The preliminary result for the Hamilton East Ward by-election shows Tim Macindoe is leading after voting closed at midday on Saturday February 17.

After Saturday's count, Macindoe has 5858 votes, 3653 ahead of Leo Liu who has received 2205 votes.

The former National MP for the Hamilton West electorate looks set to be the next city councillor for the city's Hamilton East ward.

Polls to fill the ward seat on Hamilton City Council, left empty by now National MP Ryan Hamilton, closed at midday on Saturday. Ryan resigned as a councillor in October.

There were 12,439 votes cast, with a voter return of 22 per cent.

Special votes are still to be counted, and a final result will be announced early next week once all special votes have been validated.

The councillor-elect is expected to be sworn in at a council meeting on Tuesday, February 20.

The preliminary results for the 16 candidates are:

MACINDOE, Tim 5858 

LIU, Leo 2205 

NAND, Jenny 1885 

GONZALES, Jose 1260 

BRISTER, Richard 1065 

SMART, Anna 829 

WEST, Michael 657 

TANG, Tony 520 

HENDERSON, Horiana 508 

MCDONALD, John 476 

NG, Jono 428 

LEPINA, Marie-Claire 314 

GIELEN, Jacobus 217 

BECH, Aksel Danger 84 

TEMONI-SYME, Tania 82 

STRATFORD, Roger 27

The final results on the Hamilton East Ward by-election 2024 will be available at hamilton.govt.nz/elections.