"But it is certainly disappointing that more people don't take the chance to have a say on who will represent them on our council for the next three years.
"The services the council provides to residents have a real impact on every one of us from the minute we wake up until we go to bed - things like water, sewerage, roads, footpaths, stormwater, rubbish collection, parks, playgrounds, bus shelters, streetlights, museums, libraries, food and liquor licensing, civil defence and much more."
He said there was still time to vote.
"Please exercise your democratic right to have a say in who your mayor will be and who will represent you on the council.
"Your vote can make a difference."
The way people vote will change for the next election, with the introduction of electronic voting.
"The next local election in 2016 will, for the first time, provide an online voting option.
"Given the success of a web-based online option for the recent 2013 census count, we are hopeful this might help increase the number of people who vote," he said.
The best and safest place to make a last minute vote in Rotorua's elections is at the Rotorua District Council customer centre. The council building is the only the place where you can make a special vote if, for one reason or another, you did not post your papers by Wednesday. Votes will be taken up to midday tomorrow.
To keep up-to-date with the election results on Saturday afternoon, log in to our website www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz. We will publish all results online, with commentary and reaction.