Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick says the election results of the Te Arawa Partnership Board will help build stronger relationships between council and Te Arawa.

The results of the election were announced yesterday, revealing the 14 people who will make up the board.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick. Photo: Supplied.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick provisional results show there were nearly 3000 votes cast compared to the 300 votes cast in the last Te Arawa Standing Committee election just over five years ago.

There were 2839 votes, representing more than 25 per cent of the eligible voters.

'The increased interest by Te Arawa people throughout the entire engagement process has been encouraging,” she says.

'I know those leading the establishment of the partnership are generally pleased with how things have gone.”

Steve says the new board was a positive step forward for the Council and Te Arawa.

One of those elected Kingi Biddle agreed the new board was a great way to build for the future.

'I really see a powerful future for Rotorua as a whole. It is the idea for tatou, tatou (for all of us). We don't want to have our way. We just want to have our say.”

Kingi was the highest polling Ngati Whakaue candidate (1589 votes) and he was pleased to have been elected.

'I'm really happy to be able to get on to the board. I say that because the calibre [of those nominated] was awesome. Whatever the result it would have been a great board.”

The board includes a wide spectrum of Te Arawa people including the son of the late Te Arawa leader Mauriora Kingi.

Te Mauri Kingi is one of two people elected as a rangatahi (youth) representative. He received 1808 votes the most across all board members.

Work commitments has been cited for the late withdrawal by Aneta Morgn in the Te Arawa Hapu and iwi seats who has been replaced by Raina Meha-Rangitauira today.

Kingi says the partnership was voted through after a year in development, five days of hearings and more than 1800 submissions.

The board is made up of a cross-section of Te Arawa including koeke (elders), rangatahi, Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa hapu and iwi, Maori land trusts, incorporations and pan entities.

Two members of the board will be given voting rights on the council's two key committees - the Strategy, Policy and Finance committee, and Operations and Monitoring. The Council will be able to veto those appointments if it does not think they would be suitable.

Election results

Koeke (1 Seat)

Te Uru o Te Whetu (Fred) Whata (elected unopposed)

Te Arawa Iwi & Hapu (6 Seats)

Eraia Kiel - 1456

Gina Mohi - 1413

Potaua Biasiny-Tule - 1328

Te Taru White - 1245

Ngaroma (Mala) Grant - 1189

Raina Meha-Rangitauira - 1188

Non-elected candidates:

Aneta Morgan – 1395 (withdrawn)

Aroha Bray - 1163

Maramena Vercoe - 908

Michael Staite - 759

Harry H H Dixon - 582

Ngati Whakaue (2 Seats)

Kingi Biddle - 1589

Ana Morrison - 1250

Non-elected candidates

Rangitiaria Biddle - 756

Rene (Buncie) Mitchell - 731

Selwyn Insley - 528

Land Trusts and Incorporations (2 Seats)

David (Rawiri) Waru - 1582

Geoffrey Rolleston - 1558

Non-elected candidates

Bella Te Wairemana Tait - 1390

Pan Te Arawa Entities (1 Seat)

Eugene Berryman-Kamp - 953

Non-elected candidates

Alan Hamiora Skipwith - 904

Kahuariki Hancock - 661

Rangatahi (2 Seats)

Te Mauri Tait Kingi - 1808

Ngahuia Hona-Paku - 1525

Non-elected candidate

Dallas Hawe - 106