24 Oct 2025: Blue Baths, homeless
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Blue Baths
Enquiry
To RLC org:
Sorry, I didn't really seek clarification on something earlier that I wanted to.
Was wondering why nothing has happened with the Blue Baths since 2021? Regarding strengthening work, like what has happened at the Museum, or demolishing, if considered too costly.
Obviously, I understand why it is not in use as council deemed it a safety risk considering seismic results.
Was more just wondering why it has seemed to sit stagnant, other than the monthly checks you previously mentioned?
Is it possible to get a response to this today. We are looking to get this story off the books before the long weekend?
To Mayor:
We briefly touched on the Blue Baths at a recent meeting and I am utilising some of that in an ongoing story about earthquake rule changes and their impact in Rotorua for council and non-council buildings.
I was just looking for clarity on one thing regarding the Blue Baths? Essentially, why has nothing happened with them since 2021? No strengthening work? Demolishing? Even general upkeep?
Obviously, I understand why it is not in use as council deemed it a safety risk considering seismic results.
Was more just wondering why it has seemed to sit stagnant, other than monthly checks?
Response
From RLC org:
Council has been focussed on other priorities since the Blue Baths were closed. Future options will form part of work currently underway on a facilities strategy that may be considered as part of the next long-term plan.
From Mayor Tapsell:
"I've heard and understand the important connections and memories that our community have to this iconic building.
“While I respect that changes to building regulations were to improve safety concerns there's no doubt this has added significant cost to public and private property and at times meant building closures.
“Right now we have been focused on and determined to finish the major Museum rebuild on time and on budget which I'm pleased to say is going well so far.
“To be very honest the initial investigations regarding the Blue Baths show that re-opening or re-developing will be difficult not only structurally but also due to the geothermal activity directly underneath the building.
“It's important that in any future decisions we consider safety and also cost impacts for the ratepayers that we represent.
“To assist in good decision making for now and the future we've had work underway to understand the condition and cost of all of our facilities to plan better for any necessary repairs or maintenance.
“Once our wider facilities strategy and also Museum rebuild is completed we can turn our attention to the Blue Baths and future options.
“I've also secured a meeting with Minister of Building and Construction, Hon Chris Penk to better understand if government policy changes will assist in reducing cost of restoring earthquake prone buildings for us locally in Rotorua and look forward to discussing this further in the near future."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: The SpinOff
Topic: Homelessness
Enquiry
Following an interview with Mayor Tapsell about homelessness last week, The SpinOff had follow-up questions. Responses to these and additional information requested during the interview were provided:
The interviewer had asked who RLC had been in contact with at the Salvation Army as she was told they were not aware of the intention to trespass people from outside their premise.
Follow up questions:
- Just checking, does this statement relate only to the trespass operation in June? As I mentioned, the Salvation Army says there was another trespass operation that happened on the Pukuatua Street side of the building a month or two ago. It would be good to know if this statement about the Army not wanting to help and the date and time not being shared with them applies to just the first or both operations.
- Are you also able to tell me the dates of previous council trespass operations focussed on rough sleepers? My understanding is that in the last few years there has been one trespass operation in Kuirau Park, one at Sulphur Point, and two outside the Salvation Army building - one on the Amohia Street side and the other on the Pukutatua Street side. If there have been any more I'd like to know the dates and details of these too please.
Follow up question: Just so I'm clear, can you tell me who carried out the trespass the Salvation Army says happened on the Pukuatua Street side of the building in Sept? (I don't have an exact date, sorry). Do you know if it was it the Guardians or police?
Follow up question: In our interview, the mayor suggested that the figure of $1.8m a year on inner-city security may no longer be accurate. Are you able to tell me how much it's costing the council to have the Safe City Guardians and VR Security do their patrols per year?
During the interview the reporter asked why Council hadn’t taken up Watchdog Security’s offer of providing inner city security services for free.
Response
Re who had RLC been in contact with at the Salvation Army as she was told they were not aware of the intention to trespass people from outside their premise.
Info provided: Our community safety team had been in conversations with Darnielle Hoods from the Salvation Army. Salvation Army knew we needed to stop the homeless congregating outside their premises (either by encouragement or trespass) due to the impact their behaviour was having on businesses in the area. Council was hoping the Salvation Army would assist us with this as landlords but they didn’t want to be involved. Therefore we could only trespass from footpaths as per our bylaws. For the operation to be effective, the date and time wasn’t shared widely and not directly with the Salvation Army.
Follow up questions:
- Just checking, does this statement relate only to the trespass operation in June? As I mentioned, the Salvation Army says there was another trespass operation that happened on the Pukuatua Street side of the building a month or two ago. It would be good to know if this statement about the Army not wanting to help and the date and time not being shared with them applies to just the first or both operations.
- Are you also able to tell me the dates of previous council trespass operations focussed on rough sleepers? My understanding is that in the last few years there has been one trespass operation in Kuirau Park, one at Sulphur Point, and two outside the Salvation Army building - one on the Amohia Street side and the other on the Pukutatua Street side. If there have been any more I'd like to know the dates and details of these too please.
Info provided: There has only been one Council-led trespass operation to date. If we began to see concentrated issues around the Salvation Army location again, we’d re-engage with them about a solution.
On 5 July 2025, Police trespassed six individuals from Kuirau Park following ongoing antisocial behaviour associated with rough sleepers camping in the area. All efforts to engage, provide referrals for support services, and encourage voluntary relocation had been exhausted prior to enforcement action being taken. Following the trespass, the group relocated to the area outside the Salvation Army on Amohia Street, where they were subsequently trespassed as well. The trespasses outside the Salvation Army on 11 June 2025 remain the only Council-led trespass operation to date specifically targeting rough sleeping activity.
Any other trespasses have been carried out on a case-by-case basis and only when required due to antisocial behaviour or breaches of bylaws. These actions have not been part of any formal Council or Police-led operations. Police and the Guardians work closely together when enforcement is considered, ensuring the behaviour reaches a threshold that justifies trespass action and that all options for education and encouragement have been fully exhausted beforehand.
Follow up question: Just so I'm clear, can you tell me who carried out the trespass the Salvation Army says happened on the Pukuatua Street side of the building in Sept? (I don't have an exact date, sorry). Do you know if it was it the Guardians or police?
Info provided: We didn’t trespass anyone from that area in Sept. There had been some issues with individuals sleeping in the entrance way of the Salvation Army store as this was encroaching on a fire exit of the parking building next door which created a safety issue. There was also antisocial behaviour taking place in the stairwell of the parking building. Some people were trespassed from this area as a result (after the usual process of educate and encourage them to move on, engage with services etc had been followed). This was done by Guardians. These trespasses were not on any one day though and took place over July/August. Our staff had spoken with the Salvation Army about moving people on from this space.
Follow up question: In our interview, the mayor suggested that the figure of $1.8m a year on inner-city security may no longer be accurate. Are you able to tell me how much it's costing the council to have the Safe City Guardians and VR Security do their patrols per year?
Info provided: Currently Safe City Guardian and VR Security patrols cost approximately $950K per annum
During the interview the reporter asked why Council hadn’t taken up Watchdog Security’s offer of providing inner city security services for free.
The following clarification on this was provided after the interview: We used a security firm significantly for over two years prior to developing our Community Safety Plan in partnership with Police and other community organisations. This Plan moved away from the traditional approach of using security guards on patrol (previously Watchdog Security) to a mobile service combined with Safe City Guardians and CCTV monitoring. We’ve seen better results, reduced crime, reduced costs, and have been able to cover a greater area with this approach. Watchdog has since proposed we contract them to provide safety and security services and that this would be more cost effective for council. However on looking into the proposal this would have reduced the level of service re foot patrols, CCTV camera operation, and the area being covered and would also have reverted to the set up prior to our Community Safety Plan which had been less effective. This service wasn’t offered to council free of charge nor was it done through an appropriate procurement process.
