Johns wins Tararua seat

ELECTED: Former councillor Peter Johns has won the Tararua by-election.

Peter Johns has won the vacant Tararua District Council seat over opponent Andy Thompson in the Tararua by-election.

Voting for the South Tararua Ward seat closed at noon last Wednesday, with Mr Johns receiving 891 votes and Mr Thompson 798, leaving only 93 votes between the two.

Mr Johns said he was pleased, but it was not an easy win.

"It was close enough," Mr Johns said.

With his start date unknown, Mr Johns does know that he wants "to make a positive contribution to the council."

There was a 30.8 per cent return rate and seven of those forms were left blank. A former councillor, Mr Johns said he was not surprised by the low voter turnout.

In the past there would have been at least a 50 per cent return rate but that does not seem to happen anymore, especially in by-elections, Mr Johns said.

Now retired, Mr Johns has worked in real estate and farming. He is also on the executive committee of the Woodville Community Board.

Mr Johns is the chairman of the Woodville Recreation Trust, the Woodville Hall Trust, a Lions Club member and president of the Pahiatua Golf Club.