Analysis - Wellingtonians have a reputation for being interested in politics, but this year's mayoral election has failed to get people fired up.
Clockwise from top left: Jo Coughlan, Nick Leggett, Justin Lester, Nicola Young, Helene Ritchie, Andy Foster Photo: supplied
Turnout in Wellington for the local body elections as of Thursday was just 28 percent, the lowest at that point in many years.
That was despite this year's race expected to be very close-run, with at least half a dozen good candidates.
Read a sample of candidates' policy positions here.
Wellington has had a Green mayor for the last six years, and Celia Wade-Brown's decision not to stand again left no obvious frontrunner in the race to succeed her.
There has also been little in the way of independent polling in the city, making it hard to pick a winner.
Adding to prediction difficulties, Wellington has an STV voting system - meaning the result is bound to come down to who can pick up the most second, third and fourth preferences as low-polling candidates are eliminated.
Watch four of Wellington's mayoral candidates battle it out in an RNZ video debate here.
Labour candidate Justin Lester is the current deputy mayor. His policies include annual rate rises of 2 to 3 percent, discounted bus fares for students and a wet house for rough-sleepers.
Two current councillors and mayoral contenders are seen as being more to the right.
Nicola Young said she would freeze rates and cut waste, and was also keen to pedestrianise the CBD's main retail street, Lambton Quay.
Jo Coughlan said she would push for better roads in the capital - specifically with second tunnels at Mt Victoria and the Terrace. She also supported a new movie museum and convention centre.
Some interest was added to the campaign by the entry of the Mayor of neighboring Porirua, Nick Leggett. He supports a four lane road from Wellington Airport to the CBD, and more integrated public transport ticketing.
Two long-serving councilors and perennial mayoral candidates are also in the race.
Andy Foster is one of the council's workhorses, having served for 21 years, often chairing major committees.
Helene Ritchie has been a mainstay of Wellington-city politics since 1977, and has had stints as deputy mayor and as chair of important committees. Both have been unsuccessful mayoral candidates before, and it would be a surprise if either won this time.
With the STV system, a result in Wellington will be knows later than in other centres, and some are predicting that as in 2010, it could take a few days before a definite winner is known.