New Zealand's parliamentary MPs and leaders are reacting to the local election results released on Saturday.
The results so far have seen Wayne Brown elected Mayor of Auckland, Sir Tim Shadbolt ousted in Invercargill, Aaron Hawkins out in Dunedin and Tory Whanau elected as Wellington's new mayor.
Meanwhile, former National MPs Nick Smith and Maurice Williamson won their local election races, and former New Zealand First MP Ron Mark was elected Mayor of Carterton.
National leader Christopher Luxon sent a message congratulating the successful candidates and said he looked forward to meeting as many of them as possible.
"National will work with local government to build more liveable cities and regions and support them to tackle issues like infrastructure, housing and water," he said in a statement.
"With Labour tearing out the heart of local government with its Three Waters reforms, the role of local democracy has never been more important.
"National will repeal Labour's Three Waters reforms and ensure water assets remain in local ownership."
National Party MP for Pakuranga Simeon Brown said it was evidence Kiwis are "sick and tired of being told what to do by left-wing politicians who think they know best".
"Kiwis voted for common-sense centre-right policies in 2022 and will do the same in 2023! It's time for change!" he tweeted.
Green Party MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick sent her congratulations to her city's new mayor Wayne Brown, who won over Ardern-endorsed candidate Efeso Collins.
"You've promised to fix what's broken, so I look forward to ensuring Council is held to account on climate action, density done well, liveable streets and well-resourced public amenities. For a city that works for all of us," she tweeted.
She also had a message for former Green Party chief of staff Tory Whanau, who claimed victory in the Wellington mayoralty over incumbent Andy Foster and Labour MP Paul Eagle - who was also backed by Ardern.
"Incredible scenes as @NZGreens-backed @MissWhanau takes the Mayoralty. That's on grassroots organising and mobilising, progressive, detailed policy and some superstar gusto. Proud to have campaigned with and for you, e kare," Swarbrick tweeted.
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern sent her congratulations to everyone elected, especially the new mayors, and added the Government will keep working closely with local government.
"We both face the long-term challenges of needing to grow our housing stock, keep investing in transport, public transport and our ageing water infrastructure," she said
"As the challenges of climate change and the severe weather events it brings continue, we need to join forces to reduce its impact, prepare and recover."
The local elections have been plagued with problems with missing postal voting papers and inaccessible voting locations. Ardern said she was keen to look at how voting can be improved.
"Greater participation in elections is good for democracy so we need to work to increase turnout," she said.
"I look forward to catching up with the new local government leadership over the coming weeks and months."
ACT leader David Seymour tweeted his congratulations to new Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and all other candidates and called on them to "reject the war on cars".
"Auckland Transport is lowering speed limits on 1600 roads to as low as 10km/h. Wellington City Council is cutting speeds on 80 percent of Wellington roads. After thousands of years of human history, we are the first society ever to try going slower," he said in a statement.
"People have things to do, places to go and people to see. They want to be able to go about their business without a noisy minority getting in the way.
"As mayors and councillors take on their new roles, we encourage them to put people and productivity at the centre of their decision-making."
He encouraged people to sign ACT's petition to stop dropping speed limits. Meanwhile deputy leader and housing spokesperson Brooke van Velden said ACT would empower new councils with GST-sharing.
"New councils who have been voted in this weekend face a daunting task developing infrastructure because they simply can't afford it. Luckily, ACT has a bill going through Parliament that would incentivise and resource councils to provide infrastructure for new homes by sharing half of the GST with them," she said.
"The GST-sharing scheme is estimated to deliver $1 billion every year to support local development enabling infrastructure, but councils that consent more, get more.
"ACT believes in better, longer-lasting solutions. As a country we deserve better when it comes to housing to ensure we can live our best and most fulfilling lives."
