At 23 years of age, Ben Bell is set to become the youngest mayor in New Zealand's history.

Bell has held on to his slender lead in the race to be Gore's mayor in this year's local body election, after the counting of 67 special votes.

He's beaten the incumbent mayor for the last 18 years, Tracy Hicks, aged 70. 

Tech entrepreneur Bell received 2,371 votes, just 8 votes ahead of Hicks on 2,363.

The final result was announced shortly after 4pm this afternoon, after being delayed while they were counted and authenticated by the Electoral Commission.

Hicks says he will seek advice before deciding whether to ask for a recount.

Bell says he's extremely humbled to be elected Gore District Mayor.

“I am thankful to those who made the time and effort to get to know myself and my team throughout our campaign.

"I am especially grateful to everyone who voted for me".

Bell also thanked his fellow candidates from Team Hokonui for all their hard work.

"I wouldn’t have been able to do this without each of them. There have been many long days and hard work provided by the team."

Two of his Team Hokonui running mates – Joe Stringer and Robert (Caveman) McKenzie were also elected. Keith Hovell and Paul McPhail will be the other two new faces on the council.

Six sitting councillors are returning to office – Bret Highsted, Glenys Dickson, Bronwyn Reid and Richard McPhail, who faced the ballot box, and John Gardyne, Stewart

MacDonnell and Neville Phillips, who were returned unopposed.

Bell says the late Mary Ogg, a former Gore District Mayor, had a profound impact on him during the campaign. Mary and her husband David had been with him each Sunday to give advice and support.

He says the past few days had been loaded with anticipation and he is now looking forward to getting to know his councillors and learning their priorities.

"As I said on the campaign trail, I want the community to have a clear voice and for us as a Council to get back to basics, those being recycling, rural roads and infrastructure.

"We have a plan for the first 100 days in office."

Bell says he believed the length of time the incumbent Tracy Hicks had served was what persuaded the votes in the end.

"I wish Mr Hicks all the best going forward. Eighteen years is a great legacy to be remembered for.”

Hicks today thanked everyone who had supported him during his 18 years in office.

"I particularly want to thank those who have supported me in the past year. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be."

Hicks wished incoming mayor all the very best for the future saying "he has a fantastic community to work with".

The mayor and councillors are due to be sworn in at a statutory meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, 25 October.

The voter return was 52.65%, being 4,794 votes, excluding special votes.

Here are the results in full:

Gore District Council

2022 Triennial Elections

DECLARATION OF RESULT

The final result for the Gore District Council elections held on Saturday 8th October is as follows.

Mayoralty Votes Received

BELL, Ben Team Hokonui 2,371

HICKS, Tracy 2,363

INFORMAL 1

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 114

Ben BELL is declared elected.

Gore Ward (5 vacancies) Votes Received

HIGHSTED, Bret 1,699

REID, Bronwyn Anne 1,689

MCPHAIL, Paul 1,688

DICKSON, Glenys 1,564

MCKENZIE, Robert Caveman Team Hokonui 1,444

GRANT, Nick 1,383

MCSTAY, Stephen 932

RETI, Janeen Team Hokonui 777

TURIPA, Reuben Rupi 747

INFORMAL 1

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 30

Glenys DICKSON, Bret HIGHSTED, Robert Caveman MCKENZIE, Paul MCPHAIL and Bronwyn Anne REID are declared elected.

Council - At Large (3 vacancies) Votes Received

MCPHAIL, Richard 3,455

STRINGER, Joe Team Hokonui 2,666

HOVELL, Keith Positive Change 2,240

DIXON, Steven Boko 1,837

ADAMS-GRAY, Liz 957

INFORMAL 3

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 167

Keith HOVELL, Richard MCPHAIL and Joe STRINGER are declared elected.

Mataura Community Board (5 vacancies) Votes Received

MATAHIKI, Darren 304

DIXON, Steven Boko 300

COATS, Nicky 255

TURNBULL, Laurel 252

TE AU, Colleen 198

WAIHAPE, Constance 192

COLEMAN-CLARKE, Matu-Taera 188

STORER, Melissa 172

ROWLING, Tanya 154

ADCOCK, Gina 118

INFORMAL 0

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 7

Nicky COATS, Steven Boko DIXON, Darren MATAHIKI, Colleen TE AU and Laurel TURNBULL are declared elected.

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 2 (3 vacancies) Votes Received

BURGESS, Bryan Bunny 2,034

ALLISON, Jimmy 1,828

MARSHALL, Craig 1,479

BYRNE, Alan 1,450

INFORMAL 0

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 198

Jimmy ALLISON, Bryan Bunny BURGESS and Craig MARSHALL are declared elected.

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 3 (1 vacancy) Votes Received

MURRAY, Brendon (Moe) 326

TE AU, Colleen 163

INFORMAL 0

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 20

Brendon (Moe) MURRAY is declared elected.

Elections were not required for the following positions.

Kaiwera-Waimumu Ward (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Stewart MACDONNELL is declared elected.

Mataura Ward (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Neville PHILLPS is elected unopposed.

Waikaka Ward (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, John Clarence GARDYNE is declared elected.

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 1 (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Horace MCAULEY is declared elected.

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 4 (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Vince AYNSLEY is declared elected.

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 5 (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Jeannine CUNNINGHAM is declared elected.

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 6 (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Marc Lindsay ROBERTSON is declared elected.

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 7 (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Todd LYDERS is declared elected.

Gore & Districts Health Inc - Gore Ward (4 vacancies)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Peter Alexander GRANT, and Rebecca TAYLER are declared elected.

Gore & Districts Health Inc will determine how the remaining two vacancies will be filled after the triennial elections have been finalised.

Gore & Districts Health Inc - Clutha Ward (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Cecil CRAWFORD is declared elected.

Gore & Districts Health Inc - Southland Ward (1 vacancy)

Gore & Districts Health Inc will determine how the remaining vacancy will be filled after the triennial elections have been finalised.