Sam Broughton, head of Local Government NZ, loses Selwyn mayoralty in resounding loss

Saturday, 11 October 2025

Three-term Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton has conceded victory to Lydia Gliddon, who was decisively elected mayor on Saturday.

With an enormous 73% of the vote, Gliddon may be the standout winner of local body elections in the South Island.

Gliddon received 15,497 votes, for the mayoralty, to Broughton’s 4156, based on the counting of about 85% of the returned votes.

Broughton, who was arguably one of the most influential mayors in Aotearoa as the president of Local Government NZ, congratulated Gliddon in a video posted to social media just before 3pm.

“To the community, thank you so much for your support through nine years of being your mayor, it’s been a real privilege,” he said. “And to my family, Liz and Elliot, thank you so much for your support in me through these years.

“The staff of Selwyn District Council, you guys rock and are awesome. And I look forward to seeing good things continue in Selwyn district as you work with the new council to take us into next year’s journey.”

In her own social media post, Gliddon thanked the district, saying she was “deeply honoured” to be elected.

“The real work begins now. We will continue building a Selwyn that’s connected, thriving, and prepared for the future, one where every voice counts and every community is part of the journey,” she said.

“This wasn't mine to win as an individual, this was ours, from my team to our community. I am overwhelmed with support.

“Let’s get to work.”

Gliddon won after one term on council, with the Sheffield-based farmer previously telling The Press she ran in 2022 to boost the voice of rural people.

In her term on council she was an outspoken critic of the council’s lack of transparency and decision-making that had left some people in the district feeling ignored.

Unlike its neighbour in Christchurch, voter turnout in the Selwyn district was slightly higher on Friday than it was the same time in 2022, with 38.28%.

Based on the estimated votes yet to be counted, the district is on track for a turnout of about 44%, about 1.5% more than the previous election.