Mr Kircher received a landslide victory, gaining 6510 votes - his lone challenger Stephen Wesselingh received 871.
Though he remained “quietly confident” during a campaign he called “low key” he said the challenge to his mayoralty after one term had given him the opportunity to “get out there and say what I wanted to”.
Voters had “recognised the hard work” he and the last term’s councillors had put in over the past three years, he said.
All five incumbents - Crs Melanie Tavendale (3976 votes), Colin Wollstein (3028), Hugh Perkins (3005), Jim Hopkins (2814), and Peter Garvan (2336) - appear to have been re-elected after 98% of the votes had been counted.
Either Jeremy Holding (2220) or Lucianne White (2196) will likely round out the council table in the Oamaru ward.
It would be a nervous time for the two council hopefuls, Mr Kircher said.
Jan Wheeler was elected in Waihemo. Ahuriri and Corriedale wards did not require an election.
This year 49.80% of Waitaki voters voted compared with 57.30% in 2013.
