Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt faces two challenges to his bid to lead the city for a record seventh term and become the longest-serving mayor in the country.
Mr Shadbolt (66), was mayor of Waitemata City in Auckland for two terms before moving south. He was Invercargill mayor from 1992-95 and has held the post since 1998.
His challengers are former police officer Lindsay Dow (65), an Invercargill city councillor for six years from 1993-98, and unemployed printer Kevin Middleton (54), who has lived in the city for about seven years.
For the Invercargill City Council, 22 candidates are vying for 12 places. Three sitting councillors have retired or decided not to stand again.
Former policeman, now holiday park owner Gary Tong is one of three people chasing the Southland district mayoralty vacated by Frana Cardno, who is retiring.
The others are sitting councillors Paul Duffy, a semi-retired dairy farmer, and Mossburn farmer John Douglas.
In the Environment Southland election race, 15 candidates are chasing six seats in the Invercargill-Rakiura constituency.
Suzanne Prentice is one of nine people chasing six seats on the Invercargill Licensing Trust.
