Returning mayor Tania Tapsell raised the most money and spent the most in her bid to get re-elected.

Candidates for Rotorua Lakes Council had until December 10 to return their donations and expenses declarations.

Tapsell’s campaign received $26,000 in donations and recorded expenses of $15,217, according to her electoral returns.

Two separate $10,000 donations came from Red Stag Timber chief executive Marty Verry and property builders the Stonewood Group.

Smaller donations of $2000 were received from electricity company Unison, the Prince’s Gate Hotel and a personal donor, Ansheng Cheng.

Most of Tapsell’s spending went on signage and advertising, along with equipment, photography, a website domain, venues and events.

While the highest spend of any candidate in last year’s election, it was well below the $24,279 she spent in her successful 2022 mayoral campaign.

Tapsell said she was “very humbled” by the support for her re-election.

While previous councillor campaigns were largely self-funded, she said stepping up to mayoral runs required “bigger campaigns” and donations were “invaluable”.

“It’s up to each individual candidate how seriously they wish to take it,” Tapsell said when asked whether her superior funding contributed to her success.

“It’s in my nature to do the best job I possibly can when I commit to and care about things, and we can never take anything for granted.”

She said the excess $10,800 funding would be put aside for any future campaigns, with the support of her donors.

As for potential conflicts of interest, Tapsell said none of the donors had current business interests with the council, and she followed the strict rules.

“I’m always clear with any large donors that there are no strings attached,” she said.

“It’s important my community knows I’m here to act in their best interest, and that’s what I will always do.”

In contrast to Tapsell’s spend, several successful candidates spent little to nothing at all.

New Zealand’s longest-serving councillor, Trevor Maxwell was one of three successful candidates who spent nothing on their campaign. Photo / Alan Gibson

Three councillors, deputy mayor Sandra Kai Fong, Gregg Brown and Trevor Maxwell, reported no campaign spending and received no donations, relying instead on name recognition to secure re-election.

Two unsuccessful mayoral challengers, who retained their council seats, reported higher costs.

Robert Lee spent $7166 on signage, advertising, photography, a web domain and equipment, while Don Paterson spent $4272 on advertising, signage and printing. Both campaigns were self-funded.

First-term councillor Ben Sandford spent $3836 without receiving any donations.

Fisher Wang spent $1886 on signage and flyers, while Te Rika Temara-Benfell spent $1462 to win a Māori ward seat, also without donations.

Rural ward councillor Karen Barker, who ran unopposed, spent $330 on meet-and-greet events in Horohoro and Reporoa.

Despite the second-highest spend, former councillor Conan O'Brien failed to win re-election. Photo / Laura Smith

Former councillor Conan O’Brien recorded the second-highest campaign spend overall, at $9188, but was not elected.

Under the Local Electoral Act 2001, candidates have 55 days from the day after election day to file a donations and expenses declaration, even if no money was raised or spent.

Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $1000, with an additional penalty of up to $400 per day if the candidate is elected.

Seven candidates submitted their returns after the December 10 deadline, including returning Māori ward councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, who confirmed she spent $300 on signage.

“I completely forgot,” she said. Following the prompt from Local Democracy Reporting, Raukawa-Tait confirmed she hand-delivered the form.

Rotorua councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait forgot to return her form in time. Photo / Supplied

Mayoral candidate Haehaetu Barrett and departing Māori ward councillor Rawiri Waru had now also filed their returns, while Rotorua Lakes Community Board member Peter MacMillan was unwell and expected to submit his late, according to Rotorua election officer Warwick Lampp.

Returns from general ward candidates Jared Adams, Neville Raethel and Jason Monahan remain outstanding.

“We will be chasing up the rest next week,” Lampp said.

The trio could find themselves in trouble as Lampp confirmed this would be a final reminder before referral to the police.

“It is the job of the police to follow them up and take further action if they see fit,” he said.

But this appeared unlikely as Lampp confirmed he had “never seen” a prosecution for the offence.

Rotorua Lakes Council 2025 election campaign spend:

• Mayor Tania Tapsell - $15,217
• Robert Lee - $7166
• Don Paterson - $4272
• Ben Sandford - $3836
• Fisher Wang - $1886
• Te Rika Temara-Benfell - $1462
• Karen Barker - $330
• Merepeka Raukawa-Tait - $300 (pending)
• Sandra Kai Fong - $0
• Gregg Brown - $0
• Trevor Maxwell - $0

Mathew Nash is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. He has previously written for SunLive, been a regular contributor to RNZ and was a football reporter in the UK for eight years.

- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.