There are some new faces and some familiar faces heading the country's councils for the next three years.
Former Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull with new Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins at a celebration at the Dunedin cafe, Morning Magpie. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
As the local body election results are released, RNZ journalists are reporting from major centres around New Zealand.
Read our blog of how the day played out here. Or find our reports for each region as they arrive, below.
The big results, so far:
In Auckland, Phil Goff has beaten his main challenger John Tamihere, to be voted mayor for a second term.
Lianne Dalziel has also retained the mayoralty in Christchurch and in Nelson Rachel Reese keeps the top job.
In Dunedin, Aaron Hawkins takes the top title becoming one of the country's youngest mayor's at 35 years old, after incumbent Dave Cull stepped down.
In Invercargill, Tim Shadbolt returns for his eighth term, defeating Steve Chernishov, Darren Ludlow and Rebecca Amundsen.
In upsets, Horowhenua has a new mayor and four new councillors as Bernie Wanden takes up the mayoral chains.
In Porirua, Anita Baker has taken the mayoralty from incumbent Mike Tana.
A bit further south Lower Hutt's Campbell Barry has become one of the country's youngest ever mayors at 28 years old, while Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy has been re-elected. Progress results show Masterton's mayor Lyn Patterson has also been re-elected.
Kirsten Wise will be Napier's new mayor beating former Napier MP Chris Tremain by more than 8000 votes, while preliminary results show Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst has won another term.
In Hamilton's unofficial results Paula Southgate has beaten incumbent mayor Andrew King.
New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom has kept the role with a large majority.
Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith has been re-elected for another term.
And Sheryl Mai has been re-elected as the Mayor of Whangārei, winning her third term in office.
In Marlborough, John Leggett has returned as mayor for a second term.
From across the country:
Northland
Third terms for Whangarei and Far North mayors
Auckland
Auckland mayor Phil Goff says he has won with 48 percent of the vote
Waikato
Paula Southgate wins Hamilton mayoralty after narrowly missing out at last election
Bay of Plenty
New mayors for Tauranga and Whakatane
Gisborne
Gisborne mayor Rehette Stolz to continue in role
Hawke's Bay
Kirsten Wise announced as Napier's new mayor
Manawatū-Wanganui region
Grant Smith re-elected mayor in Palmerston North
Taranaki
New Plymouth mayor wins almost double the votes of nearest rival
Wellington Region
Wellington: Upsets in Wellington City and Lower Hutt, and two incumbent mayors safe
Lower Hutt's new mayor Campbell Barry one of the youngest to serve
Nelson
Nelson mayor Rachel Reese keeps top job
Canterbury
Lianne Dalziel re-elected as Christchurch mayor
Otago
Dunedin goes Green as Aaron Hawkins elected as the city's next mayor