Election spending claims posted on the Tauranga City Council website are providing ‘food for thought' for campaign managers with some low spenders proving successful.

Tauranga City Councillor Murray Guy gained re-election on a budget of $350.

Spending by candidates ranged from $21,941 by unsuccessful candidate David Love, to ‘nil' by unsuccessful mayoral candidate Hori Leaming.

But the candidate with the most efficient campaign is councillor Murray Guy, who returned himself to council and was the second best polling mayoral candidate at a cost of $350. Mayor Stuart Crosby spent $12,444.88 on keeping his job.

'We don't have the resources, but also from a philosophical point of view, I've got some disquiet about sitting members like me have a distinct advantage over non-sitting candidates,” says Murray.

'Our mere presence in the community gives us a significant edge, it's huge.

'I relied on the community's knowledge of the work that I had undertaken for the previous three years.

'A new candidate can't do that, so they are severely disadvantaged – unless you are a rugby player or something, unless you have got a profile.

'It will be interesting to see what everybody did spend. Some of them spent a lot of money, huge.”

Candidates are required to file a return of election expenses within 55 days of the election.

New councillors Tony Christiansen, Terry Molloy and Larry Baldock have comparatively modest election expenses. Tony spent $2825.10, Terry $4883.99, Larry just over $3000.

The two former councillors who lost their seats spent a little more.

Hayden Evans spent nearly $7000, Mike Baker claims $7,783.33.

Wayne Moultrie spent $11,051.77 keeping his job in the Mount ward. Deputy Mayor David Stewart spent $10,783.45 on his campaign and Rick Curach $11,687.82.

Read the councillor claim forms posted to the Tauranga City Council website here.