Sandra Hazlehurst was unanimously elected deputy mayor of the Hastings District Council at its first meeting of the new term yesterday.
About 70 friends and family of the new-look council joined the proceedings outside the council offices, which began with a powhiri performed by the Hastings-based Kahurangi Maori Dance Company.
After chief executive Ross McLeod opened the meeting and received re-elected mayor Lawrence Yule's declaration, Mr Yule, adorned in his mayoral garb, swore in the 14 councillors.
Moving inside the chambers to continue the meeting, councillor Malcolm Dixon with "a great deal of pleasure" nominated Ms Hazlehurst for the deputy role, the motion seconded by councillor Adrienne Pierce.
Hawke's Bay Today understands that Ms Hazlehurst only narrowly beat Mr Dixon in a private vote when councillors met behind closed doors for an informal meeting on Tuesday.