The race to elect new mayors for cities and towns round the country is drawing to a close. Photo / Bevan Conley
The race to elect a new mayor for Auckland and other cities and towns round the country is drawing to a close with a little over a day for voting to close.
In Auckland, Labour MP Phil Goff is the leading contender with businesswoman Vic Crone well behind according to the latest Spinoff/SSI poll.
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The big mover in the past fortnight has been Chloe Swarbrick, a 22-year-old journalist who has dominated social media on a shoestring budget of $5000.
Other prominent candidates among the field of 19 hopefuls are cafe owner John Palino, Orakei Local Board member Mark Thomas and activist Penny Bright.
As of yesterday, voter turnout in Auckland was 33.4 per cent, tracking for a final turnout of 38 per cent. This is up from 35.5 per cent in 2013, but well short of the 51 per cent turnout at the inaugural Super City elections in 2010.
It is too late to post votes, but people can still drop their voting papers at a local library or council services centres at Henderson, Manukau, Orewa, Papakura, Pukekohe, Takapuna, Waiheke, Great Barrier Island or the electoral office, Independent Election Services, Level 3, Customer House, 50 Anzac Ave, Auckland.
Votes must be in the hand of the electoral officer by noon tomorrow.
Who do you think should lead New Zealand's main cities for the next three years? Vote below.
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