17 April 2024
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: MHUD intention to apply for two more years on motel consents for emergency housing
Enquiry
I have received a copy of Carolyne Hall's letter she has sent to you and Rotorua MP Todd McClay regarding MHUD's intention to apply for a two-year extension of the resource consents for 10 contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. (see her letter pasted below but I believe you have been sent it)
I have called Carolyne this morning and asked her to comment also. She said the residents feel "blindsided and betrayed".
Further to her letter she has said the following to me:
She said the residents feel "blindsided and betrayed".
"Chris Bishop came into this community with Todd McClay making big promises. Todd has gone to China on one of his trips and we haven't seen him since."
She said the meeting she had with McClay and Tapsell (earlier this year ? please correct me if I'm wrong), s"McClay did that thing when all he does is talk" and she believed since then nothing happened to improve the situation.
"That's what I get so upset about is feeling so undermined by the political narrative. We all walk past those motels and see the changing faces and the different cars and what's been happening as a result.
"Since coming into Government, what have they done? No one talks about the Housing Accord anymore.
"With the housing that's being built, it's exactly what the motels look like. We are going to be moving them to the same environment. All these saviours of Rotorua have gone under cover and we can't find them. That's betrayal."
- What do you think about what MHUD is seeking (the extension of resource consent)?
- Why do you believe the extension is required?
- What do you say to Carolyne's criticism? Do you understand her feelings?
- Everyone says there has been a decline in emergency housing numbers which is correct when you look at the overall numbers, but the latest Rotorua temporary housing dashboard for February shows there's been little change since the middle of last year and in fact there's been a slight an increase in numbers since the election in November. From January to Feb there are 21 more adults in contracted emergency housing and 33 more children. Considering this is one of the biggest issues you campaigned on in your mayoralty campaign, is that good enough?
- Will you meet with Carolyne?
Response
From Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell:
MHUD staff did not discuss this announcement with myself as Mayor, or with our Council, so it's also a shock to me and I understand and appreciate the community response.
In 2022, the previous Government’s Minister for Housing and Minister for Social Development committed to reducing the use of emergency housing in Rotorua to near zero as soon as possible. While improvements were made, our expectation was that we would see an end to emergency housing much sooner that what’s played out. Rotorua shouldn't have to suffer because the previous Government wasn’t able to deliver faster solutions.
This announcement also doesn't align with discussions I've had with current Ministers who want to end emergency housing in Rotorua as soon as possible. I will be meeting with them urgently to get more certainty for our community that this won’t negatively impact us.
It's beyond disappointing that MHUD is taking this action. Council has a regulatory function which is separate from our community advocacy function. If this does go ahead our regulatory function will be obliged to process the resource consents when we receive them.”
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: MHUD housing dashboard
Enquiry
could I ask [council General Manager District Development Jean-Paul Gaston] to give me a quick call please, not to be quoted, but just to explain a comment he made in a council meeting last week? I intend to quote him on what he said in the meeting but I'm just not following when I look at the February chart he's referring to. Chart link.
Community and district development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said at a committee meeting on Wednesday there was some new people who came into emergency housing in February and received the emergency housing SNG (grant for non-contracted emergency housing motels).
"It kind of reverses a trend we have had for probably the previous 12 months of a net decline."
Here's the meeting link: https://youtu.be/Bte_vVZtIsY?t=4477
Response:
Mr Gaston contacted the reporter to explain the comment he made at last week’s C&DD Committee meeting and talked the reporter through the HUD Housing Dashboard to give her a better understanding of the numbers.
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Media: Te Arawa FM
Topic: Workshop at library
Enquiry
Reporter contacted us to seek an interview with someone involved in a Pataka Whenua workshop being hosted at Rotorua library
Response
We referred the reporter to the Maori Land Court which is running the workshop – Pataka Whenua is the department’s online portal that enables people to search and access Maori land information.