A computer glitch, combined with a rush of last-minutes votes, was behind the late release of election results on Saturday.
Results from the Whanganui District Council local government elections were expected to be made public around 3pm on Saturday; but they were released at 5.15pm.
Whanganui's electoral officer, Noeline Moosman, said there was an influx of votes returned on Saturday morning. The Wanganui Chronicle understands around 1,100 votes - or 6 per cent of total votes cast - were received on Saturday morning.
"[This was] more than anticipated and accordingly the processing of these votes took longer than expected," Ms Moosman said.
The results were also released only after all candidates had been informed whether they had been elected or not.