Hobbs, Wilson elected on to Otago Regional Council

Interim results show Dunedin Ward Labour party candidate Marian Hobbs has been elected to the Otago Regional Council with 15,189 votes, coming in second behind former Dunedin City Councillor Hilary Calvert on 15,443.

Also elected to the Dunedin Ward are incumbents Gretchen Robertson, Andrew Noone, and Bryan Scott, and Michael Deaker.

High profile former Whanganui Mayor Michael Laws has been re-elected to a second term for the Dunstan Ward with 9,329 votes.

He will be joined by former Queenstown Lakes District Councillor Alexa Forbes, on 7806, and Gary Kelliher on 7706, while incumbent Graeme Bell missed out.

Kevin Malcolm claimed the lone Moeraki Ward seat.

Outgoing Dunedin City Councillor Kate Wilson has claimed one of the two Molyneux Ward seats, alongside incumbent Carmen Hope. 

The voter return was 41.22% being 32,679 votes, excluding votes in transit to the processing centre and special votes.