Rotorua

Before the 1999 election, Labour had not won in Rotorua for 39 years. But midwife and former district councillor Steve Chadwick led Labour to victory and looks likely to do so again this year.

Chadwick, who captured 49.7 per cent of the electorate vote last time - 4978 votes ahead of National's Max Bradford - is confident of extending her majority.

Unlike former Rotorua MPs, says the 54-year-old, she has not had ministerial portfolios to distract her from electorate work.

She is relying on a solid reputation to return her to Parliament.

National's collapse in 1999 was largely due to a battle for the party's candidacy between Bradford and Paul East, which split supporters.

Following Bradford's retirement, National's new candidate, Malcolm Short, is having to work hard to repair the damage.



He is likely to gain additional support from this year's boundary changes, which will return the farming communities of Reporoa, Broadlands and Ngakuru to the electorate.

Concerns over crime, GM, health and education funding have dominated candidates' campaigns.

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