Coastal North constituency representative Bill Shepherd will lead the new nine-member Northland Regional Council with Kaipara councillor Graeme Ramsey as his deputy.
Councillors were officially sworn in at their first meeting in Whangarei on Wednesday, electing Mr Shepherd and Mr Ramsey unopposed in one of the first official acts of their three-year term.
Mr Shepherd, 68, is a dairy farmer and company director from Purua.
He said Northland's political landscape had changed markedly with the October 12 elections, introducing new mayors in both the Far North and Whangarei districts and five new councillors on the nine-member NRC, including himself.
That would provide opportunities and challenges but he was committed to forging a strong collaborative team with fellow councillors and other local body leaders.