Whakatāne election: Nándor Tánczos edges out Victor Luca for mayoralty

The Whakatāne District Council mayoral race is neck-and-neck. Photo / George Novak

Nándor Tánczos has been announced as mayor-elect of Whakatāne, edging out incumbent Victor Luca who was leading by 19 votes on Saturday.

The Whakatāne mayoralty race has been a tight one with progress results reporting a narrow margin between the two.

However, after Sunday’s preliminary results were released, Tánczos gained an extra 903 votes — going from 2704 to 3607.

Luca’s results went from 2723 to 3511 — only gaining 788 — not enough to hold on to the lead.

The final result will be confirmed on Friday.

In the referendum on whether to retain Māori wards in the district, 7306 people voted in favour and 4803 against keeping them.

Mark Inman was third place for the mayoralty with 1657 by Andrew Iles with 1536, Philip Jacobs with 1293 and Wilson James with 821.

Carolyn Hamill has proven hugely popular with voters for one of four seats on the Whakatāne-Ōhope ward with 4142 votes.

Lesley Immink (3172) and Julie Jukes (2985) also look to have been returned, and Malcolm Whitiker (2537) is leading Brendon Horan (2382).

Chris Barnard (2046) and Dave Stewart (1969) are trailing.

Māori ward candidates Toni Boynton and Tu O’Brien are on track to return and current community board member Jessie Morgan-Ranui is well in the lead for the Toi ki Uta Māori ward seat being vacated by Ngapera Rangiaho.

Special votes will be counted this week.

- Additional reporting Diane McCarthy, Local Democracy Reporting. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.