The numbers were too tight to decide who was mayor, recount and recount the margins got smaller, just think five more recounts and you'd be mayor Paula. Then there is Maca, or Koru Dave, who is as subtle or tactful as a punch in the face. Rob Pascoe, nice guy, safe pair of hands, nods off quite often we all understand. I hope we can deal with our traffic congestion before the queues and traffic are as long as your questions.
Councillor Martin, our deputy mayor, who has rolled Prime Ministers, ministers, the bizz, yet struggles to find out where the vote button is.
Many of the councillors thanked their colleagues for a successful term, some apologised if debates got too personal, and wished themselves best of luck for the rest of the campaign.
Mayor Andrew King gifted flowers to council staff, and to the chief executive Richard Briggs, who provided a few words over the past three years.
"We have been very ambitious this term. If you guys were not so ambitious we may have not got some of the projects done this term, like rail."
"Our 10-year plan and introducing Mangai Māori was just as ambitious. I don't think the community appreciates just how hard making these decisions are."
The current mayor and councillors remain in office until election day.
The new councillors will have introductory and training meetings, before the first formal council meeting takes place later in the year.
The new mayor and council will also be tasked with another 10-year plan, which will be developed around 2020-21.
