New Tauranga City Councillor Max Mason emerges as the biggest election campaign spender and the one with the heaviest financial support in election expenses figures now made public.

Max claimed expenses of $53,543 on his mayoral and council campaigns. Max is also the recipient of the by far the largest amount in campaign donations, $37, 937.

The money comes from Civic Amenities Group members Paul Adams, $10,000, Graeme Horsley $500, and Tom Roper $3000. Other donors to Max's campaign are not listed as Civic Amenities Group members.

The Civic Amenities Group presented the previous council with a proposal to build a new Civic Centre on a direct cost basis, funded by a Community Bond, allowing Ratepayers, Community Trusts, and individuals to invest in the ownership, with the intention of avoiding additional debt for ratepayers.

By comparison Greg Brownless won the mayoral race on a comparatively modest $23,264 – with 9110 votes to Max's 4040.

Two higher mayoral campaign spenders were Doug Owens, who spent $43,751 with $24,550 spent on billboards and buses, but didn't win, and neither did former city councillor John Robson, who forked out $29,191.

Steve Morris declared a donation of $3,878 from someone with the same last name as him, and expenses of $12,928.

Larry Baldock's total campaign was $25, 235 and while he didn't win the mayoralty he's back on the council.

Kelvin Clout who polled second to Greg with 7,128 votes, claimed $13,257 in expenses. Most of his campaign spending went on billboards $5000, flyers $4744 and signage and tee shirts.

The ironies of electioneering and campaigning are perhaps better illustrated in the comparison between Bev Edlin and Catherine Stewart.

Catherine polled 4408 to Bev's 4315 taking the council seat by 93 votes. Bev campaigned with a war chest of $8,614, while Catherine claimed expenses of $606.48.