A shaking Sheryl Mai, champagne glass in hand, says she is "overwhelmed, rapt and thrilled" with the outcome of today's election.

The incumbent mayor has romped home, winning nearly three times as many votes (13,170) as ambitious businessman rival David Blackley, on 4,765.

"I'm over the moon, and the stars, and Mars and Pluto, all those planets," Ms Mai, now entering her second term as Whangarei mayor, said.

"I really hoped the community would recognise that my leadership style was right for the time. I think this [result] shows we are on the right track.

"I worked damn hard in last three years connecting with the community and they've shown their appreciation for that."

2016 Local Government Election Coverage

Whangarei's new district council would comprise eight women and six men, tipping last term's equal gender split.

The result would come as a blow to farmer, dad-of-seven and businessman Mr Blackley, who lead the 13-member Go-Whangarei ticket in the hopes of gaining a majority in chambers.

Mr Blackley, as well as missing out on the mayoralty, was beaten by incumbent Greg Innes by more than 1000 votes in Whangarei Heads ward. 

Just two Go-Whangarei candidates got on the 14-seat council.

Matt Keene and Ash Holwell, who ran on the TogetherTahi ticket, also missed out on both the mayoralty and ward seats.

The pair ran a colourful and youth-centric campaign on a next-to-nothing budget which dominated social media. However,  their online popularity was not reflected in the polls.

Northern Advocate