There is a distinctly red look to the leaders of our biggest cities this morning, following Local Elections around the country. 

FULL COVERAGE: 2016 Election Results across New Zealand

Phil Goff, a Labour MP and former government minister, won the mayoralty battle in Auckland by a large margin. Christchurch's re-elected leader Lianne Dalziel is a former Labour MP, while Wellington's new Mayor Justin Lester stood on the Labour ticket - the first Labour mayor in the city for 30 years. 

Rotorua also has a former Labour MP as mayor in returning incumbent Steve Chadwick, while Whanganui's mayor Hamish McDouall stood as a Labour candidate.

It's a clean sweep for Labour, however their success is probably more down to the fact they are well-known, as opposed to their political platform, Newstalk ZB's political editor Barry Soper says.

Goff is vowing to work with central government on Auckland's housing and transport woes. Prime Minister John Key has made it clear he can work with Goff, who is regarded as generally centrist.

The National Party has attempted to shut down accusations it could have done more to help right-leaning Auckland mayoral candidate and former managing director of Xero Vic Crone. 

National's president Peter Goodfellow said Crone stood as an independent candidate, and members of the National Party supported whoever they wanted to.

The Party will be opening nominations on Wednesday for a candidate to contest Phil Goff's Mt Roskill electorate seat, which he must now resign from. 

Goodfellow admits it will be difficult to win, with Labour and the Green Party agreeing to work together.

Elsewhere around the country, Donna Favel beat incumbent Angus McKay in Ashburton's mayoral race with a 2000-vote margin in the preliminary results.

The contest was dogged by controversy concerning the sale of Lot 9, and a consent to take 40 billion litres of water from a local aquifer.

Despite a 40,000 signature petition, the council chose not to take Lot 9 off the market.

McKay defended his past decisions and said he has no regrets.

Meanwhile, the gastro bug outbreak in Havelock North hasn't flushed out Lawrence Yule from his top job.

The incumbent secured his sixth term as Hastings mayor, after securing a 3000-vote lead over his closest rival.

A surprise exit from the Hastings District Council is Wayne Bradshaw, who has represented the Havelock North ward for the past nine years.

The mayor and now former councillor clashed during the gastro-bug crisis, with Bradshaw accusing the mayor of withholding information over the disaster and the mayor fighting back and demanding a public retraction and apology.

In Tauranga, Greg Brownless has been elected mayor by just under 2000 votes, following Stuart Crosby's decision not to seek re-election.

Tauranga is expected to surpass Dunedin in total population in the very near future and they'll be looking to rookie mayor Brownless to guide them through this next period of growth.

Brownless acknowledged he has a lot of reading to do when he moves into the mayor's office but says him and his fellow councillors will be ready to hit the ground running.

New Plymouth's likely new mayor, will be coming onto the council with no past experience, and will have to face up to a controversial topic almost immediately.

Neil Holdom currently has a narrow 400 vote lead over rival Richard Handley, who has all but conceded defeat to him.

This means Holdom will become the city's mayor without ever serving as a councillor.

While learning the ropes Holdom will also have to tip toe around the controversial topic of Maori representation.

The topic saw outgoing mayor Andrew Judd lose popularity - after he tried to install a Maori Ward to the council, something that was overwhelmingly voted against in a public referendum.