Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has become president of Local Government New Zealand.
Mr Cull was one of two competitors for the role, but in a midday vote at an LGNZ annual meeting in Auckland on Tuesday he won the vote.
LGNZ represents the national interests of councils in New Zealand.
The organisation provides its members with advocacy and policy services, business support, advice and training.
LGNZ chief executive Malcolm Alexander late last month described the president's role as ''a governance role, chief representative and chief media spokesperson for the organisation."
Mr Alexander said anyone who took the presidency would be "perfectly capable" of doing so and performing their role as an elected member of a council.
Mr Cull replaces Lawrence Yule, the mayor of Hastings.
