Tauranga's Paula Thompson spent more than twice as much as anyone else to win a seat on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council while Rotorua's representatives were some of the most frugal when it came to election expenses.
Paula Thompson's $22,928 of campaign costs was nearly a third of the $73,800 spent by the 22 candidates who contested seats on the council.
Figures provided to the Rotorua Daily Post showed the next highest spender was Whakatane's former mayor Colin Holmes who spent $10,100 on an unsuccessful election campaign.
Unsuccessful Rotorua constituency candidate Lyall Thurston spent $1452 on his campaign and the second of the region's ex-mayors to win a seat on the regional council, former Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters, spent a total of $200. His pulling power with voters unseated Neil Oppatt, who spent nothing on his campaign, ending a 27-year political career.
In the Okurei Maori constituency successful candidate Arapeta Tahana also spent nothing while his only opponent for the seat, Gina Mohi, spent $180.
Ms Thompson's big budget won her top spot from the eight candidates who vied for the five seats representing Tauranga on the regional council.
She polled nearly 400 votes ahead of Tauranga's former mayor Stuart Crosby who spent $5736 to attract 18,863 votes.
Quizzed about her campaign budget, she said she "absolutely" overspent, but her publicity resonated with voters.
"I have always tried to use my advertising campaigns to get out the issues, unfortunately it does cost money," the third-term councillor said.
"I will definitely review how much I spend next time."
Ms Thompson spent $17,800 on newspaper advertising.
The former Tauranga City Council chief executive said her campaign had given her a fairly good indication of what people wanted.
"Public transport is an issue whose time has arrived."
The seven biggest spending candidates vying for seats on the regional council accounted for 86 per cent of total expenses filed by the 22 candidates.
No election was needed for the Western Bay of Plenty Constituency, with two candidates for two vacancies.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council election expenses (in order of votes received)
Rotorua Constituency
Lyall Thurston $1452
Kevin Winters $200
Neil Oppatt $0
Katie Paul (not supplied)
Okurei Maori Constituency
Arapeta Tahana $0
Gina Mohi $180
Tauranga Constituency
Paula Thompson $22,928
Stuart Crosby $5736
John Cronin $1316
David Love $4801
Andrew von Dadelszen $5432
Michael O'Neill $948
Keith Johnston $0
Rusty Kane $2805
Eastern Bay of Plenty Constituency
Doug Leeder $6200
Bill Clark $8437
Colin Holmes $10,101
Mauao Maori Constituency
Awanui Black $100 (died November 30)
Carlton Bidois $999
Kohi Maori Constituency
Tipene Marr $911
Miro Araroa $0
Paul Wetini $1273