Former councillor and United Future MP Larry Baldock has returned to council after a three year hiatus.

Larry, who also ran for the mayoralty, topped the Otumoetai-Pyes Pa Ward with 4,265 votes.

Larry Baldock is back on council, representing Otumoetai-Pyes Pa Ward. File Photo.

Larry was first elected in 2001, but vacated his seat in 2002 when he was elected to parliament as a list MP for United Future. He left parliament in 2005, and served as a councillor once more from 2010-13.

Although he did not win the mayoralty, he congratulates Greg Brownless on his victory, and looks forward to working with the new mayor, as well as some other old faces.

'I was on council with Greg in 2001, so I can certainly work with him,” says Larry.

'I'm also very pleased to see Terry Molloy back on council. He and I worked together during the 2010-13 term to get the waterfront development underway, as well as the new university.”

Larry wishes to thank those who re-elected him for Otumoetai-Pyes Pa.

'It's encouraging to see I haven't been forgotten. I was disappointed three years ago when I wasn't re-elected, because I think I had done a lot of good work on the council. But elections are like that sometimes.”

He is eager to start work, and hopes to address some of the issues the previous council failed to move on.

'I campaigned on traffic, and I'm very concerned that we're getting a little behind in addressing the city's congestion. I'm also keen to start work on development of the civic heart. They made a real mess of it last term, taking two years and not making much of a decision at all.”

One priority for Larry is the hotel development on Durham Street.

”I think that's more important than anything else right now. Until you get that hotel underway, you have no certainty in regards to people coming into the CBD. Having conferences in town is really important.”

For Larry, another area of interest is greater engagement with residents and ratepayers.

'I've wanted to develop more consultation with the community through surveys on rates and water bills. I've campaigned a lot on that. I think many people have warmed to that idea.

'They want to be more informed.”