Based on the preliminary results after yesterday’s local body elections, Northland Regional Council will have five new faces on the nine-member council.

The final results, which are expected to be available by Thursday 13 October, will confirm the final make-up of the council, including the hotly contested Hokianga-Kaikohe seat which newcomer Justin Blaikie has taken by 35 votes.

New councillor Penny Smart will represent the council’s Kaipara constituency, filling the seat previously held by council’s former Deputy Chairman Graeme Ramsey, who did not seek re-election.

The other newcomers are Jocelyn Yeoman – Coastal North; Mike Finlayson – Te Hiku; Rick Stolwerk – Coastal South; as well as Justin Blaikie for Hokianga-Kaikohe. These seats were previously held by Dover Samuels, Monty Knight, Craig Brown and Joe Carr.

The four returning councillors include Paul Dimery and Bill Shepherd from Coastal Central and Coastal North; and John Bain and David Sinclair representing Whangarei Urban.

Nineteen people contested the nine available regional council seats.

Councillors are due to be formally sworn in at a meeting in Whangarei on Tuesday 25 October. Among the new council’s first tasks at that meeting will be to elect a new chairman and deputy.

Full elections results can be viewed online at: www.nrc.govt.nz/electionresults

© Scoop Media