At first glance, it looks a case of the last shall be first and the first shall be last as councillor salary scales appear to be set in Rotorua.

For Raj Kumar, the second highest poller at the October 12 local body elections with 9962 votes, will receive the base salary of $55,000, while deputy mayor Dave Donaldson, ninth out of 10 with 6317 supporters, tops the scale with a total package of $100,000.

Neither Raj nor his Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers confrere Peter Bentley and Reynold Macpherson have been allocated positions of responsibility.

While all three registered well in the court of public opinion, this popularity has not translated to mayoral favour.

The trio will each earn the bottom rung $55,000 in each of their three years.

Dave Donaldson's $45,000 above base salary encompasses his deputy mayoral role with lead appointments in economic development and sustainable environment.

Dave Donaldson.

Sitting above Ray, Peter and Reynold is 19-year-old Fisher Wang. Appointed lead in climate change, Fisher will be entitled to $70,750, signalling a glimpse into the future.

Alongside Fisher with the same salary and category of future councils is Mercia Yates (operations and monitoring committee deputy chair, lead arts and culture) with a salary of $70,750.

In this bracket is former deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell, cultural ambassador and the lead in arts and culture.

The major winners, dare we say beneficiaries, are Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (chair strategy, policy and finance; lead four wellbeings) at $83,042 while third term councillor, Tania Tapsell, is in the same council income as operations and monitoring chair along with responsibilities in liveable communities and housing.

New councillor Sandra Kai Fong has also scored well as deputy chair of the strategy, policy and finance committee with lead roles in economic development and sport and recreation. Her package comes to $70,750.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick's salary package arrives at 41 cents above $138,000.