Around 34 new Mayors will be donning the mayoral robes and taking up office around the country, after a spate of changes resulting from yesterday's local authority elections.
The most notable result was in the hotly-contested Auckland mayoralty race, where incumbent Christine Fletcher was defeated by a man who was once her colleague on the National Party benches, John Banks.
In Hamilton, David Braithwaite has ousted Russ Rimmington.
In Palmerston North, businessman Mark Bell-Booth unseated former Labour MP Jill White. This result was remarkable in a city which has unseated sitting Mayors very few times during the past 120 years. Mr Bell-Booth says the city was seeking change, and wanted someone with experience in business to lead Palmerston North into the future.
In Wellington, a deputy has stepped up to acquire the top job. Following Mark Blumsky's decision not to stand again, Kerry Prendergast takes the reins in the Capital.
A retirement in New Plymouth meant that the eight-way race there was certain to give the Taranaki city new leadership. Former deputy mayor Peter Tennent will take over from longstanding incumbent Claire Stewart, who chose not to stand again.
It wasn't all sweeping change, however. Familiar faces will still be there tomorrow morning in many centres.
Sir Barry Curtis continues his long term of office in Manukau City, Chas Poynter was successful again in Wanganui - although with a reduced majority - and Bob Harvey is set to enjoy another term in Waitakere City.
Tim Shadbolt was re-elected unopposed in Invercargill.
Feature: Local body elections 2001
www.localgovt.co.nz
Some old faces, some new, claim victory in mayoralty elections
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