Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper takes a seat in the district council chambers in Alexandra, which have just received a $102,000 makeover.
It was the first major refurbishment of the chambers in about 25 years, he believed.
The room has new furniture, a video projector and drop-down screen, new paint and carpet and energy-saving lights.
Pop-up floor plug boxes should improve safety now all elected members had tablet computers, he said.
"It's more user-friendly in this configuration, with this room layout and we can change it around for other meetings, or planning hearings.''
The former seating has been reused in the Millers Flat Hall and the Maniototo Public Library.
A sum of $298,616 had been set aside for refurbishing the council chambers and the remainder would be used to refurbish other "public'' areas of the council's head office, including the reception and the Bill McIntosh Meeting Room.
The chambers is available to hire at $115 a day or $55 for a half-day.
