By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE and ELEANOR BLACK
The Bay of Plenty's two tourism centres are in for a major shake-up at this year's elections, as Tauranga's long-term mayor stands down and Rotorua's incumbent fights to keep his seat.
Tauranga is crying out for vibrant, visionary leadership to take it through the critical
last stages of transition from seaside village to mature Bay of Plenty metropolis.
Eight contenders - only two with previous council experience - have lined up to replace retiring mayor Noel Pope, who has his sights set on a regional council role.
Heir apparent is his high-profile deputy, Stuart Crosby - at age 44, already a veteran of 15 years in local government. However, he is likely to suffer the backlash of deep-seated public dissatisfaction with the present administration.
After the harbour bridge toll fiasco, electors want political agendas out in the open and are demanding greater accountability.
The challenge is to balance growth with protecting the very environment that attracts people to the district and the ability of residents to pay the price of progress.
Top of the wish-list is improved roading along with the cultural and recreational facilities boasted by other provincial centres.
A mood for change could catapult Mt Maunganui lawyer Jan Beange into the hot seat and her ambition for Tauranga to become the lifestyle capital of New Zealand will find favour.
Although new to local government, the 40-year-old's credentials include being former president of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, first woman director of TrustPower and chairwoman of the Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust.
As shown in past polls, Tauranga voters are not averse to a spring-clean if they think politicians are not measuring up.
They want a proactive council which capitalises on the district's many strengths - a big ask, but it's a healthy sign when more than 50 candidates are on offer for the 13 ward seats.
In Rotorua, former policeman Knocker Dean, a colourful figure who adopted his childhood nickname as his first name via deed poll, is making his second bid for the mayoralty.
A councillor for the past nine years, he believes Rotorua has become complacent and runs the risk of losing out on the economic growth that is favouring the "more vibrant" Tauranga and Taupo.
He owns his own travel agency. A widely admired figure, he probably poses the strongest threat to the mayor of nine year, Grahame Hall, who is seeking re-election.
Mr Hall is running a traditional campaign centred around Rotorua's prominence as a tourism destination and the progress made in city beautification over the past 10 years, in stark contrast to the emotive approach taken by the third contender, Cliff Lee.
A sitting councillor, Mr Lee has based his campaign on just one issue - ownership of the region's 14 lakes.
Te Arawa have lodged a Treaty of Waitangi claim for the lakes, which are held in trust by the Crown for the people of New Zealand.
They wish to act as guardians for the lakes but unconfirmed rumours that they would charge tourism operators to use them have divided the community and spooked businesspeople.
Mr Lee is adamantly opposed to the claim and campaign signs posted around the city show him superimposed over a picture of a lake next to the words "Over my dead body".
Another who has raised his profile during the lakes debate is businessman Mike McVicker, who is among the 24 people running for council.
Feature: Local body elections 2001
www.localgovt.co.nz
By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE and ELEANOR BLACK
The Bay of Plenty's two tourism centres are in for a major shake-up at this year's elections, as Tauranga's long-term mayor stands down and Rotorua's incumbent fights to keep his seat.
Tauranga is crying out for vibrant, visionary leadership to take it through the critical
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