The original electorate, which was formed through the 1918 electoral redistribution, had a long coastline along the Bay of Plenty, and incorporated, beside Rotorua, the towns and villages of Whakatane, Taupo, Tokoroa, Putaruru, Mangakino, Edgecumbe, Taneatua, and Murupara. In the 1922 electoral redistribution, the electorate lost some area to the electorate, and a larger area to the electorate. The 1927 electoral redistribution saw Rotorua become landlocked, with the electorate taking the coastline including Taneatua and Edgecumbe, and Whakatane going to the Bay of Plenty electorate. The electorate moved south and took in Lake Taupo, with Turangi just beyond the southern boundary located in the electorate. The electorate also grew in the north-west, gaining the town of Matamata.