Preliminary results in

Preliminary election results for Waikato District Council from the local elections show Allan Sanson has been reelected as Mayor.

Final results will be officially declared this Thursday (17 October), subject to any recount. Full election results can be found here on the Council’s website.

Preliminary results show the successful Ward Councillors for contested wards are:

· Awaroa ki Tuakau – Jacqui Church, Lionel Petersen

· Onewhero-Te Akau – Rosemarie Costar

· Eureka – Rob McGuire

· Huntly – Shelley Lynch, Graeme Tait

· Ngaruawahia – Janet Gibb, Moera Solomon

· Raglan – Clint Baddeley

The following Ward Councillors were elected unopposed:

· Whangamarino – Jan Sedgwick

· Hukanui-Waerenga – Dynes Fulton

· Newcastle – Noel Smith

· Tamahere – Wally Hayes

The following Community Board members were elected unopposed:

· Taupiri – Ken Clewlow, Elva Gouk, Fred Hansen, Howard William Lovell, Julie Ross, Deane Rodney Vernall

In other news, seventy six per cent of Waikato district ratepayers who receive their water from Hamilton city want the water flouridated.

Close to 2500 ratepayers in the south and west of Waikato district were surveyed in early September by the Council to ensure their views on fluoride were considered as they did not receive Hamilton City Council’s fluoride referendum in the local elections voting papers.

Of the 1263 responses received:

· 965 voted for fluoride being added to Hamilton city’s public water supply

· 295 voted against

· 3 had no view

The results were shared yesterday with Hamilton City Council to ensure they are considered alongside the city’s fluoride referendum results.

The survey, which used the same wording as the referendum, was sent to properties in Tamahere, Matangi, Puketaha, Gordonton and Te Kowhai who receive their water from Hamilton city through an arrangement Waikato District Council has with the city. The water is supplied through the District Council’s reticulation network.

Hamilton’s re-elected mayor Julie Hardaker says she’ll support the public’s wish to put fluoride back in the city’s water.

Ms Hardaker supported the decision to remove fluoride but said she would side with the voters when it came back before council.

“I’ve always said that the tribunal process, which was excellent, was about that process of making a decision – that’s what we’re elected to do,” she told NZ Newswire.

“I’ve never had a strong view one way or the other on the fluoride issue, but I’ve said throughout this election campaign that I’d follow the decision of the referendum.”

Ms Hardaker said she wouldn’t urge other councillors to follow the referendum result, saying it was up to them.

Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Felicity Dumble says because the referendum was non-binding, the health board will continue fighting for the reintroduction of fluoride.