This year's local government elections have sent a clear message to returning Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby.

He says it is crystal clear residents want change for the city, something which is evident in the election of new faces to the council.

Stuart Crosby, his daughter Jessica and his wife Lesley are celebrating Stuart's re-election as Tauranga City mayor. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

SunLive sat down with Stuart Crosby this afternoon at his home to discuss the results.

'I am very humbled to be elected as mayor for the fourth term. Mayors don't tend to survive in big cities like this for various reasons.”

Progress results released at 3pm put Stuart ahead of the mayoral race with 10,135 votes.

Kelvin Clout has so far received 9547 votes, while Mike Baker has 3339 votes.

John Robson has 3160 votes, Richard Moore has 2776 and Hori Leaming has 757.

The voter return for this year's elections was 35.49 per cent, being 30,049 voting papers, excluding voting papers in transit to the processing centre and special votes.

Stuart says he has mixed emotions about the results.

'I am delighted to have been elected mayor for another three years but I feel sad colleagues I have worked with who have failed to get back in.”

Stuart believes there won't be much change between the results now and the preliminary ones. He says he has already started celebrating and plans to have a quiet dinner at The Mount before returning home in Papamoa.

'I will have a couple of days off before heading back to the office and getting into the swing of things.” He says next week will be about meeting the newly elected councillors he will be working with in the new triennium.

'There has been a clear message for change, which will happen.” He says he will work with the new council on changing the direction for the city.

Stuart officially assumed office on October 9, 2004 and has been re-elected to mayor and has served two terms.

Read here for a full list of the progress results.