New councillor Andrew Barker, who was elected unopposed congratulates new mayor Rodney Dow at Otorohanga Club. Photo: Chris Gardner
Monday October 13 1pm
The final makeup of Waitomo District Council is hanging in the balance, with one vote between incumbent rural ward councillors Gavin Todd and Janette Osborne.
In preliminary results released today, October 12, Todd received 671 votes against Osborne’s 670.
But around 100 special votes are yet to be counted.
Janette Osborne
“Thank you to everyone who voted for me,” Osborne said today.
“Thank you especially to the friend who made the effort to drive to Te Kuiti to cast a special vote on Saturday morning. With special votes still to be counted that one vote might make all the difference.”
Osborne, Natasha Willison-Reardon and Richard Ross lost out to John Robertson who won the mayoral chains for his third term.
Newcomer Olivia Buckley was the highest polling rural ward councillor, followed by last term’s deputy mayor Allan Goddard.
Willison-Reardon also lost out in the rural ward alongside Nichola Painter.
Incumbent Eady Manawaiti was the highest polling Te Kūiti Ward candidate with fellow incumbent Dan Tasker also winning a seat.
Newcomer Isaiah Wallace also won a seat in the ward.
Ata Te Kanawa, Ross O’Halloran and Faye Thomas failed to win seats.
7pm
Rodney Dow is Ōtorohanga’s new mayor, replacing Max Baxter who has retired from local body politics.
New councillor Andrew Barker, who was elected unopposed congratulates new mayor Rodney Dow at Otorohanga Club. Photo: Chris Gardner
Dow, who celebrated with a beer at the Otorohanga Club on Saturday, beat sitting councillors Cathy Prendergast and Jaimee Tamaki.
Tamaki, however, has been re-elected to the council’s Rangiātea Māori Ward alongside Tennille Kete.
The electorate voted to remove the Māori electorate in 2028.
Otorohanga Ward has been won by incumbent Katrina Christison, who Dow plans to appoint his deputy mayor, and newcomer Tayla Barclay.
Robbie Neha, who won a place in Hamilton City Council’s Māori ward, missed out on a seat around the council table.
The News understands it’s neck and neck in Waipā Ward with incumbent Steve Hughes lagging behind newcomer Michael Woodward.
Jo Butcher and incumbent Kit Jeffries were elected to the Kāwhia / Tihiroa Ward unopposed, while Kio Kio-Korakonui and Wharepuhunga wards saw Andrew Barker and Shane Carr elected unopposed.
3pm
Cathy Prendergast, Rodney Dow and Jaimee Tamaki
Rodney Dow has been confirmed mayor of Otorohanga.
The following have been elected to Waitomo District Council.
Olivia Buckley, Allan Goddard, Gavin Todd, Eady Manawaiti, Dan Tasker, Isaiah Wallace.
2.05pm
Garry Reymer – 2025
Stuart Kneebone – 2025
Garry Reymer and Stu Kneebone have been elected (preliminary) as Waikato regional councillors in the Waipa-King Country constituency.
1.50pm
Fat Pigeon owner Melanie Simpson congratulates John Robertson on his win and shouted him a coffee. Photo: Chris Gardner
1.37pm
Janette Osborne has conceded and says she is nine votes short of being elected as a rural councillor.
1.15pm
John Robertson
Incumbent John Robertson has been confirmed as Waitomo District mayor, sources have told the King Country News.
