Iwi leader Snow Tane. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
The runner-up in one of the country's tightest - and most controversial - mayoral races has been refused a recount.
Iwi leader Snow Tane lost the Kaipara mayoralty to former deputy mayor Jonathan Larsen by just 21 votes, with previous two-time mayor Jason Smith 36 votes behind Tane.
It was a bigger margin than in the initial progress result, which put the gap between the two front runners at a razor-thin five votes.
On Monday Tane applied for a judicial recount in the Whangārei District Court, saying the result was so close he needed to take the opportunity provided by the Electoral Act.
However, Kaipara District Council chief executive Jason Marris said he had been notified late on Friday that the application had been dismissed.
Former deputy mayor Jonathan Larsen. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Swearing-in had been postponed from the original date of 30 October due to the possible recount, but would now go ahead in early November at the Matakohe Memorial Hall.
As previously reported, Tane will still have a place at the table after winning a council seat in the Wairoa Ward with a 999-vote majority.
Larsen had been endorsed by controversial outgoing mayor Craig Jepson.
In a social media post on Friday evening, Tane said he was grateful to his campaign team, volunteers, supporters and "everyone who championed a united Kaipara".
Despite narrowly missing out on the mayoralty he was humbled to be elected as a councillor, and pledged to "hit the ground running" as a Wairoa Ward representative - but first he would take the weekend off to "go fishing and recharge".
The final and now confirmed results are Larsen, 3138 votes; Tane, 3117; Smith, 3081; and Ash Nayyar, 1278.
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