It was a close fought thing, just 1300 votes in it on Election Day. But it was enough to give Garry Webber a mandate as Mayor of the Western Bay of Plenty for another three years.

Garry and his wife Carole were at home in Omokoroa when he got the news.

"I had my son and daughter who have flown up from Christchurch to be with me and we were sitting having a drink and sorting the world.”

And on Monday morning he was back in the Mayoral chamber sorting the Western Bay – it was business as usual.

"I met with the chief executive on Monday morning, sat down with her and her team and let them know that our work continues. Then we'll get up to speed with the new council."

But the election did produce one of the biggest local government shake-ups in the district's history. Four women have been elected onto the council – that lifts the female ratio by at last a third.

Provisional results for the four vacancies on the Te Puke-Maketu ward have Monique Lints, John Scrimgeour, Kelvin Marsh and Grant Dally on council. For the Kaimai ward, Margaret Murray-Benge who missed out on the mayoralty was elected back on council as was Don Thwaites, Mark Dean and Murray Grainger. For the Katikati-Waihi Beach ward James Denyer, Christina Humphreys and Anne Henry were the provisional successful candidates.

Provisional results for the Te Puke Community Board were Richard Crawford, Tupaea Rolleston, Dale Snell and Kassie Ellis.

For the Omokoroa Community Board: Teresa Sage, Peter Presland, Derek Sage and John Evans.

Successful candidates for the Katikati Community Board were Ben Warren, Neil Harray, Kate Sutherland and Christina Humphreys.

Four candidates were automatically elected to the Waihi Beach Community Board – Ross Goudie, Bob Hulme, Marilyn Roberts and Don Ryan.