Labour-endorsed candidate Justin Lester will be the next mayor of Wellington, and he says his first priority is to "reset" the council's relationship with central government. According to progress election results, Lester has won by a clear margin over independent and outgoing Porirua mayor Nick Leggett. Wellington's Returning Officer, Clare Sullivan, said Lester won by a majority of more than 6000 in the last iteration of the progress result. Progress voter turnout in Wellington is at 42 per cent, compared with 40.85 per cent in 2013, and 40 per cent in 2010. Lester has been a councillor since 2010 and was appointed deputy mayor by outgoing mayor Celia Wade-Brown three years ago.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 08, 2016 03:33 UTC