Tania Tapsell

New Zealand politician

Tania Tapsell

15th Mayor of Rotorua

Incumbent

Assumed office
8 October 2022
Deputy| Sandra Kai Fong
Preceded by| Steve Chadwick
Rotorua Lakes District councillor
In office
12 October 2013 – 8 October 2022
Personal details
Born|  (1992-09-22) 22 September 1992 (age 32)
Rotorua, New Zealand
Political party| National
Spouse| Kanin Clancy
Relations| Peter Tapsell (great-uncle)
Alma mater| University of Waikato

Tania Tapsell (born 22 September 1992)[1] is a New Zealand politician. She has served on the Rotorua Lakes District Council since 2013 and was elected mayor of Rotorua at the 2022 local elections. She is the first woman of Māori descent to hold the role.[2]

## Early life

[edit]

Tapsell was born and raised in Rotorua. She attended Rotorua Girls' High School but left at age 16 in order to attend Waiariki Institute of Technology, where she got diplomas in business and marketing.[3][4] She achieved a Bachelor of Management Studies Degree from the University of Waikato,[5] and is a qualified Resource Management Commissioner.[6]

## Early political career

[edit]

At age 14, Tapsell served on Rotorua's youth council. In 2010, she was selected by Todd McClay to represent the Rotorua electorate at the New Zealand Youth Parliament[3] and also represented New Zealand at a Young Leaders Conference in Taiwan.[7]

### Rotorua District councillor, 2013-2022

[edit]

In 2013, Tapsell was elected to the Rotorua Lakes District Council[3] and served as Chairperson of the Council's Operations and Monitoring Committee. At 21, she was the youngest councillor ever elected,[4] until the election of 19 year old Fisher Wang in 2019.[8] In 2016 and 2019 she was re-elected as the highest polling candidate.[9]

She voted against the adoption of Māori wards in 2021, arguing that while some councils may need them to ensure representation, Rotorua did not.[10]

Tapsell marched with students during the School Strike for Climate in 2019,[11] however she believes farmers should be excluded from the Zero Carbon Act.[12]

Tapsell has also served as Deputy Chairperson of the New Zealand Community Boards Executive Committee.[13]

### National Party candidacy

[edit]

On 6 June 2020, Tapsell was selected as the National Party candidate for the East Coast electorate,[5] having been a member of the party since she was a teen.[14] At the 2020 general election, National failed to retain the seat, losing to Labour MP Kiri Allan.[15] She expressed interest in running again at the 2023 New Zealand general election.[16] She was speculated by the media as a possible candidate in the 2022 Tauranga by-election,[17] but declined.[18]

## Mayor of Rotorua, 2022-present

[edit]

On 10 May 2022, Tapsell announced that she would run for mayor of Rotorua.[1] Tapsell announced she would name fellow Councillor Sandra Kai Fong as deputy mayor if both are elected to the council in the October local election.[19] Tapsell campaigned on stopping the spend, combating crime and vandalism, and restoring the city's image as a tourist destination.[1][19]

On 8 October 2022, Tapsell was elected as Mayor, becoming the first Māori woman to be elected as Mayor of Rotorua.[2] She defeated fellow mayoral candidate Ben Sandford by almost 3,300 votes. She and her fellow councillors were sworn into office on 22 October.[20]

In September 2023, Tapsell was recognized in The New Zealand Herald's feature on the 130th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage as one of the most influential women in today’s society.[21]

### Housing and infrastructure

[edit]

In her first year as Mayor, Tapsell turned around a $5.6 million deficit and adopted an Annual Plan that stopped unnecessary spending and made investment in critical infrastructure a priority.[22] To help solve issues in the Rotorua community, Tapsell delivered an exit plan from emergency housing by signing a Rotorua Housing Accord with Central Government which reduced the use of Rotorua motels for emergency housing by around half and ensured more homes were being built for locals.[23] Within a month of being elected, Tapsell put forward a motion to reverse a decision of the previous Council to revoke the reserve status of seven Rotorua reserve sites for development. This was supported unanimously by the Council.[24]

In August 2023, following community feedback, Tapsell and Councillors also voted to restore and reopen the Rotorua Museum – Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa.[25]

In July 2024, Tapsell supported the Sixth National Government's new housing growth plan as a means of addressing the housing shortage.[26] By late July 2024, Tapsell had credited her policies with achieving a 60% reduction in emergency housing motels. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development also confirmed that it intended to stop referring people to emergency housing in Rotorua by July 2024.[27]

### Law and order

[edit]

To address community safety concerns in Rotorua, Tapsell advocated for an Inner City Community Safety Hub and officially opened this in November 2023 in partnership with Police.[28]

As Mayor of Rotorua, Tapsell invested NZ$1 million in various anti-crime measures including CCTV cameras, increasing the Police presence on streets and a community hub that combined the resources of Police, the Lakes Council, Māori Wardens, private security and community safety volunteers.[29]

### Financial management

[edit]

On 1 November 2024, the Rotorua Lakes Council's 2024 Annual Report gave the council a stable outlook, with an AA- credit rating and an operating surplus of $2.2 million.[30]

### Māori wards

[edit]

In late February 2023, Tapsell and a majority of the Rotorua Lakes Councillors voted to withdraw their support from the proposed Rotorua Lakes Council local bill, which would have increased the number of Māori wards on the Council.[31]

In early September 2024, Tapsell and a majority of her fellow councillors voted to hold a binding referendum on its three-member Māori ward during the 2025 New Zealand local elections. While Tapsell had voted against the introduction of Māori wards in 2021, she said that "they shouldn't be forcibly removed due to a Government. I believe in local decision-making and am happy to support retaining them."[32]

### Community engagement

[edit]

In mid February 2023, Tapsell and the majority of the Rotorua Lakes Council voted to progress a submissions policy that would allow the Council to reject public submissions that were deemed offensive, discriminatory or contained personal threats. Tapsell said that there had been a significant increase in offensive submissions. The submissions policy was criticised by Councillors Robert Lee, Conan O'Brien and Don Patterson on free speech grounds. In response, the New Zealand Free Speech Union warned that it would take legal action against the Council.[33]

In mid July 2024, Tapsell expressed concerns that a Council proposal to introduce public forums "could be weaponised or used by people to have a rant." Councillor Robert Lee had proposed establishing public forums during a June 2024 meeting with the Council asking Lakes Council chief executive Andrew Moraes to conduct research on the idea. Since 2000, the Lakes Council had never hosted public forums. By contrast, 85% of local councils have hosted public forums.[34]

### International issues

[edit]

In late July 2024, Tapsell attracted media attention after blocking Councillor Trevor Maxwell from asking why two notices of motions including one by Councillor Lani Kereopa calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Both motions had been declined because Lake Council staff had deemed them not to be council business. When Maxwell asked why the motions had been declined, Tapsell refused to discuss the matter and insisted that it was outside council business. Maxwell expressed disappointment. The exchange was filmed and posted on Instagram. Following the incident, Tapsell defended her response and reiterated her commitment to "delivering" for the community.[35][36]

In late August 2024, Tapsell signed a friendship agreement between Rotorua and Taiwan's Pingtung County's Magistrate Chou Chun-mi.[37]

## Personal life

[edit]

Tapsell married Kanin Clancy on 1 December 2020.[38] With him she has a stepson named Kaiarahi. On 10 March 2023, Tapsell announced that they were expecting a baby girl in June. On 2 June she gave birth to Kahumoa at Rotorua Hospital, making her the second mayor in New Zealand to give birth while in office.[39][40]

Her iwi are Te Arawa and Ngāti Whakaue, and she has Danish ancestry as a descendent of Phillip Tapsell.[41][42] She is the great niece of former Labour MP and Speaker of the House Sir Peter Tapsell.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Desmarais, Felix (10 May 2022). "Tania Tapsell to stand for mayor of Rotorua Lakes Council". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022.
2. ^ a b "Tania Tapsell elected Rotorua mayor". Te Ao Māori News. Whakaata Māori. 8 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
3. ^ a b c d "Young face at the council table". University of Waikato. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022.
4. ^ a b Taipari, Greg (10 December 2013). "Te Maori: Another brick in success wall". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023.
5. ^ a b "Tania Tapsell National's new candidate for East Coast". New Zealand National Party. 6 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024.
6. ^ "Certificate holders – local body elected members". Ministry for the Environment. 17 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
7. ^ "Island setting for green' lesson". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
8. ^ Bathgate, Benn (12 October 2019). "19-year-old Rotorua councillor' stunned by election result". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023.
9. ^ Tyson, Jessica (8 June 2020). "Tapsell felt a moral obligation to step forward as National candidate". Te Ao Māori News. Whakaata Māori. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023.
10. ^ Desmarais, Felix (21 May 2021). "Rotorua Lakes Council adopts Māori wards". RNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023.
11. ^ Sparks, Zizi (16 March 2019). "Rotorua students leave school to strike for climate change". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023.
12. ^ Wrigley, Wynsley (20 August 2020). "Meet the candidates". Gisborne Herald. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023.
13. ^ "Local councillor's national role". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
14. ^ Braae, Alex (16 August 2020). "The youngest in the room: Meet National's 28-year-old East Coast candidate". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024.
15. ^ Sparks, Zizi (17 October 2020). "Election 2020: National's Tania Tapsell loses East Coast electorate". Rotorua Daily Post. New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023.
16. ^ "Bells ring for Tapsell campaign close". Waatea News. 21 October 2020. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023.
17. ^ Edwards, Bryce (16 March 2022). "Behind Simon Bridges' shock departure, and what comes next". Stuff. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
18. ^ Sheridan, Dan (5 April 2022). "'It won't be me': Tapsell rules herself out of Tauranga race". Stuff. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023.
19. ^ a b "Tania Tapsell launches Rotorua mayoral bid, saying city needs to get back on track fast". Stuff. 1 August 2022. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
20. ^ "New Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell sworn into role at inaugural meeting". Radio New Zealand. 21 October 2022. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
21. ^ "Suffrage 130: 30 NZ women we admire". The New Zealand Herald. 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
22. ^ "Annual Plan reflects feedback and investment to support the community". Rotorua Lakes Council. 28 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
23. ^ "Building a better housing and urban future for Rotorua, together". www.beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
24. ^ "Council reverses decision to revoke reserve status of Rotorua sites". RNZ. 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
25. ^ "Rotorua council decides fate of iconic museum building". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
26. ^ Smith, Laura (8 July 2024). "Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell welcomes government housing growth plan". Te Ao Māori News. Whakaata Māori. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
27. ^ ""We care about this place": How Rotorua turned itself around". Newstalk ZB. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
28. ^ "Inner City Community Safety Hub up and running – Rotorua Lakes Council". Rotorua Lakes Council. 20 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
29. ^ "$1m investment pays off with sharp drop in crime in Rotorua - mayor". RNZ. 21 June 2024. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
30. ^ Smith, Laura (1 November 2024). "Rotorua Lakes Council approves annual report detailing finances, wins and non-achievements". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
31. ^ Smith, Laura (1 March 2023). "'Done and dusted': controversial Rotorua representation bill confirmed as scrapped". Rotorua Daily Post. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
32. ^ Smith, Laura (2 September 2024). "Rotorua Lakes Council to hold binding Māori ward poll at 2025 election". Waikato Times. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
33. ^ "Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell pushes back on submissions saga amid legal threat". Rotorua Daily Post. 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
34. ^ Smith, Laura (23 July 2024). "Public forums could be 'weaponised' – Mayor". RNZ. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
35. ^ Perese, Daniel; Te Wake, Whatiri (31 July 2024). "Rotorua mayor and councillor's dispute goes viral but what happened?". Te Ao Māori News. Whakaata Māori. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
36. ^ Smith, Laura (1 August 2024). "Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell faces backlash for 'shut down' of veteran councillor Trevor Maxwell". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
37. ^ Thomson, Jono (28 August 2024). "Rotorua forges new links with Taiwan". Asia Media Centre. Asia New Zealand Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
38. ^ Makiha, Kelly (5 June 2021). "Rotorua district councillor Tania Tapsell weds Kanin Clancy in secret mountain-top wedding". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023.
39. ^ Rawling, Caitlin (10 March 2023). "Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell pregnant with baby girl". Newshub. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023.
40. ^ Smith, Laura (8 June 2023). "Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell delivers baby girl and announces unique name". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023.
41. ^ Ogden, Gavin (29 September 2020). "Local Focus: Who is Tania Tapsell, National candidate for East Coast?". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024.
42. ^ "Tapsell whanau's Danish story revealed". Waatea News. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023.