Voters have re-elected Sir Tim Shadbolt to serve as mayor of Invercargill City Council.

Progress results for the local authority elections, released this afternoon, show Sir Tim won the Mayoralty with 8903 votes ahead of mayoral candidates Darren Ludlow, with 5878 votes, Becs Amundsen with 3003 votes, and Steve Chernishov with 566 votes. 

Two new councillors have been elected; Nobby Clark and Nigel Skelt.

Peter Kett is also likely to return to the Council table, having missed out in the last election.

Deputy Electoral Officer Michael Morris said it was important to note that today’s results are progress results, with special votes, and votes returned on October 12, still to be counted.

“We know there are more than 800 votes still to be counted, and with about 150 votes separating Mr Kett from the next candidate, there is a possibility the final results may change.”

Today’s progress results are based upon the counting of approximately 95 per cent of returned votes.

The voter turnout so far has been 50.23 per cent, being 19,322 votes.

Bluff Community Board candidates were elected unopposed, given there were an equal number of nominees as there are positions on the board.

There will be no changes to the Invercargill Licensing Trust, with all incumbents re-elected.

Mr Morris said final results for the elections will be available by Thursday, October 17.

Progress results:

Invercargill Mayor (1 Vacancy)

SHADBOLT, Tim 8,903

LUDLOW, Darren 5,878

AMUNDSEN, Becs Proven. Dedicated. Real. 3,003

CHERNISHOV, Steve 566

INFORMAL 33

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 540

Invercargill City Council (12 vacancies)

CLARK, Nobby Invercargill Ratepayers Advocacy Group 9,987

LUDLOW, Darren 9,106

BIDDLE, Toni 8,981

POTTINGER, Ian 8,895

LEWIS, Graham 7,906

ARNOLD, Allan 7,768

SKELT, Nigel 7,534

ABBOTT, Lindsay With the people at heart 7,416

AMUNDSEN, Becs Proven. Dedicated. Real. 7,387

CRACKETT, Alex Fresh Ideas. Future Focus. 7,216

SOPER, Lesley 6,762

KETT, Peter Warren 6,191

HARPUR, Wayne 6,047

THOMAS, Lindsay 6,043

GRABER, Kari 5,776

CHILTON, Barry 5,772

BUCK, Thelma 5,280

STEWART, Barry R. 5,113

COOTE, Jay 3,683

PLEASANCE, Shane 3,474

THOMSON, Juliana 3,474

UAMAKI, Miriama Independent 3,207

TEMPERO, Russell (aka Judge) 2,935

CHERNISHOV, Steve 2,881

EDWARDS, Ian 2,496

JASPERSE, Carol (CJ) 2,004

COUGHLAN, Waka 1,520

MCDONALD, Alton 1,482

RIKKERINK, John Independent 836

INFORMAL 70

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 314