Manukau Mayor Len Brown has undergone major heart bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack at the weekend.
Mr Brown had the four-hour operation at Auckland City Hospital this morning.
A Manukau City Council spokeswoman said the surgery appeared to be successful and his ongoing condition was being monitored closely.
Mr Brown remains in a critical but stable condition.
Mayoress Shirley Anne (Shan) Inglis said while there had been an improvement in her husband's condition yesterday, she believed the heart attack had been life threatening.
"This has been an extremely traumatic time for us as a family, but we are ecstatic that Len seems to have come through this major surgery so well.
"Obviously his recuperation will take some time yet, but we now believe he is firmly on the road to recovery.
"On behalf of all of our family I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support during our time of need. "We know that the community and Manukau City Council is behind us, and I know that Len will be keen to express his appreciation in the near future." Mr Brown, 51, was taken to hospital after collapsing to the floor when speaking on stage at the Pacific Music Awards.
Gary Troup, the deputy mayor, is the acting mayor.
Ms Inglis said her husband had "absolute confidence" in and respect for Mr Troup.
"We know that in Len's absence Manukau is in a safe pair of hands." Ms Inglis thanked the medical teams, both at Middlemore Hospital where Mr Brown was first admitted and Auckland Hospital following his transfer.
"They have been highly professional, very supportive and we are extremely grateful to them for the care they have provided over these last few days." Mr Troup said he was delighted with news of the successful operation.
"Manukau City Council has been inundated with well wishes, cards and messages of support and our city councillors have shown huge support by rallying around me to ensure we can meet the obligations of Len's diary."
