Election 2013: Steve Chadwick is ready for action

Steve Chadwick celebrating her win

Rotorua has elected its first woman mayor in former Labour Party cabinet minister Steve Chadwick.

Mrs Chadwick bolted home in the 2013 Rotorua mayoral contest beating incumbent Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters by more than double the number of votes.

With 98 per cent of votes counted Mrs Chadwick had 10,999 with former mayor Kevin Winters picking up 4518 votes.

Mayoral candidate Rob Kent was third with 2320 votes with Janine Bosma picking up 364 votes and Helen Hindmarsh winning 311 votes.

Mrs Chadwick said she was ready to work with Rotorua MP Todd McClay, Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell and the new Bay of Plenty Regional Council to put in place some of her election promises.

But, her first order of business is to pass the council's Annual Report on October 30, the same day she will be sworn in as mayor.

"I have been given a very clear mandate by the people of Rotorua, now it's time get to work.

"It's an exciting time for all of us."

She said she wanted to get to work on providing Rotorua residents with geothermal heating for their homes, boosting the city's reputation as the "spa city of the South Pacific" and rejuvenating the CBD.

She said she would also be looking to appoint a deputy mayor in the next 24 hours.

Voter numbers were almost the same as in the 2010 election with 19,785, or 43.33 per cent of Rotorua's 45,663 registered voters having their say.

With 98 per cent of votes counted their should be little change to the final results.

Make sure you pick up a copy of Monday's Rotorua Daily Post for a full interview with Rotorua's new mayor and updated election results.

Mayoral results
Steve Chadwick: 10,999
Kevin Winters: 4518
Rob Kent: 2320
Janine RangiMarie Bosma: 364
Helen Hindmarsh: 311