The new councillors elected to the Dunedin City Council say they are excited and ready to get to work.
All sitting councillors were re-elected in today's election.
The new councillors, subject to the final count, are: Conrad Stedman, Rachel Elder, Jim O'Malley, Damian Newell, Marie Laufiso and Christine Garey.
The sitting councillors who were re-elected are Lee Vandervis, Doug Hall, Aaron Hawkins, David Benson-Pope, Andrew Whiley, Chris Staynes, Kate Wilson and Mike Lord.
His first order of business was to "align to what the council is doing now, so that the new council comes in and hits the road running''.
Mr O'Malley said he would be talking to the likes of the South Dunedin Action Group to get on top of issues in the suburb, and find out about the new hotel.
On whether he could work with Mayor Dave Cull, who was accused by some candidates during the election of having formed a "green bloc'' on the council, Mr
O'Malley said: "Oh yeah, I don't have any issues.''
"I'm over the moon mate.''
"`I just think Dunners is on the cusp of something great, and I just want to do my bit.''
His first order of business was the Dunedin Hospital upgrade.
"`We need that upgrade now, and we need to make as much noise about as we can.
"Obviously it's a central government issue, but as a council we need to make some noise.''
Mr Newell said he "definitely'' would be able to work with Mr Cull.
`"I think the left/right thing is so 1930s, we need to move on.''
Her first activity as a councillor would be to listen.
"`The community wanted me on, so it's about listening to the community.''
On working with Mr Cull, she said `"yes, definitely''.
"`We have to be a team, and we have to work this out together.''
Green candidate Marie Laufiso felt "much, much gratitude to all my team, supporters and family.
"I hopefully am able to learn the ropes really fast.
"Then I will just be about reporting back to the various communities that have said during the course of campaigning `we don't know much about council, we never hear from people except at election time'."
Her first order of business would be to inform and update those communities.
Asked if Mr Cull was someone she could work with, the Green candidate said: "Yes, he is.''
Christine Garey said she was "absolutely delighted with the result'' and very humbled by it.
Her first focus would be on settling into the role.
"I've got the advantage of having an idea of how things work, and relationships with councillors."
But there were matters of business to be addressed, and her interests were in the arts, tourism and education, the latter in terms of international exchange students.
Those however, would be matters for next year, after settling in.
She had worked with Mr Cull for the last six years, and while she didn't always agree with him, he was someone she could work with.
"`Certainly.''
Conrad Stedman said he was feeling "pretty emotional'' following his win.
Of his plans as a councillor he said: "I think first off I will go along there and just watch and see how proceedings go.''
But once up to speed his focus would be on South Dunedin issues, and making sure people in the area were safe in their own environment.
On working with Mr Cull, he said after a Mosgiel forum he had talked to Mr Cull.
He had told him regardless of what he said at forums he was keen on a team environment and working towards what was best for the community.
"I can work with anybody.''
* This result is based upon the counting of approximately 95% of the returned voting papers. The progress result does not include some special votes and voting papers returned today that are still in transit to the processing centre. The outcome of these elections may change once all voting papers have been counted.
