Progress results show Rotorua voters have also elected a new mayor.
About 98% of votes have been counted and former Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick has 10999 votes, which is a clear majority over incumbent Kevin Winters who has 4518 votes.
Steve Chadwick. Photo: LABOUR PARTY
Ms Chadwick will be Rotorua's first woman mayor.
Ms Chadwick says there's a clear message the town has been very flat and needs to grow again. She says valuable businesses can be attracted through Rotorua's geothermal assets.
Listen to Steve Chadwick