Chadwick to launch mayoral campaign

Steve Chadwick will launch her mayoral campaign tomorrow. Photo/File

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick will officially launch her mayoral campaign at Skyline Rotorua tomorrow.

Mrs Chadwick said the night would double as a fundraising evening with an original painting by her brother, acclaimed artist Dick Frizzell, being auctioned off.

"Campaigns cost a lot to run, but it's also setting the theme of the campaign, which is 'there is more to do'.

"There will be no radical jolts, it's about keeping on with our 2030 vision.

"I won't start to get political until the campaign proper starts in July - the 12 weeks before the election."

Mrs Chadwick said she would be setting up a website to "lay out our platform and framework about what we want to do".

She said the oil on canvas painting, called Rotorua - After Marcus King, was commissioned specially for the auction and featured a "very Rotorua" scene of two Maori women outside a whare with geysers playing in the background, and was a homage to the old tourism promotional pictures of the '50s and '60s.

The Rotorua Daily Post asked the three other candidates for mayor if they had similar functions planned.

Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers group candidate Reynold Macpherson said their team would have a campaign launch at a later date.

He said it would not just be a mayoral campaign launch, but would include all six candidates the group has put forward for council.

"We have a number of events planned at the moment with our team presenting at a number of places around the district. It's a fresh approach," he said.

Incumbent district councillor Rob Kent said it was too early for him to say if he would have a launch function.

"I haven't seriously thought about it at this stage. It's way too early in the piece so it could be forgotten by the time the election rolls around," Mr Kent said.

RangiMarie Bosma-Kingi, who stood for mayor under the name Janine Rangimarie Bosma in the 2013 elections, said she would not be holding an official launch.

"What I'm going to do is create my own brochures and if people want to contact me that would be great.

"I'm out on the ground and seeing people in town, it's like a one on one, and social connections with people is how I'll do it," she said.

? Steve Chadwick's mayoral campaign launch will be held at Skyline Rotorua's Stratosfare Restaurant from 5.30pm for a 6pm start. Tickets cost $50 and cover light refreshments, a glass of bubbles and entertainment. Tickets available from Steiners - Interiors by Reputation on Pukuatua St, call (07) 348 9979.