Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, seen here on an electric bike, has been recognised internationally as "New Zealand's poster girl for cycling".

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown has been named one of the world's most innovative and groundbreaking female mayors by technology giant Microsoft.

Claudia Toth, director of marketing for Microsoft's CityNext initiative, recently published a blog praising Wade-Brown alongside the mayors of Houston, Warsaw, Lampedusa and Surabaya as women who were moving their cities forward in innovative and groundbreaking ways.

She labelled Wade-Brown "New Zealand's poster girl for cycling" having worked tirelessly to triple Wellington City Council's cycling budget and make the capital's streets more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.

MAARTEN HOLL/ FAIRFAX NZ Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown's efforts at growing and greening Wellington has been turning heads overseas.

"Sustainability is Wade-Brown's guiding principle. One of the most prominent and influential progressive politicians in the country, she has led sustainability efforts in Wellington for the past nine years," Toth said.

"She has also spearheaded efforts to make Wellington one of the most-prepared cities in the world for natural disasters, with water bottles stamped with the message: You may be alone for three days."

Wade-Brown's economic development also received a tick, with Toth praising the capital's efforts to establish a high-tech precinct and extend its airport runway to link the city with important commercial cities in Asia and North America.

PHIL REID/FAIRFAX NZ Celia Wade-Brown famously cycled out to the airport in her hi-vis gear to meet Hillary Clinton (second from right) in 2010. The Wellington Mayor chose more formal attire for her meet and greet later in the day with Clinton, then US Ambassador David Huebner and Murray McCully.

"She's committed to making Wellington a smart city."

Responding on Monday night, Wade-Brown said was "delighted" on Wellington getting some international recognition.

"Personally I'm focussed on getting our many projects done; airport, film museum and ocean exploration centre as well cycleways," she said.

Wade-Brown burst on to the political scene in Wellington with a stint as a southern ward councillor between 1994 and 1998. She returned to represent the southern ward in 2001 and replaced Kerry Prendergast as mayor in 2010.

It is not the first time she has raised eyebrows on the international stage. Not long after winning the mayoralty in 2010 she donned a high-visibility vest and cycled out to the airport to greet then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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She was joined on Microsoft's list of influential female leaders by Houston Mayor Annise Parker who was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2010.

Also on the list was Tri Rismaharini, the first female mayor of Surabaya in Indonesia, who was one of Forbes Indonesia's 10 most inspiring women of 2013.

All of the women mentioned were not only championing diversity and equality, but also making their cities more sustainable, healthier and educated places to live, Toth said.