Reigning Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow leads by a comfortable margin in provisional results and is likely to have six new councillors join her at the council table.
Mayor Holborow leads with 5955 votes from Rob McCann second with 5111, and Liz Koh on 2734. Both McCann and Koh will still be at the table after taking the two spots in the Districtwide race. McCann has 4233, and Koh 3938. Current deputy mayor Lawrence Kirby has lost his place, finishing third with 3467. There are about 6000 votes still to be counted.
Ms Holborow says it was a great turnout of candidates with record numbers putting their hand up to represent the community. She says with the late surge in voting it will take some time for final results to be known and some positions could change.
“With the likelihood of six new councillors being elected there will some time taken before determining next steps for council.
“I believe we have been a very positive council and much has been achieved. I said during the campaign we want to keep Kāpiti moving forward, growing well, protecting our environment, and investing wisely in our future. The new council will look to continue that progress.”
Some of the new faces at council also look set to make their mark. Former NZ touch rugby representative Heniti Buick was a comfortable winner of the Ōtaki Ward, ousted in a double hit current Districtwide councillor Rob Kofoed and Ōtaki ward councillor Shelly Warwick.
Steve Botica and incumbent councillor Jocelyn Prvanov look to have the Waikanae ward places ahead of Nigel Wilson, 126 votes back.
The Paraparaumu Ward sees sitting councillors Martin Halliday and Glen Cooper returned along with Glen Olsen who is current chair of the Paraparaumu Community Board.
Bede Laracy comfortably won the Paekākāriki-Raumati ward ahead of Zelda Edwards who was elected to the Raumati community board.
The Maori ward has seen a close finish between election night leader Deanna Rudd on 282 and Himiona Grace on 257.
Kāpiti has also voted by a significant majority to retain the Maori Ward which will stay in place for at least the 2028 and 2031 elections.