The future of Auckland won't just be determined by who becomes its new mayor.

The mayor is just one vote around the council table, and the big battle will be over the other council seats.

Len Brown has relied on strong support from ward councillors, led by deputy mayor Penny Hulse, during his six years in office.

The next mayor will also need the majority of councillors to be on their side, and the left, centre and right are competing to get the most seats around that council table.

In the central ward of Waitemata, centre-right former media boss Bill Ralston is taking on veteran left-wing councillor Mike Lee.

Meanwhile, in Albany, former league coach Graham Lowe is trying to unseat one of the two local councillors, as part of the centre-right Auckland Future ticket.

Elections are also being held for the city's 21 local boards, which have similar areas and populations to city and district councils, and make similar decisions about parks, transport and local services.

Labour and National-aligned tickets are putting forward dozens of candidates. Outgoing councillors George Wood and Cameron Brewer have set up their own tickets for their local boards.

But local boards can be overlooked by candidates and voters, and three members of the Franklin Local Board have already been elected unopposed.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Mario Alupis
- Aileen Austin
- Penny Bright
- Patrick Brown
- Tricia Cheel
- Vic Crone
- Phil Goff
- David Hay
- Alezix Heneti
- Adam John Holland
- Susanna Kruger
- Stan Martin
- Binh Thanh Nguyen
- Phil O'Connor
- John Palino
- Tyrone Raumati
- Chloe Swarbrick
- Mark Thomas
- Wayne Young

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Albany Ward – 6 candidates for 2 positions
- Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward – 8 candidates for 2 positions
- Franklin Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Howick Ward –10 candidates for 2 positions
- Manukau Ward –5 candidates for 2 positions
- Manurewa-Papakura Ward –3 candidates for 2 positions
- Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Ward –3 candidates for 1 position
- North Shore Ward – 12 candidates for 2 positions
- Ōrākei Ward – 4 candidates for 1 position
- Rodney Ward – 4 candidates for 1 position
- Waitākere Ward – 9 candidates for 2 positions
- Waitematā and Gulf Ward – 3 candidates for 1 position
- Whau Ward – 6 candidates for 1 position

Voters will select local representatives in these local board areas:
- Albert-Eden Local Board Maungawhau Subdivision –10 candidates for 4 positions
- Albert-Eden Local Board Owairaka Subdivision – 8 candidates for 4 positions
- Devonport-Takapuna Local Board – 18 candidates for 6 positions
- Franklin Local Board Pukekohe Subdivision – 7 candidates for 4 positions
- Franklin Local Board Wairoa Subdivision – 3 candidates elected unopposed
- Franklin Local Board Waiuku Subdivision – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Great Barrier Local Board – 8 candidates for 5 positions
- Henderson-Massey Local Board – 24 candidates for 8 positions
- Hibiscus and Bays Local Board East Coast Bays Subdivision – 6 candidates for 4 positions
- Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Hibiscus Coast Subdivision – 11 candidates for 4 positions
- Howick Local Board Botany Subdivision – 9 candidates for 3 positions
- Howick Local Board Howick Subdivision – 9 candidates for 3 positions
- Howick Local Board Pakuranga Subdivision – 8 candidates for 3 positions
- Kaipātiki Local Board – 17 candidates for 8 positions
- Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board – 19 candidates for 7 positions
- Manurewa Local Board – 23 candidates for 8 positions
- Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board Maungakiekie Subdivision – 8 candidates for 3 positions
- Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board Tamaki Subdivision – 9 candidates for 4 positions
- Orakei Local Board – 14 candidates for 7 positions
- Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board Otara Subdivision – 12 candidates for 3 positions
- Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board Papatoetoe Subdivision – 15 candidates for 4 positions
- Papakura Local Board – 13 candidates for 6 positions
- Puketapapa Local Board – 16 candidates for 6 positions
- Rodney Local Board Dairy Flat Subdivision – 3 candidates for 1 position
- Rodney Local Board Kumeu Subdivision – 7 candidates for 4 positions
- Rodney Local Board Warkworth Subdivision – 7 candidates for 3 positions
- Rodney Local Board Wellsford Subdivision – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Upper Harbour Local Board – 10 candidates for 6 positions
- Waiheke Local Board – 12 candidates for 5 positions
- Waitakere Ranges Local Board – 16 candidates for 6 positions
- Waitemata Local Board – 21 candidates for 7 positions
- Whau Local Board – 26 candidates for 7 positions

OTHER ELECTIONS

The following district health board elections are being held:
- Waitemata District Health Board – 16 candidates for 7 positions
- Auckland District Health Board – 28 candidates for 7 positions
- Counties Manukau District Health Board – 28 candidates for 7 positions

The following elections are also being held:
- Birkenhead Licensing Trust – 8 candidates for 6 positions
- Mt Wellington Licensing Trust – 9 candidates for 6 positions
- Portage Licensing Trust Auckland City – 6 candidates for 3 positions
- Portage Licensing Trust New Lynn –6 candidates for 2 positions
- Portage Licensing Trust Glen Eden – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Portage Licensing Trust Titirangi-Green Bay – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Portage Licensing Trust Kelston West – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Wiri Licensing Trust – 9 candidates for 6 positions
- Waitakere Licensing Trust Te Atatu – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Waitakere Licensing Trust Lincoln – 6 candidates for 3 positions
- Waitakere Licensing Trust Waitakere – 4 candidates for 1 position
- Waitakere Licensing Trust Henderson – 2 candidates for 1 position