Tauranga will get its first city council since 2021. Photo: RNZ/Libby Kirkby-McLeod
Nominations are set to close for Tauranga's first local body election in nearly five years.
The last council was sacked by then-local government minister Nanaia Mahuta in February 2021 and replaced with commissioners after a public breakdown of relations between elected members.
Locals spoken to by RNZ welcomed the election but hoped that those who won could take the city forward.
They also hoped the council did not return to in-fighting and inertia.
None of the locals spoken to would give their surnames.
In Tauriko, a fast-growing suburb on the south-west edge of Tauranga, Dwayne said he was glad the city would be getting some fresh leadership.
"I think this city needs a big shake up, in terms of investment and getting things moving. Things are just too slow, the economy could be booming here, but there's just too much red tape," he said.
Dwayne is glad the city will be getting new leaders. Photo: RNZ/Libby Kirkby-McLeod
Diane said she had one main concern for the the new council to address.
"It would be housing, that's the main thing isn't it? Housing and roads."
In Mount Maunganui, Bruce was also concerned with where people were living, saying homelessness was a big problem.
"There's a lot of them. I'm not sure if it's a housing problem but there's a lot of people living in their cars," he said.
In Tauranga's city centre, Clive said he was very interested in how the election panned out.
Clive says he hopes the elected officials get on with each other. Photo: RNZ/Libby Kirkby-McLeod
"I just hope that all the elected officials get on with each other, and we don't go back to the situation we've had in the last few years," he said.
Clive said the commissioners had done an OK job at looking after the city.
"The main thing I think from the commissioners' point of view is they have made decisions quickly."
He said the previous council was fractured and elected members would not shift on positions, which made it frustrating for residents.
Given a list of candidates standing for mayor, most people recognised only one or two.
However, one name seemed to be cutting through with voters: Mahé Drysdale.
Former deputy mayor Tina Salisbury was also a name with which people were familiar, as was singer-songwriter Ria Hall.
Tauranga City Council said more than one person had put their name forward to stand in each ward so an election for all was guaranteed.
Postal voting starts at the end of June.