Kaitāia)

Trevor Beatson (Kaitāia)

Adele Gardner (Kaitāia)

Eddie Bellas (Doubtless Bay)

Bill Subritzky (Whatuwhiwhi-unopposed)

Krystal-Rose Taaffe (North Cape)

Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board

Belinda Ward (Paihia-unopposed)

Jane Hindle (Russell-Ōpua-unopposed)

Roddy Pihema (Kawakawa-Moerewa-unopposed)

Tyler Bamber (Waipapa-returning)

Jo Alexander (Kerikeri)

Dane Hawker (Kerikeri)

Korey Atama (Whangaroa)