Toi Iti, son of activist Tāme Iti, has topped Tīpene Marr to take the Kōhi Māori constituency seat on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Marr previously held the seat, but he had just 1212 votes in the progress counts, as opposed to Iti's 1956.
Kevin Winters and Lyall Thurston have defended their Rotorua constituency roles against contender Katie Paul.
Matemoana McDonald has retained the Mauāo Māori constituency seat with 1345 votes and Jane Nees and Norm Burning have won their seats in the Western Bay of Plenty constituency again.
All other councillors were elected unopposed.