The mayor is directly elected using the first-past-the-post electoral system.

[4] The 2007 mayoral election was contested by Pat O'Dea, Pat McManus, and Inangahua Ward councillor Graeme Neylon; McManus was elected.

[7][8] The 2010 mayoral election was fought by O'Dea and McManus, with the incumbent again successful.

[9] At the 2013 local elections, McManus retired for health reasons after having earlier declared that he would stand for a third term.

[10] The mayor from 2013 to 2019 was Garry Howard,[11] who defeated three-term councillor Margaret Montgomery and Greg Hart, who was first elected onto the council in the Westport Ward in 2013.