Tania Tapsell Secures Mayorship in Rotorua Local Elections 2025

Preliminary results from the Rotorua local elections held on March 4, 2025, confirm that Tania Tapsell has successfully retained her position as mayor. The latest tallies indicate a stable outcome for the future council, with no significant shifts in the elected candidates.

In the closely contested general ward elections, Fisher Wang, Sandra Kai Fong, Ben Sandford, Gregg Brown, Don Paterson, and Robert Lee have all been elected as councillors. Notably, the race for the final general ward seat has tightened, as current councillor Conan O’Brien finds himself trailing Robert Lee by a margin of 250 votes, a significant increase of 159 votes from previous counts.

New Faces in Māori Ward

In the Māori ward, the results also bring change, with newcomer Te Rika Temara-Benfell poised to join incumbent Trevor Maxwell in council. Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, who previously lost her general ward seat in 2022, will not return to the council, marking a notable shift in representation.

The election results reflect the community’s choices and priorities as they move forward. Tapsell’s leadership and the new councillors will now shape local governance in Rotorua, focusing on issues that matter most to residents. With the vote counting process winding down, the community looks ahead to the implications of these results for local development and policy-making in the coming term.

These preliminary results underscore the dynamics of local politics and the importance of voter engagement in shaping the future of Rotorua. As the council members prepare to take their roles, the focus will undoubtedly shift towards addressing the needs and aspirations of the community.