Tim Macindoe looks to have clinched the Hamilton East Ward by-election with 5858 votes.
The preliminary results show Macindoe was 3653 votes ahead of Leo Liu who had received 2205 votes, after polling closed on Saturday, but before special votes had been counted.
Voter turn-out was low, with just 12,429 people, or 22 per cent of eligible voters taking the chance to vote.
A final result would be announced early this week once all special votes have been validated.
Macindoe - a former National Party MP - would replace former councillor Ryan Hamilton, who resigned in October after being elected as an MP for National in last year’s general election.
