Environment Canterbury regional council's experiment in "partial democracy" appears to have put candidates off standing.

Mackenzie and Selwyn will get new mayors, Winton Dalley will remain mayor of Hurunui, and the mayors of Ashburton, Kaikoura and Waimakariri are all vying for reelection.

Cantabrians will elect regional councillors for the first time in nine years, after the Government replaced the council with commissioners in 2010.

But Newstalk ZB Christchurch host Chris Lynch said some seats will still be held by Government-appointed commissioners.

"You've got what's being described as a partial return to democracy, which is an oxymoron, because it doesn't exist.

"I'm not sure there's been much interest because who would want to possibly work in an organisation where you've got Government commissioners breathing down your neck.

In Timaru, incumbent mayor Damon Odey is standing against scaffolder and political newcomer Phil Smith.

In Christchurch, mayor Lianne Dalziel is standing against left-wing political figure John Minto, who Chris Lynch said had become "measured" during the campaign.

A major point of difference in this election is the increase in the number of ward council seats, which may have done the city more harm than good.

The Local Government Commission has changed the structure of the council, so it now has 16 ward seats for a population of 370-thousand people.

By comparison, the Auckland Council has 20 ward councillors representing a city of 1.4 million.

Chris Lynch said four of the 16 wards only have one candidate, which suggests there may be too many wards.

"There's no interest in joining the council, because the Government has so much power in Christchurch.

"Also to me, that suggests there was never a reason to increase the number of councillors."

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Lianne Dalziel
- Tubby Hansen
- John Minto

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Harewood Ward – 5 candidates for 1 position
- Waimairi Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Papanui Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Fendalton Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Innes Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Burwood Ward – 2 nomination for 1 position
- Coastal Ward – 3 candidates for 1 position
- Hornby Ward – 4 candidates for 1 position
- Halswell Ward – 4 candidates for 1 position
- Riccarton Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Spreydon Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Central Ward – 4 candidates for 1 position
- Cashmere Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Linwood Ward –3 candidates for 1 position
- Heathcote Ward –3 candidates for 1 position
- Banks Peninsula Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Banks Peninsula Community Board Akaroa subdivision – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Banks Peninsula Community Board Lyttelton subdivision – 2 candidates elected unopposed
- Banks Peninsula Community Board Mount Herbert subdivision – 2 positions contested
- Banks Peninsula Community Board Wairewa subdivision – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Coastal-Burwood Community Board Burwood ward– 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Coastal-Burwood Community Board Coastal ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Fendalton ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Harewood Ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Waimairi Ward – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Halswell Ward – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Hornby Ward – 5 candidates for 2 positions
- Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Riccarton Ward – 6 candidates for 2 positions
- Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board Central Ward – 8 candidates for 2 positions
- Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board Heathcote Ward – 5 candidates for 2 positions
- Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board Linwood Ward – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Papanui-Innes Community Board Innes Ward – 2 candidates elected unopposed
- Papanui-Innes Community Board Papanui Ward – 5 candidates for 2 positions
- Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board Cashmere Ward – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board Spreydon Ward – 5 candidates for 2 positions

ASHBURTON DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Donna Favel
- Angus McKay

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Western Ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Eastern Ward – 4 candidates for 3 positions
- Ashburton Ward – 14 candidates for 7 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Methven Community Board – 7 candidates for 5 positions

HURUNUI DISTRICT COUNCIL

Winton Dalley has been elected mayor unopposed.

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Hanmer Springs Ward –2 candidates for 1 position
- Amuri-Hurunui Ward – 4 candidates for 3 positions
- Cheviot Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Glenmark Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Amberley Ward – 6 candidates for 3 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Hanmer Springs Community Board – 7 candidates for 5 positions

KAIKOURA DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Winston Gray
- Ted Howard
- Darlene Morgan
- Neil Pablecheque

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- District at large – 8 candidates for 7 positions

MACKENZIE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- James Leslie
- Graham Bruce Smith

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Pukaki Ward – 5 candidates for 3 positions
- Opuha Ward – 8 candidates for 3 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Twizel Community Board – 5 candidates for 4 positions
- Fairlie Community Board – 4 candidates elected unopposed
- Tekapo Community Board – 5 candidates for 4 positions

SELWYN DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Sam Broughton
- Debra Hasson
- Pat McEvedy
- Sarah Walters
- Bill Woods

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Malvern Ward – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Selwyn Central Ward – 5 candidates for 4 positions
- Ellesmere Ward – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Springs Ward – 5 candidates for 3 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Malvern Community Board - Tawera Subdivision – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Malvern Community Board - Hawkins Subdivision – 4 candidates for 3 positions

TIMARU DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Damon Odey
- Phil Smith

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Timaru ward – 13 candidates for 6 positions
- Pleasant Point - Temuka Ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Geraldine Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Geraldine Community Board – 8 candidates for 6 positions
- Pleasant Point Community Board – 6 candidates for 5 positions
- Temuka Community Board – 8 candidates for 5 positions

WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- David Ayers
- Natalie Leary

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Oxford-Ohoka Ward – 5 candidates for 2 positions
- Rangiora-Ashley Ward – 9 candidates for 4 positions
- Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward – 11 candidate for 4 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Woodend-Sefton Community Board – 8 candidates for 5 positions
- Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board – 11 candidate for 5 positions
- Oxford-Ohoka Community Board, Ohoka-Swannanoa Subdivision – 3 candidates elected unopposed
- Oxford-Ohoka Community Board, Oxford Subdivision – 5 candidates for 3 positions
- Rangiora-Ashley Community Board – 5 candidates for 3 positions
- Rangiora-Ashley Community Board - Rangiora Subdivision – 11 candidate for 5 positions

WAIMATE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Craig Rowley
- Stuart Thomson

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Hakataramea-Waihaorunga Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Lower Waihao Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Waimate Ward – 5 candidates for 4 positions

WAITAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Gary Kircher
- Stephen Wesselingh
Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Ahuriri Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Oamaru Ward – 15 candidates for 6 positions
- Corriedale Ward – 2 candidates elected unopposed
Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Ahuriri Community Board – 4 candidates elected unopposed, 1 position vacant
- Waihemo Community Board – 6 candidates for 5 positions

CANTERBURY REGIONAL COUNCIL / ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY

Voters will select councillors in these constituencies:
- North Canterbury constituency – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Christchurch constituency – 8 candidates for 4 positions
- Mid-Canterbury constituency – 3 candidates for 1 position
- South Canterbury constituency – 1 candidate elected unopposed

OTHER ELECTIONS

The following district health board elections are being held:
- Canterbury District Health Board – 22 candidates for 7 positions
- South Canterbury District Health Board – 14 candidates for 7 positions

The following elections are also being held:
- Ashburton Licensing Trust – 11 candidate for 6 positions
- Cheviot Licensing Trust – 6 candidates elected unopposed
- Hawarden Licensing Trust – 4 candidates elected unopposed, 2 positions vacant
- Oamaru Licensing Trust – 8 candidates for 5 positions