In 1998 Main was elected to the
Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council, where she served for 12 years. During that time she chaired the environment committee and served as deputy chair. She was re-elected in 2013. As mayor, she supported the New Zealand Geographic board's decision to change the town's name to include an "h". She did not stand for re-election in 2016, instead successfully pursuing a seat on the
Whanganui District Health Board. Main was appointed an
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local government, in the
2017 New Year Honours. In 2018 she was appointed to the council of the
Universal College of Learning. ==References==