Mr Kircher handily won a third term today receiving 5,220 votes, ahead of challengers Katrina Hazelhurst (2,019) and Paul Mutch (687).
While there was general agreement among voters that he had performed well as mayor over the last term he knew from the campaign there was more work to be done, he said.
"The overall direction (of the Waitaki district) is positive; we're getting a name for ourselves around New Zealand and we're a district moving forward."
He said while communication at the council had improved over the past three years, there was more work to do there as well as some Waitaki residents did not yet know the "breadth" of the Waitaki District Council's work.
And a message from some voters was "there are some gaps".
"And we need to fix those gaps. And we need to be as transparent as we can be around what we're doing about different issues. There's a number of things there that we absolutely can do better. And hopefully we will.''
All four incumbents were re-elected in the Oamaru ward, today's preliminary results show.
Melanie Tavendale (3,984) topped the polls for the second election in a row. She was followed by Colin Wollstein (2,773), Jeremy Holding (2,673), newcomer Kelli Milmine (2,543), Jim Hopkins (2,520), and newcomer Hana Halalele (2,379).
In Waihemo, newcomer Peter Newton (422) knocked off the incumbent Jan Wheeler (349).
In Corriedale, Bill Kingan (1,012) and Guy Percival (872) held on to their seats.
And in Ahuriri, Ross McRobie was unopposed.
Mr Kircher said he believed the voters had chosen a "really, good solid team".
"The reality is, people voted in ones that will work together really well," he said.
