The father of a man who died under the care of Waikato District Health Board's mental health unit has been elected to the board.

Nicky Stevens died while under the care of the Henry Bennett Centre in March last year.

Preliminary results show his father, Hamilton City councillor Dave Macpherson, has enough votes to be elected to one of the seven publicly elected positions on the board.

He said he was prompted to stand following his son's death, which he has always insisted was totally avoidable.

Elections were held for 19 of the 20 district health boards around the country, as part of this weekend's local body elections.