Dunedin mayor-elect Sophie Barker says she is here to serve the city.
Dunedin was "competing against the world" to attract people and businesses.
"If we don’t build, you know, the best place to live in New Zealand, the most liveable city, then people leave because we’re boring, we’re not providing the jobs, the entertainment and amazing lifestyle."
Ms Barker said her background in tourism marketing was a strength.
"We would always sell the country first, the region, and then your city, so you know you are competing globally.
"We have always been competing globally for people and for place, to attract people."
One focus of her campaign was to "cut red tape and roll out the welcome mat".
"I have travelled a bit and I know that Dunedin is just the best place on earth.
"There’s amazing businesses here and there’s amazing people here, but we just keep tripping up over our own shoelaces.
"That is why I want to get all those people together, come up with our vision, have people buy into it, so then you have got people in the council buying into it, you have got all your partnerships built up and then you can work together to make it even better."
As mayor she would have greater influence and scope to make change.
"It is that leadership and modelling, I guess, and the ability to set those things up and to make them happen."
During two terms as a councillor she built a "colour-coded spreadsheet" of her aims.
She planned to set priorities collaboratively with the rest of the council.
"I think it’s about building the councillor relationships first and working on that vision and then deciding our priorities together."
Ms Barker had her own priorities such as fighting for the Dunedin Hospital and better economic development.
When looking at what people campaigned on, there were many issues that were similar between candidates.
"So there was a lot of stuff that we do have in common, that we can work on together."
With a mix of current and new councillors coming on board, there would be "a lot of talent around the table."
She likened it to a Meccano set that everyone contributed to.
"Because you are creating something new and someone might just have the bolt that makes everything come together."
Respecting everyone’s point of view was important.
"It is the ‘c’ word — communication — because people can understand and be taken on the journey, because no-one likes surprises.
"We need to be very clear about where our role lies and where our influence lies as well, you know, because it is all about partnership."
Providing ratepayers "value for money" was another key consideration during her campaign.
"I didn’t talk about cutting rates or anything like that, I talked about value for money rates, which is, you know, managing our operational costs, et cetera and delivering what people want in the city.
"And that is the challenge, is how do we provide all of those services that people want in the city and still not hit people hard in the back pocket."
If the Dunedin City Council had a byline, she would pick "here to serve".
"Here to serve and lead, because I think that for me, the public service ethos is super important."
New voices join guard
A mix of returning and new members was a feature of Saturday’s local elections.
Dunedin has a new mayor-elect and a reshaped council.
Preliminary results as of Monday morning show Sophie Barker elected mayor of Dunedin, ahead of Andrew Simms, Lee Vandervis and incumbent Jules Radich.
Returning councillors are Brent Weatherall, Christine Garey, Lee Vandervis, Marie Laufiso, Steve Walker, Cherry Lucas and Mandy Mayhem. Former mayor Jules Radich returns as councillor alongside new faces Andrew Simms, John Chambers, Russell Lund, Mickey Treadwell, Benedict Ong and Doug Hall.
Community Boards
• Waikouaiti Coast
Returning: Alasdair Morrison, Sonya Billyard, Geraldine Tait, Andy Barratt.
New: Anna Knight, Danny Hailes.
• Mosgiel–Taieri
Returning: Brian Peat, Austen Banks
New: Andrew Sutton, Steve Wilson, Rebecca Shepherd, Rose Finnie.
• Saddle Hill
Returning: Paul Weir, John Moyle.
New: Lianna Macfarlane, Tracey Boereboom, Vianney Santagati, Barry (Baza) McLellan.
• West Harbour
Returning: Jarrod Hodson, Duncan Eddy, Ange McErlane, Wayne (Blackdog) Sefton.
New: Marian Poole, Barbara Olah.
• Otago Peninsula
Returning: Paul Pope, Hoani Langsbury, Cheryl Neill, Stacey Kokaua-Balfour.
New: Emma Strybosch, Hugh O’Neill.
• Strath Taieri
Returning: Robin Thomas, Terina Geddes.
New: Ken Bain, Bruce Thomas, Donna Hall, Quentin (Soddy) Macleod.
Otago Regional Council
Dunedin Regional Constituency
Returning: Andrew Noone, Alan Somerville, Gretchen Robertson.
New: Hilary Calvert, Chanel Gardner.
Final local election results are expected to be available tomorrow. If there are any changes to the preliminary election results released on Monday, the people affected will be contacted before the final results are published on the Dunedin City Council website.
