While failed mayoral candidate Olivia Wensley — bankrolled, largely, by businessman Peter Hulijch — declared more than $31,000 in election donations, mayor Glyn Lewers spent the most on his campaign.

Lewers’ election spend amounted to $28,926.85, but he didn’t declare any donations over $1500.

He spent $6990.75 with Queenstown’s Swordfox on website development, a domain name, and design for campaign materials, and $5255.98 with Wānaka-based Scope Media for website copy, press releases, comms plans, paid social media posts, and the like.

Sign-related costs came in at $5193.75, $3579.08 was spent on advertising, and $4148.01 went on video-related costs, while Sarah Lyttle was paid $2110.85 for social media and blog admin.

Wensley, who came third in the election race, declared a total of $31,833.33 in donations.

The bulk of that, $20,000, was cash from Hulijch, listed at an Arthurs Point address, whose family’s said to be worth at least $444 million.

Mount Soho Winery owner Mike Almquist donated $6500 in cash to her campaign, $3333.33 came from an Australian donor, and $2000 came from Rod Drury.

Wensley spent $25,868.49 — $13,648.33 went on a variety of print, digital and radio advertising, $10,214.82 on printing, $2195.97 on stationery, and just over $1800 on videography, with the remainder spent on website hosting and software subscriptions.

Jon Mitchell declared $13,000 in donations — $5000 cash from Dick and Diana Hubbard, $3500 from Storyworks for video production, $2500 from Chris Barnhardt for social media development, and $2000 from Tim Buckley for campaign strategising.

In all, Mitchell spent $9834.35 on his campaign — the majority of that, $5888.70, on advertising, with the balance on printing-related expenses, while Wānaka’s Daniel Shand’s campaign cost him $1550, all spent on signs, and Glenorchy’s Al Angus spent $540, all on fuel.

Meantime, not a cent was spent between the four successful Queenstown-Whakatipu ward councillors.

Matt Wong, Esther Whitehead, Gavin Bartlett and Niki Gladding have all provided nil returns, indicating they didn’t receive any donations over $1500, and spent nothing on the campaign, while in the Arrowtown-Kawarau ward, the biggest spender was new councillor Neeta Shetty, who also ran for the mayoralty.

She didn’t declare any donations, and spent $16,907.70.

Of that, $9380.60 went on advertising, $7027.14 on signs and the balance, $500, on fuel.

Fellow first-term councillor Lisa Guy spent $2289,62, mostly on signs and sign-related expenses ($651.99), and stationery ($323.17), while Craig ‘Ferg’ Ferguson’s only expense was $768.98, on signs.

Wānaka councillors spent $3364.93 between them — Barry Bruce ($615.25), Cody Tucker ($349.83) and deputy mayor Quentin Smith ($402.50) spent their money on signs, while Lyal Cocks ($1997.35) spent a bit on advertising, too.

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