Rotorua has an unusual history, as the town was built by the Government as a tourist destination in the 1880s.

[5] The inaugural elections for mayor were held in February 1923 and Cecil Clinkard was successful.

[11] Since then, the district has been known as Rotorua Lakes[clarification needed] and the council's web domain changed from www.rdc.govt.nz to rotorualakescouncil.nz.

Rotorua Lakes covers 2,409 square kilometres (930 sq mi).

Adjacent districts (in a clockwise direction starting in the north) are Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatāne, Taupō, and South Waikato.

The Waikato portion includes the settlements of Waiotapu, Reporoa, Broadlands, Mihi, Waikite Valley, Ngakuru, and Ātiamuri.

The results were 61.6% European (Pākehā); 43.5% Māori; 6.4% Pasifika; 10.1% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

Of those at least 15 years old, 8,565 (14.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 32,001 (55.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 14,844 (25.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications.