Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell shares joys and challenges of motherhood and leadership

Tania Tapsell, the mayor of Rotorua, balances her role with being a first-time mother to 18-month-old Kahumoa. Elected in October 2022, she discovered her pregnancy the same week and committed to both responsibilities. Tapsell describes her journey as joyful but acknowledges the challenges of managing her time. She emphasizes the importance of family, stating she prioritizes her daughter's needs while fulfilling her duties as mayor. Despite the stress of her dual roles, Tapsell maintains a flexible approach to her work. She values the moments spent with her daughter and aims to instill the values she was raised with.