Kaikoura's new Mayor Winston Gray says his main priority will be to improve the town's economy.
Mr Gray takes up the mayoralty without any previous local body politics experience, after the incumbent did not seek re-election.
He says he hopes to boost visitor numbers in winter, as the drop in business in the middle of the year really hurts the economy there.
Mr Gray says town beautification is another area he will concentrate on, as there is a lot of work to be done with linking bike tracks and roads and tidying-up parks.
