Rotorua Rural and Lakes community boards get two new faces each

Rotorua's two community boards have a 50-50 mix of new and re-elected members.

Current chairwoman Shirley Trumper and Bryce Heard have been re-elected to the Rotorua Rural Community Board. Ben Hollier and Sarah Thomson are the newest members of the board according to progress results.

Nick Chater and current chairman Phill Thomass were re-elected to the Rotorua Lakes Community Board and are joined by newcomers Jennifer Rothwell and Sandra Goodwin.

Trumper has been the chairwoman of the Rural Community Board since it was established in 2016.

She previously said leading the board had given her the chance to "encourage greater community engagement and ensure the wider rural perspective is part of the council decision-making process".

Trumper received 1,431 votes and also unsuccessfully stood for the Rotorua Lakes Council.

Heard, who is also the Chamber of Commerce chief executive, received 1155 votes.

Newcomers Ben Hollier and Sarah Thomson got 998 and 967 votes respectively.

Bob Martin and Chris Sutton did not re-stand.

Phill Thomass has been the Rotorua Lakes Community Board chairman for the last term and got 626 votes to be reelected.

He previously said "I'm passionate about all our lakes. Leading the board has allowed me to put that passion to use for our communities".

Incumbent Nick Chater received 927 votes and has said he would continue working on projects like the Hamurana lakefront, facility upgrades and overnight camping strategies.

Newcomers Jennifer Rothwell and Sandra Goodwin got 605 and 600 votes respectively.