Nearly 2000 votes have so far been cast to decide who will be chosen for the Te Arawa Partnership Board.
Voting closes next Thursday for the 14 seats on the board that will work alongside the Rotorua Lakes Council.
After a year in development, more than 1800 submissions and five days of hearings, the council voted eight-five to adopt the partnership model this year.
A spokesman for the returning officer, Electionz.com, said yesterday 1920 votes, representing 17.3 per cent of eligible voters, had been received. Of those votes, 346 were submitted online with the remaining 1574 via post.
The board will consist of a cross-section of Te Arawa including koeke (elders), rangatahi (youth), Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa hapu and iwi, Maori land trusts, incorporations and pan entities.