Another win at the polls on Saturday puts the 66-year-old veteran into the record books as the country's longest-serving metropolitan mayor, but he still wants more.
He said on Saturday he planned to stand in Invercargill again in 2016 and beyond.
''I'm looking forward to the next campaign. I will be well past retirement age by then, but as far as my future is concerned, there is only one group of people who can decide that and that is the people of Invercargill.
''So long as I'm healthy and fit, I'll be running again until the day I die, and only the people of Invercargill will decide when I retire.''
Mr Shadbolt said as an amateur historian he liked historical milestones - last year, he set the world record for the longest television interview, 26 hours - and believed others did too.
''I am the longest-serving mayor now but I want to make the record unbeatable.''
Mr Shadbolt this year had two challengers and beat his nearest rival by 7110 votes on provisional counting.
Even though he had been through many polling days, he said there was always relief when the results were announced.
He was delighted people had confidence in him, especially as he did not run an election campaign..
''I didn't have up a single billboard or do anything. I felt that after 18 years [as mayor of Invercargill, the voters] must know who I am.''
However, he said he was disappointed with the low voter turnout of 47.3%, well down on the 60.5% three years ago, and said it was time for New Zealand to move to online voting, to capture younger voters.
