Jo Dow has won Porirua’s Onepoto General Ward by-election, according to progress results released by Porirua City Council on Friday afternoon.
Dow received 2,306 votes, finishing ahead of Caroline Mareko, who received 1,598 votes.
Jess Te Huia was third with 838 votes, followed by Zac Painting with 645 and Siobhan Samuel with 319.
The council announced that Dow had been elected to fill the seat left vacant following the sudden death of councillor Mike Duncan in June.
However, the results remain provisional. They include ordinary votes received up to midday on Thursday 15 October but exclude votes received during the final 24 hours of voting and special votes.
Final results are expected early next week.
Dow, who has lived in Porirua for most of her life, campaigned on affordability, responsible council spending, environmental protection and creating more opportunities for local people.
In her official candidate statement, she described Porirua as a city with significant potential and emphasised the importance of protecting its neighbourhoods, communities and natural environment.
She highlighted her involvement in local planting and rubbish collection projects, arguing that looking after the harbour and environment was an investment in future generations.
“Porirua must be affordable,” she said in her candidate statement.
Dow argued that council rates needed to provide value for money while maintaining essential services. She also advocated for investment in local employment opportunities, particularly for young people, to help address cost-of-living pressures.
A parent, Board of Trustees member and community advocate, Dow also expressed concern about proposals to restructure local government across the Wellington region.
She said Porirua needed to retain a strong local voice in decisions affecting its future.
The by-election followed the death of Mike Duncan, who had been one of five councillors representing the Onepoto General Ward.
His death left the ward with four representatives: Hemi Fermanis, Kathleen Filo, Izzy Ford and Geoff Hayward.
The ward covers much of eastern and western Porirua, including Tītahi Bay, Cannons Creek, Waitangirua, Kenepuru and the central city.
Voting began in September, with residents using the Single Transferable Vote system to rank candidates in order of preference.
Dow’s arrival will restore the ward’s full representation at a significant time for Porirua City Council, with decisions ahead on rates, infrastructure, local services and the possibility of amalgamation with other Wellington region councils.
The new councillor will serve the remainder of the current council term, which runs until 2028.
Once the final election results have been confirmed, Dow is expected to make her formal declaration at the council meeting on Thursday 29 October.