The contest for the Wellington mayoralty looks to be another tight one, with three main contenders battling it out.
Incumbent Andy Foster is up against Labour MP for Rongotai and former deputy mayor Paul Eagle, and relative newcomer, the former Green Party chief of staff Tory Whanau.
Wellington's had its struggles over the past three years with broken pipes, COVID-19 protests and a dysfunctional council.
No one was expecting Andy Foster to win the mayoralty in 2019 - least of all his fellow councillors.
"When people are determinedly opposed to you and it's the majority of your council, it's very, very difficult to work with but I got there," he said.
Foster said he needs another term to finish the job he started.
"We're getting on with fixing that infrastructure and I'm quite confident there'll be a council that knows that it can't behave like the last council did."
Paul Eagle was on the council between 2010 and 2017, before entering Parliament. He's very critical of Foster for the council infighting and for his lack of progress.
"Wellington's been going backwards and they want a leader. Someone who can give confidence to not only the government but to a whole range of sectors," he said.
The animosity between the two men is obvious but it's helping outsider Tory Whanau rise above.
"They do get a bit snappy which kinda indicates to me, is that really the leadership that Wellington needs. I'm a cool, calm, collected person. I don't bite," she said.
Whanau has dealt with her share of abuse.
"I get abuse, like many of our female politicians do. But I've built enough of a support system to put it to the side. You can't let haters bring you down."
Priority for all three is unity - of council and the city.
"I'm that person because I've done this before. I've worked with people across the political spectrum," Eagle said.
"Someone who knows how to coalition build, unify people, manage a team and get them working together. That is exactly my experience," Whanau said.
"Love to see them try with the council I had, with COVID, with pipes and all the other things. I reckon they would have fallen apart," Foster added.
It seems they can all agree, at least, that the city needs fixing.
