Mayor's baby bliss 'I CAN DO IT ALL!'

Rotorua's Tania Tapsell is overjoyed motherhood is also on the agenda

- Kasia Jillings

At 14, Tania Tapsell was chosen for the Rotorua Youth Council, at 21, she was the then-youngest councillor ever elected and in October 2022, at the age of 30, she convincingly won the local body elections to become the first Māori mayor of Rotorua – the same week she also discovered she was pregnant.

“It was a hugely significant time for me and my family,” shares Tania, smiling. “Not only did I become the mayor, but it’s also the same week my husband and I were left a bit speechless when we looked at the two lines pop up on the pregnancy test.

“We were so overwhelmed with joy when I placed it in front of him. When you look at the photos on election week, people understand now my extra-big smile was not only because I was the new mayor but because I was also about to become a mother too.”

The young trailblazer has always had her sights set on leadership and politics runs in the blood. Her great-uncle Sir Peter Tapsell was the first Māori Speaker of the House and her great-grandfather Frederick Bennett was the first Māori Bishop of New Zealand.

“As a little girl, my aspirations were to be the first Māori Prime Minister,” tells Tania, who’s incredibly grateful to her whānau for their unwavering support since she first ran for council 10 years ago.

“I remember at the time sharing my concerns with my mum that I wasn’t sure if people would vote for me because I’m young, a woman and Māori. She looked me dead in the eye and told me that’s exactly why I need to be there.”

Since then, Tania has thrived and never once considered becoming a mum would hinder her career.