Local Government Elections

Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel has been returned for a second term in a landslide victory.

Analysis - A lack of high-profile challengers for the Christchurch mayoralty and four councillors standing uncontested has made for a lacklustre election campaign.

Analysis - Auckland's new mayor and council will be named today after a low-turnout election and, writes Todd Niall, the region's voting patterns make the winner's margin hard to call.

Analysis - Wellington has a reputation politics, but as Dean Bedford writes, this year's mayoral election has failed fire up.

Auckland Council is urging those who have not voted yet to get in quick and do it this morning.

With just two days to go until votes are counted in the local body elections, voter turnout remains low in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Audio

The end of Len Brown's two terms also ends more than a dozen politically-appointed jobs in his office.

The flow of postal votes in Auckland has dipped below the last local body election, putting the target turnout of 40 percent at risk.

Wellington mayoral candidates are accusing rival Justin Lester of a publicity stunt for revealing his campaign donations.

Expletives flew in the last clash of Auckland's leading mayoral candidates lastnight.

There is a 'huge underbelly of covert racism' in the city's south-eastern suburbs, an Auckland Council candidate says.

An Auckland mayoral debate between some of the minor candidates ended in shoving and shouting last night. Video

Local body election watchers in Auckland are waiting for today's mailbag of votes to be counted before starting to ponder predictions on trends and turnout.

There is a strong mood amongst South Dunedin voters to change the mayor, but the vote appears split among the many challengers.

Auckland mayoral candidate David Hay is now backing his rival Phil Goff for the office.

Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel used a candidates' debate against anti-asset sale challenger John Minto to take the issue firmly off the table.

Whangarei's mayor Sheryl Mai is rejecting a claim by David Blackley that Whangarei is missing out on growth because the council lacks business experience. Audio

This year's Christchurch City Council elections could see some surprises after a radical redrawing of the city's electoral boundries.

Wellington City Council could face legal action again after a pledge by several mayoral candidates to extend its living wage to all council contractors.

An Auckland Council agency has admitted its bylaw on local body election signs limits freedom of expression and may breach the Bill of Rights.