Voters have dumped three long-serving mayors in a day of sweeping change at the top in Southern local government.
Peter Chin (Dunedin), Juno Hayes (Clutha) and Malcolm Macpherson (Central Otago) were all cast aside in favour of new blood.
Mr Chin, a two-term mayor, was beaten easily by Dave Cull despite most incumbent councillors who had served under his leadership surviving what some had picked could be a clear-out of the Dunedin City Council.
In South Otago Juno Hayes was hunting a fifth consecutive term but was deposed by Balclutha retailer Bryan Cadogan. It was a taste of revenge for Mr Cadogan, who was well beaten in the 2007 race by Mr Hayes.
And it was the same story in Central Otago, where three-term mayor Malcolm Macpherson polled the lowest of the three candidates, losing the top job to Tony Lepper, who had been his deputy.
In Queenstown the race was blown wide open open by the decision of three-term mayor Clive Geddes not to stand again.
Vanessa van Uden easily defeated rivals Simon Hayes and Michael Scott to become the first woman to head the council in Queenstown.
Southern voters happy with their lot were those in Waitaki and Invercargill.
In Oamaru, Alex Familton was re-elected for a second term with a comfortable majority of 1183 over second-placed Gary Kircher.
Old stager Tim Shadbolt hung on easily in Invercargill, trouncing his closest challenger, entertainer Suzanne Prentice.
Seeking his sixth term as mayor, Mr Shadbolt polled 16,275 while Ms Prentice managed 5311.