Todd McClay sets out his first priority after re-election as Rotorua MP

Todd McClay says advancing a plan to turn Rotorua’s QE site into a health hub is high on his list of priorities after winning re-election. In an interview with the Rotorua Daily Post, the National MP described the proposal as one of the first matters he wants to progress during his first 100 days. McClay said Rotorua Hospital needs as many as four new theatres for elective surgery. Building them within the existing hospital would be difficult, costly and time-consuming, he said, making the QE proposal an alternative he wants to pursue. The article ends before giving further details about the plan. McClay won the Rotorua seat by 5,301 votes over Labour candidate Fisher Wang in the count reported on election night. That margin was smaller than his 8,923-vote lead in 2023, but McClay said he had a clear mandate to continue representing the electorate. Special votes were still to be counted, although the report said they were not expected to change the result. His victory was celebrated by around 60 supporters and volunteers at Rotorua’s Pullman Hotel, alongside family members including his mother, Dawn, and his fiancée, Anna Lillis. During his victory speech, McClay also paid tribute to his parents. The election night marked one year since the death of his father, Roger McClay, who had been a politician and Children’s Commissioner. McClay said he had visited his father’s grave with family after voting in Reporoa. Lillis described working alongside him during the campaign as a fantastic experience, saying he remained busy, energetic and committed to the role after 18 years. The day after the election, McClay was due to meet National leader Christopher Luxon and other senior MPs in Auckland to discuss the government’s next steps. The article also notes that coalition parties National, ACT and New Zealand First held a slim majority while special votes awaited the official count.