Based on an initial ‘progress result’ John Glover has been elected as the mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).

John received 3,449 votes ahead of challengers;

• Glyn Lewers (2,635 votes),
• Nik Kiddle (1,629 votes),
• Darren Rewi (1,236 votes),
• Al Angus (712 votes) and,
• Daniel Shand (93 votes).

Glenorchy-based John strongly criticised council leadership during his campaign saying the district deserves “a council organisation that delivers competently across the board”. 

“I’m very humbled, it’s great the community put their trust in me,” John told the Wānaka App.

John said he plans to be in the Upper Clutha monthly for public drop-ins and will be asking the community to put a group together to specifically focus on the feeling that the Upper Clutha comes out second best.

“We’ve got quite a change in councillors sitting around the table with some experienced people returning. I need to balance that knowledge and continuity with some new thinking,” John said.

“It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity.”

In Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward incumbent councillors Barry Bruce, Lyal Cocks and Cody Tucker have all missed out with newcomer Nicola King securing the most votes.

Elected:

• Nicola King (2,833 votes)
• Quentin Smith (2,722 votes)
• Niki Gladding (2,256 votes)
• Yeverley McCarthy (1,707 votes)

Not elected:

• Cody Tucker (1,585 votes)
• Craig Gasson 1,573 votes)
• Lyal Cocks (1,396 votes)
• Barry Bruce (1,088 votes)
• Thorsk Westphal (896 votes)

The Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board now has one new face - Kathy Dedo secured the second highest number of votes to secure one of the four places on the community board.

Elected:

• Simon Telfer (3,186 votes)
• Kathy Dedo (3,081 votes) 
• John Wellington (2,380 votes) 
• Chris Hadfield (1,871 votes) 

Not elected:

• John Bache (1,612 votes)
• Linda Joll (1,594 votes)

Elsewhere, Heath Copland, Samuel Belk, and Melissa White were elected to the Arrowtown-Kawarau Ward; and Matt Wong, Gavin Bartlett, Stephen Brent, and Jon Mitchell were elected to the Queenstown-Whakatipu Ward.

The voter return was just 32.93 percent of eligible voters, being 10,248 votes.

The progress result is based upon the counting of approximately 85 percent of the returned votes and excludes votes in transit to the processing centre and special votes. 

The outcome of these elections may change once all votes have been counted, with final results expected on Thursday October 16.

PHOTO: Wānaka App