Puzzleman leads Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board race

Louis Toorenburg

Saturday's election has delivered an almost entirely new Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board with only "puzzleman" Louis Toorenburg set to return.

Mr Toorenburg, who runs a puzzle business at Waimamaku, is leading the race for two seats in the South Hokianga subdivision with 524 votes. Robert Cassidy is in second place with 490 votes while, according to the preliminary count, current board members Gary Clarke and John Schollum failed to win back their seats. They have 452 and 423 votes, respectively.

In the Kaikohe subdivision the number of nominations matched the number of seats so Mike Edmonds, Kelly van Gaalen and Shaun Reilly were elected unopposed.

Ms van Gaalen gained the most votes of any community board candidate in the 2013 elections but resigned last year when she went on trial for possession of cannabis for supply. She was initially jailed for two years but on appeal her sentence was reduced to 300 hours community work.

Mr Reilly, a well-known Kaikohe identity, is her grandfather, making them possibly the first granddaughter-grandfather combination in community board history.

The North Hokianga subdivision was won by Emma Davis with 320 votes to Phyllis Rintoul's 185. Former chair Pauline Evans, board veteran Win Stephens and newcomer Debbie Beadle -- who took Ms van Gaalen's place following a byelection -- did not seek re-election.

The Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board had fewer changes with Kelly Stratford (Kawakawa subdivision), Belinda Ward (Paihia) and Terry Greening (Russell) all elected unopposed.

Sitting board member Marty Robinson, an organic farmer, polled the highest in the three-seat Kerikeri subdivision with 2009 votes. He will be joined by Rachel Smith (1921) and Lane Ayr (1467). Sandy Myhre (1424) and board veteran Doug Turner (1292) missed out; Florence Annison did not stand.

In the Whangaroa subdivision current board member Bruce Mills beat off a challenge from ecotourism tutor Justin Fitton with 693 votes to 231.

Meanwhile, Te Hiku Community Board has three new members: former regional councillor Bronwyn Hunt, Awhina Murupaenga and Nuu Ward, who were elected unopposed along with current members Adele Gardner and Melanie Dalziel.

In the Whatuwhiwhi subdivision Lawrie Atkinson will be returned after gaining 433 votes, comfortably ahead of rivals Petrina Hodgson (269) and Mike Ward (173). The final results will be declared on Thursday.