Central Otago has a new leader.

Tamah Alley, of Alexandra, was elected by Central Otago District councillors at a full council meeting this morning, to fill the role left vacant by now former mayor Tim Cadogan, who resigned on Saturday.

Tamah was nominated by deputy Mayor Neil Gillespie, and is the district's first female mayor.

The 39-year-old wife and mother of three comes to the role as a district councillor and now former chair of the Vincent Community Board.

Central Otago mayor Tamah Alley wearing the mayoral chains after being sworn in. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APP

Earlier this year she was appointed Zone 6 chair of Local Government New Zealand, when she replaced Clutha district Mayor Bryan Cadogan.

Presented with the Mayoral chains by Linda Cadogan, Tamah thanked former Mayor Tim for leading the district, which she said was ‘’outstanding’’.

Mayor Tamah said being in the “hot seat” was a very special thing, and the challenges they faced as a council were substantial.

“We do have our work cut out for us… we do need to do the basics brilliantly,” she said.

Some members of the public gallery weren’t impressed, wielding protest signs. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APP

A small protest in the public gallery wielded ‘Sham’ signs as Mayor Tamah was being sworn in.

Also a former police officer, earlier this year she said it was "much easier to get things done in the world if you’re a collaborator rather than a bulldozer''.

Her proven capabilities in high stress situations and managing big ego’s has already come in handy in the world of local politics, after mixing with many different personalities at Local Government New Zealand - including Mayors from Waitaki down to Invercargill and through to Queenstown.