The votes are in for Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s two by-elections, to fill the vacant Council and Community Board seats.

Laura Rae has been elected to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council as the Maketu-Te Puke Councillor, while Chris Dever has been elected to the Ōmokoroa Community Board.

Laura Rae. Supplied photo.

Preliminary results for the by-elections, which closed at midday, Thursday 18 July, 2024, are:

Maketu – Te Puke Ward 

Laura Rae – 1566 votes

Bernard Holmes – 663 votes

Anthony Te Uruhi Wihapi – 502 votes

The voter return for this election was 20.92 per cent (2744 votes).

Ōmokoroa Community Board

Chris Dever – 622 votes

Murray Marshall – 533 votes

Steve Ling – 379 votes

Chris Dever. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The voter return for this by-election was 36.84 per cent (1543 votes).

There are 13 special votes yet to be processed for Maketu–Te Puke, and 22 for Ōmokoroa.

Laura and Chris will be sworn into their roles at Council’s next meeting on 15 August, 2024.

A by-election was called for the Maketu–Te Puke councillor seat after the sudden passing of Councillor Richard Crawford in March.

The Ōmokoroa Community Board seat became vacant following the resignation of Greig Neilson in April.