Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel has announced she will stand for a second term.
With just six months to go before local government elections, Ms Dalziel is the first person to throw her hat in the ring the role.
She had previously said the stress of the job had made her reconsider whether it was something she wanted to do again.
After weeks of speculation she now says she will not walk away from the city.
Ms Dalziel said positive feedback from members of the public since her second thoughts about standing had helped convince her to put her name forward.
Former Christchurch mayor Garry Moore said this month Ms Dalziel had led sweeping changes designed to make the formerly dysfunctional council more responsive to the city's needs, but the job was not yet finished, and the city needed her to stand again.
The elections are in October.
