Local Government Minister Rodney Hide says he is pleased by the voter turnout this year.
In 2007, the average voter turnout over all councils was 49%.
Local Government New Zealand says more people voted in Auckland, with almost 50% of eligible voters casting a vote there.
It says the turnout nationally so far is 49.5%, with 10 councils still to file results.
Mr Hide says he is heartened by the increase and the previous trend has been reversed quite dramatically.
