Neil Brown has been re-elected as the Ashburton District Mayor by a large majority in the Local Elections.

Mr Brown received 10,136 votes in final results declared on Thursday 13 October, while rival Jeffrey-robert Swindley received 1309.

It will be Mr Brown’s second term as Mayor, and he was district councillor for 15 years before that.

In the Ashburton ward, where 11 candidates were contesting five seats, Councillors Leen Braam (4292) and Carolyn Cameron (4610) were returned, and they will be joined by Russell Ellis (3612), Tony Todd (4484) and Phill Hooper (4259). Mr Ellis was a councillor for the ward from 2013-2019.

The unsuccessful candidates were: Thelma Bell (2666), Hayden Tasker (2083), Bev Skates (1514), Brie Burgess (1561), Carol Johns (1321), Shfire Sapphire (483).

In the Western Ward, Councillors Liz McMillan (1882)) and Rodger Letham (1429) were returned to the two seats available, with Dame Lynda Topp (777) missing out.

Councillor Lynette Lovett (1482) was returned in the Eastern Ward, where four candidates contested two seats. The other successful candidate was Richard Wilson (1430). The unsuccessful candidates were Rob Mackle (496) and Keith Townshend (456).

The successful Methven Community Board candidates have been confirmed as: Richie Owen (550), Allan Lock (480), Kelvin Holmes (464), Megan Fitzgerald (419), Robin Jenkinson (318).

Adam Preston (313) has missed out.

In the Braided Rivers Community Trust election, the successful candidates have been declared as: Chantelle Quinn (6714), Chris Robertson (6335), Gerard Rushton (6049), Tim Silva (6025), Robert Harnett (4985), and Kieran Breakwell (4967).

The unsuccessful candidates were: Kerry Clough (4253), Kevin Clifford (3903) and Shfire Sapphire (961).

You can see the full candidate and vote tally at voteashburton.nz.

The voter return for the district was 50.62 per cent, being 11,706 votes (excluding special votes).

The new Ashburton District Council will be sworn in on Thursday 27 October.

Declaration Results - Ashburton District