The Havelock North gastro outbreak has made Hastings' election one to watch.

Mayor Lawrence Yule is fronting the gastro issue, while fending off mayoral challengers attorney Guy Wellwood and former councillor Adrienne Pierce.

Councillors have also been under fire for a closed-door deal to give a water exporter 50-thousand dollars to create 180 jobs.

Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin said some people want consistency but others want a changing of the guard.

"Some believe Lawrence Yule has been there for too long and it's time for a fresh face. Others say he knows what he's doing and he's a safe pair of hands."

Meanwhile, Napier won't be getting a new mayor but Hawke's Bay could almost reelect a new regional council.

Bill Dalton has been reelected unopposed as Napier's mayor for a second term and one councillor has also been reelected by default.

But other Hawke's Bay mayors face challengers for their positions.

Andrew Austin said the Hawke's Bay Regional Council elections are being fiercely contested over water debates.

"[The debates are] around the contentious Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme and whether we should be letting people export water from the aquifer."

Gisborne mayor Meng Foon is seeking a sixth term as mayor of the Gisborne regional and district council, and faces three challengers.

Two of the thirteen ward councillors have also been reelected unopposed.

NAPIER CITY COUNCIL

Bill Dalton has been elected mayor unopposed.

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Ahuriri Ward – 3 candidates for 1 position
- Onekawa-Tamatea Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Nelson Park Ward – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Taradale Ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Councillors at large – 12 candidates for 6 positions

HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Adrienne Pierce
- Guy Wellwood
- Lawrence Yule

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Flaxmere ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Hastings-Havelock North ward – 13 candidates for 8 positions
- Heretaunga ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Kahuranaki ward – 2 candidates for 1 position

GISBORNE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Yvonne Bishop
- Meng Foon
- Geoff Milner
- Tony Robinson

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Gisborne ward – 21 candidate for 9 positions
- Matakaoa-Waiapu ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Taruheru-Patutahi ward – 3 candidates for 1 position
- Tawhiti-Uawa ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Waipaoa ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed

CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY DISTRICT

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Sally Butler
- Gerard Pain
- Alex Walker

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Aramoana-Ruahine Ward – 10 candidates for 4 positions
- Ruataniwha Ward – 9 candidates for 4 positions

WAIROA DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:

- Benita Cairns
- Craig Little
- Roland Matley

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- District at large – 14 candidates for 6 positions

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Voters will select councillors in these constituencies:
- Central Hawke’s Bay constituency – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Hastings constituency – 5 candidates for 3 positions
- Napier constituency – 5 candidates for 3 positions
- Ngaruroro constituency – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Wairoa constituency – 2 candidates for 1 position

OTHER ELECTIONS

The following elections are also being held:
- Tairawhiti District Health Board – 15 candidates for 7 positions
- Hawke’s Bay District Health Board – 15 nomination for 7 positions