Rob Mackle has been confirmed as the highest-polling candidate in the Western Ward by-election following the official declaration of results today.

Electoral Officer Andrew Morton said Mr Mackle received 686 votes, followed by Hayden Tasker on 491, Lynda Topp on 432 and Carol Johns on 135.

There were nine informal voting papers returned and two left blank.

The voter return was 41.94 per cent, being 1755 votes.

The by-election was necessary following the death of Cr Rodger Letham in December.

Mr Mackle will be sworn in at this Wednesday’s Council meeting and will join Mayor Neil Brown and eight other councillors elected at the Local Elections last year.

Mayor Brown congratulated Mr Mackle on his election and said Councillors were looking forward to working with him.

“We are a hard-working team with a large work programme this year, and some important decisions regarding the future of our district coming in the next few years. He will fit right in and we look forward to having a full complement of councillors at the table again.”

Mr Mackle will also be a member of the Methven Community Board, which meets next on 12 June.

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