Records of office, long and short

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Records were broken by the Mayors of North Shore and Manukau when they were returned for three more years in the weekend's local body elections.

George Wood broke the one-term jinx that has stricken North Shore mayors during the city's 11-year history.

He beat off a strong challenge from councillor and prominent environmental campaigner Joel Cayford.

Sir Barry Curtis was elected to his seventh term at the helm of Manukau, to become the longest serving mayor of a major New Zealand city.

The 62-year-old may also have posted the biggest mayoral election majority in the country's history.

The provisional result gave him 39,895 votes, 33,890 more than his nearest rival.

Sir Barry Curtis said he was delighted because he was supported by all wards across the rapidly growing multicultural city.

Mr Wood, who is a former manager of North Shore police, improved his 1998 majority by 4400 votes to poll 18,693 votes compared with Dr Cayford's 14,284.

Mr Wood said yesterday that he planned to push for the Government to spend more money in the city, particularly on replacing the main police station, bolstering police numbers and improving capacity and equipment at North Shore Hospital.

Dr Cayford, who retained his seat on the council, said he hoped to continue his push for innovation through either being appointed deputy mayor or chair of a major committee.

Features of the election for North Shore council were the success of 18-year-old Paula Gillon, who campaigned as the "Naked Politician", and the dropping of two-term councillors Bruce Lilly and Jenny Kirk, who chaired the works and environment and the strategy and finance committees respectively.



In Waitakere City, Mayor Bob Harvey returned for his fourth term.

He received 22,519 votes, compared with the 10,020 of his nearest rival, Vanessa Neeson, wife of Waitakere MP Brian Neeson.

Mr Harvey was elated that nine of the new council of 14 were members of his Team West ticket.

This will give him the backing he has craved for progressive policies, including a marine industry cluster on the Hobsonville Air Base land.

He said the new council also meant that the Waitakere Ranges were safe from indiscriminate development.

Councillor and Waitakere's founding mayor, Assid Corban, failed to regain his seat after 45 years on local bodies.

All the five Go Waitakere ticket councillors who sought re-election failed to do so, including deputy mayor Bob Stanic.

Franklin Mayor Heather Maloney and Papakura Mayor David Buist were re-elected with comfortable majorities.

Rodney District Council held its election on March 31 after a year of being run by a crown-appointed commission.

More results

Local Government New Zealand