Tania Tapsell

Tania Tapsell, of Te Arawa iwi, is the first Māori woman to be elected as Mayor of Rotorua. She leads a council responsible for more than $2.5 billion in community assets. As Mayor, Tania has prioritised improving community safety, strengthening council finances, supporting sustainable economic growth, protecting Rotorua’s natural environment, and positioning Rotorua as a top tourism destination. 

Tania has served 13 years in local government after being elected at 21 years old and was Chairperson of Council’s Operations & Monitoring Committee at that time. She has also worked in tourism and top finance firms, BNZ Business Partners and Deloitte. Tania is a qualified Resource Management Commissioner, has a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato, and Diplomas in Business and Marketing.

A strong advocate for community voice and local leadership, Tania was recently elected to the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) National Council as the Provincial Sector Representative. The National Council serves as the governing body of LGNZ, setting strategic direction and guiding policy on behalf of local government across New Zealand.