Change around Grey District Council table

Interim (‘progress’) Grey District Council election results, based on 85% of the returned vote, show a change in the Southern Ward.

Currently, Paulette Birchfield leads, followed by Terry Donaldson. However, Rex MacDonald is not far behind, meaning the seat is too close to call at this stage.

There looks to be no change in the Central Ward, with Peter Davy, Tim Mora, and Jack O’Connor all expected to return.

Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson said she was eagerly awaiting the preliminary results tomorrow.

Voting for the local body elections closed at noon today, with 14 candidates running for nine seats on the Grey District Council.

The interim results show incumbent Tania Gibson defeating Richmond Osmaston, from the Money Free Party New Zealand, and now beginning her third three-year term as mayor.

In the Northern Ward, just one candidate stood — incumbent Kate Kennedy — so no election was required.

In the Eastern Ward, incumbents Allan (Pesty) Gibson and Robert Mallinson were also re-elected unopposed.

Mayor Gibson thanked voters and said she was looking forward to the next three years, with a strong management team in place at Council. The new library is expected to open before Easter.

She is also focused on the wider West Coast Mayors, Chairs, and Iwi group, emphasising the importance of having a regional voice, as well as advocating to central government, particularly around rates affordability. Local Water Done Well reforms will also increase costs.

“We will be advocating to government about how this will affect our community. We can’t carry on the way it is,” Mayor Gibson said.

Returning mining royalties to the region — to help pay for infrastructure — remains on the table.

Mayor Gibson is also focused on encouraging future collaboration among the Coast councils.

The full results:

Mayoralty

GIBSON, Tania - 3096

OSMASTON, Richard (Money Free Party New Zealand) - 451

Northern Ward (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Kate KENNEDY is elected unopposed.

Central Ward (3 vacancies)

DAVY, Peter Brent - 847

MORA, Timothy - 756

O'CONNOR, Jack - 664

BEAL, Kaia (Independent) - 523

MATHIESON, Ritchie - 371

Southern Ward (2 vacancies)

BIRCHFIELD, Paulette - 753

DONALDSON, Terry- 622

MACDONALD, Rex - 611

CANNING, John - 338

Eastern Ward (2 vacancies)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Pesty GIBSON and Robert MALLINSON are elected unopposed.

Development West Coast - Grey District (1 vacancy)

FERGUSON, Shari - 920

COATES, Michelle - 917

THOMPSON, Andy - 907

BICKNELL, Penny - 480

TAYLOR, Carolyn (Caz) - 389