KEY POINTS:
He's had the job for a little over a day but already Manukau's new mayor, Len Brown, has tasks lined up and waiting for his council.
Mr Brown's "Lenslide" election victory over his nearest rival, Dick Quax, by nearly 15,000 votes on Saturday ushers in a new era
for the country's third-largest city, and joining him are five new councillors.
Daniel Newman, Hugh Graham, Gary Troup, Maggie Burrill and Michael Williams are additions to Manukau City Council.
Mr Brown, who said the newly elected councillors would bring fresh ideas, experience and skills, was not too concerned about the eclectic make-up of the council and was confident of a working majority on the region's pressing issues.
"I'm sure we will have a majority of like minds and people who are comfortable with my leadership and will work with me in a collaborative way," the new mayor said.
"We are very comfortable with the council that has been elected by the community."
He said the election of Mr Troup, a former New Zealand cricket fast bowler and former chairman of the Papatoetoe Community Board, took the number of former national sporting representatives on the council to three.
Mr Brown said he would lean on Mr Troup and former Olympians John Walker and Mr Quax for a proposed sporting structure that would provide funding for sports clubs throughout the region.
He said Daniel Newman, who is the chairman of the Manurewa Community Board and a member of the Property Council of New Zealand, "will bring some real skills and intellect to the council and they will be needed because his area has some very high expectations of delivering in some of the key areas in the community like graffiti, liquor licensing and upgrading of the town centre."
Labour candidate Hugh Graham, who polled third in the Mangere ward, is just the second Rarotongan to hold a councillor's position in the City of Manukau.
Mr Brown said the former Manukau City parks worker had substantial community networks which he hoped to use.
Maggie Burrill, who is the wife of Auckland Regional Councillor Bill Burrill, has worked as a deputy chairwoman of the community board in Botany.
"She has formidable community networks and has a very strong professional business background. I've always been a supporter of Maggie," said Mr Brown.
NEW MANUKAU CITY COUNCILLORS
Daniel Newman (Manurewa Action Team).
Hugh Graham ( Labour, Mangere).
Gary Troup (Papatoetoe Independents).
Maggie Burrill (Independent Botany-Clevedon).
Michael Williams (People's Choice, Botany-Clevedon).
RE-ELECTED COUNCILLORS
Alf Filipaina (Labour, Mangere).
Syliva Taylor (Mangere Residents and Ratepayers).
John Walker (Manurewa Residents).
Colleen Brown (Manurewa Residents).
Anne Candy (Manurewa Residents).
Su'a William Sio (Labour, Otara).
Arthur Anae (Independent).
Dick Quax (People's Choice, Pakuranga).
David Collings (Pakuranga 2000 - Your Town Your Future).
Bob Wichman (Independent, Papatoetoe).
Sharon Stewart (Independent, Howick).
Jami-Lee Ross (Independent - Working for Howick).
