Three times a lady mayor

Carbon neutrality, fast internet at top of mayor's agenda. Deidre Mussen and Anthony Hubbard. report

Kerry Prendergast has retained the Wellington mayoralty for a third term and says she wants to consolidate the city's position as the world's first green capital.

She won 21,603 votes, with her closest rival Ray Ahipene-Mercer on 10,700, a majority of 10,903 - an increase on her 2004 winning margin. Third place went to Bryan Pepperell with 9915 votes.

"It's fantastic. I guess I'm really honoured that Wellingtonians have put their faith in me," Prendergast said last night.

The 54-year-old former midwife had to wait until 10.40pm last night to hear the election's outcome because of delays in processing votes using single transferable voting (STV), the system she wants to ditch for the next election.

"I'm not convinced about STV and I'll be considering changing it. It's meant to help deliver minority representation but it hasn't and it's confusing for people."

She plans to use her third term, which she says will be her last, to consolidate some of her projects, including ensuring the whole city had fast internet access with the related economic benefits and securing its position as the first "green capital" with the push to become carbon-neutral.

Other projects included social housing and a new indoor sports centre.

"There are issues in Wellington but they are actively being addressed. Wellington is in a very good shape and we haven't had the rates rises that some of the other cities have had."

She said this election had been the most personal of the three, which she disliked.

"I don't think there were any major issues so it became a much more personal campaign. I just wish New Zealanders would debate the issues rather than personalities."

However, she said she enjoyed the job despite it taking 80 hours a week. "I wouldn't have put my hand up if I wasn't emotionally and physically really tough.

"It's a great job and I still feel I've got lots to give to the city."

She spent yesterday calming her nerves by walking in the hills and watching the movie Hairspray: "We were told it was light and would help to pass time and it did.

"It's a long day and not knowing the result till 10.30pm is particularly galling when we are seeing results around the country from first-past-the- post."

After dinner at her Oriental Bay home last night, she headed down to her mayoral chambers to join friends and supporters to wait for results.

Wellington City Council's electoral officer Ross Bly said STV results were slower to come out because of the complexity of counting votes. Voting was down about 2% in the capital with almost 40% of registered voters - about 51,500 making the effort.

In 2004, Prendergast won 27,002 votes, 8887 votes ahead of closest rival Pepperell, which was a similar- sized lead to the 2001 election, where she gained 19,782 votes.

Prendergast has a matter-of-fact style, in contrast to her flamboyant predecessor Mark Blumsky. Under her leadership the council has been heavily involved in trying to bring major events to the city, including the planned visit of British soccer star David Beckham for a match in early December.

It has been a notably fractious council, but the mayoral campaign threw up few major issues. Her critics accuse Prendergast of being too close to the city's development lobby, a charge she strongly denies.