Auckland’s final local election results will now be released after 10am on Saturday 18 October, a day later than planned, after officials received an unprecedented number of special votes.

More than 68,500 votes were cast by Saturday morning, lifting voter turnout to 28.8 percent across the region.

But with over 10,000 special votes to validate, Auckland Council says the count will take longer than expected.

The verification process ensures all special votes meet legal requirements before they can be included in the official tally.

Council says accuracy takes priority over speed, given the high volume and the importance of every vote.

The delay affects final results for all local races, including mayoral, council, and local board contests.

For Hibiscus Coast voters waiting on results for the Rodney Local Board, final numbers will now be confirmed this weekend once all checks are complete.

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