Helen Lash. Photo: Supplied
Westland mayor Helen Lash has been re-elected by a margin of just 8 votes.
Preliminary results had Hokitika businesswoman Jacquie Grant with a narrow lead, but the final results released Thursday evening swung in favour of Lash.
Lash was elected with just 1609 votes, just barely ahead of Grant with 1601.
It will be Lash's second term as mayor.
Grant congratulated her rival on social media.
"I want to extend my sincere congratulations to the Mayor-elect Helen Lash, who has won by eight votes," she wrote.
"The democratic process has spoken, and I respect the decision of the Westland community."
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