4 Feb 2025: Rotorua growth and school roles, motel conditions

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Rotorua growth and school rolls

Enquiry

I'm writing a story about the provisional school roll data for Rotorua. I spoke with the Westbrook School principal as this school had the second highest provisional increase of students for 2025 tied with RBHS (61 students).

The Westbrook School principal was concerned about a “lack of planning” by the Ministry of Education for what he said was more than 700 homes planned to be built in the school's catchment area in the next 3-5 years.

“I’ve been to council, I’ve seen the plans, I’ve taken those plans to the Ministry of Education, we’ve sat down and had a conversation about how are we going to manage, over time, the children in those new houses and which schools are they going to go to because we are pretty full."

I have contacted MOE for right of response but was hoping to get confirmation from the council about more than 700 homes planned for the area/any info you can share about this?

The reporter subsequently clarified the following:

The Westbrook School catchment area covers: Devon St West, Pukehangi Rd, Sunset Rd and part of Fordlands and halfway down Malfroy Rd towards Malfroy Primary.

I was told there are 20 houses being built in Matipo Avenue and a subdivision of about 350 sections closer to Blomfield St in Pukehangi.

I have been told the other 350 homes is for the subdivision planned for the top end of Malfroy Road on the other side of Pukehangi Road,

Response

We provided the following information:

Here is what we know about development in the area:

• About 145 houses under construction in the Collie Drive/Diamond Street area
• Freedom Lifestyle Village currently under construction – 197 dwellings but this development is for those aged 55 and over

Note to reporter it is unclear if this is part of the 700 homes you mention. But here is a link to a story RDP wrote about the development

• The Pukehangi Heights land (which is the area in the map you provided) and includes Matipo Heights has capacity for about 700 homes however with the exception of 33 lots that are consented and where earthworks are underway there are no further consents to develop additional residential and we understand delivery of those homes is likely to occur over a period of 5-15 years.

As part of the development of the Future Development Strategy and through the plan change for Pukehangi Rotorua Lakes Council engaged with the Ministry of Education and they are aware of the anticipated growth in our city. It’s important to note that these types of developments take time to come to fruition. However, we will continue to inform the Ministry when we have certainty about developments proceeding.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Media: Stuff

Topic: Condition of motel

Enquiry

I am getting in touch regarding a motel that a customer has said has mould and is unclean, causing them to be hospitalised. It is the Greenview motel on Fenton Street.

When was the last time Greenview motel was inspected?

What was the result of that inspection?

How often is it inspected?

How many complaints have you had about the property in the last 12 months?

Response

We provided the following information:

Rotorua Lakes Council has no legal ability to proactively inspect accommodation providers for quality. However, if council receives complaints relating to specific safety or health issues at a property, we may be able to act under the provisions of the Building Act and/or Health Act.

Our records show we received only one complaint for Greenview Motel in the last 12 months. This was a health complaint on 30 August 2024, regarding poor hygiene and sanitation issues. An EHO inspection was carried out and no hygiene or sanitation issues were found.