The leadership of Northland's district councils remains the same after its three incumbent mayors were returned.
Far North Mayor Yvonne Sharp won her position with a more than 10,000-vote majority; Kaipara Mayor Graeme Ramsey was elected unopposed; and Whangarei Mayor Craig Brown scraped home bylittle more than 500 votes over his main rival.
Each of the mayors said their return was a vote of confidence in their leadership styles and the way their councils operated.
Mrs Sharp, from Opito Bay, near Kerikeri, completely overshadowed her rivals, who never posed any serious threat and will lose their election deposits
Mrs Sharp took 12,414 mayoral votes, against 1682 for Oruru farmer Carl Maria and 1033 for Taipa builder Eddie Harrop.
"People have shown their confidence in me and in my commitment to continue working for what's best for the Far North," said Mrs Sharp.
In the Whangarei mayoralty race, incumbent Craig Brown received 10,169 votes to beat nearest challenger Phil Halse, who had 9603.
"It was close in the end, but a win's a win," said Mr Brown, who has served two terms as a councillor and one as Mayor.
The former policeman and real estate agent said he was pleased all 10 incumbent councillors, including Mr Halse, had been re-elected in Whangarei and he was looking forward to working with the four new councillors who filled vacant positions.
Kaipara Mayor Graeme Ramsey said the vote for continuity in the mayoral positions in the north would allow the three councils to keep on working for the good of the region.
"Northland councils have successfully been working together for the past three years and we have been much more effective working as one region instead of competing," he said.
