2022 Rotorua mayoral election explained

Ongoing:	no
Election Name:	2022 Rotorua mayoral election
Country:	New Zealand
Type:	presidential
Previous Election:	2019 Rotorua mayoral election
Previous Year:	2019
Election Date:	8 October 2022
Next Election:	2025 Rotorua mayoral election
Next Year:	2025
Turnout:	23,302
Candidate1:	Tania Tapsell
Party1:	Independent politician
Popular Vote1:	7,362
Percentage1:	31.59
Candidate2:	Ben Sandford
Party2:	Independent politician
Popular Vote2:	4,070
Percentage2:	17.46
Candidate3:	Fletcher Tabuteau
Party3:	Independent politician
Popular Vote3:	4,043
Percentage3:	17.35
Mayor
Before Election:	Steve Chadwick
After Election:	Tania Tapsell

The 2022 Rotorua mayoral election took place on 8 October 2022 to determine the Mayor of Rotorua. Incumbent mayor Steve Chadwick did not run for re-election.

Candidates

Declared candidates

• Kalaadevi Ananda, businesswoman^[1]
• Raj Kumar, district councillor^[2]
• Reynold Macpherson, district councillor^[3]
• Ben Sandford, lawyer, former winter Olympian, and Labour candidate in the 2017 general election^[4]
• Fletcher Tabuteau, former New Zealand First MP^[2]
• Tania Tapsell, district councillor^[5] and National candidate in the 2020 general election.

Declined to be candidates

• Steve Chadwick, incumbent mayor^[2]
• Dave Donaldson, deputy mayor^[2]
• Todd McClay, National MP^[2]
• Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, district councillor^[6]
• Mercia Yates, district councillor^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rotorua mayoral race: Kalaadevi Ananda joins field of six candidates . 19 July 2022 . Rotorua Daily Post . New Zealand Herald.
2. News: Desmarais . Felix . Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick to stand down after next election . RNZ . 27 July 2021.
3. Web site: Reynold Macpherson running for Rotorua mayor in 2022 local election . 14 December 2021 . Stuff . Desmarais . Felix .
4. Web site: Ben Sandford, Rotorua lawyer, announces mayoralty bid . 16 July 2022 . Rotorua Daily Post . New Zealand Herald . Zizi . Sparks.
5. Web site: Tania Tapsell to stand for mayor of Rotorua Lakes Council . 10 May 2022 . Rotorua Daily Post . New Zealand Herald . Felix . Desmarais.
6. Web site: Mayoralty consideration: Merepeka Raukawa-Tait mightn't only be eyeing Miss Rotorua crown . 8 August 2022 . Rotorua Daily Post . New Zealand Herald . Kelly . Makiha.