Smith holds Westland mayoralty

Controversial Westland mayor Bruce Smith has kept his mayoral chains after securing 1089 votes in this year’s local body elections. He was 93 votes ahead of nearest rival Latham Martin (who received 996 votes). Martin will return to the council table as a councillor in the district’s Hokitika ward. Martin’s mayoralty bid came as a surprise, as the two had been political allies. Smith earlier would make no commitment to making Martin deputy again if he was re-elected mayor. The Westland District Council has been on the brink of government intervention over allegations of uncontrolled expenditure, misleading statements and information being withheld.