7 Nov 2025: fatal crash, shopping trolleys

Media: Mediaworks

Topic: Fatal crash involving bus

Enquiry

Reporter requested comment from RLC about a crash on Te Ngae Rd last night, involving a car and a bus in which one occupant in the car died and two others, also occupants of the car, were critically injured.

Response

From Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell:

Any loss of life on our roads is a tragedy and we offer our condolences to the family of the person who has passed away and hope for a speedy recovery for the others who were critically injured.

Our community is really feeling for the children on the bus as this was no doubt a shocking and scary incident for them. We're relieved to hear that they are all okay and I want to give a massive thank you to our emergency services and first responders for supporting those involved in this accident.

There has been a lot of investment by NZTA in recent years to upgrade this part of the state highway network in our district to cater for more traffic and improve safety.

We don’t have details about how this crash occurred but we would urge drivers to always take care, particularly as we head into the busier summer holiday period.

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Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Shopping trolley collections

Enquiry

I saw the other day that Kmart have introduced a $1 deposit system to reduce trolley theft from their stores, including in Rotorua.

The timing is interesting considering how soon it followed the recent waste bylaw changes regarding trolley collection, storage and return to retailers.

I have a few questions below. Would be great if a response could be possible by tomorrow morning. Please advise if that timeline is unlikely.

Questions below

• Will council still collect Kmart trollies?
• Were council aware Kmart were going to take this approach?
• Have any other retailers stated they are likely to implement a similar system to Kmart?
• Was any consideration given to enforcing deposited trolley as well as or instead of the new waste bylaw?
• Any numbers on how many trolleys collected by council so far?
• Any numbers on how many collected by retailers so far?
• If no numbers, perhaps a comment on how the system has been going in ints first few weeks?

Do you believe Kmart’s system can reduce trolley abandonment?

Response

We provided the following information:

Will council still collect Kmart trollies?

Yes, if left abandoned, as per the updated bylaw.

Were council aware Kmart were going to take this approach?

No but it’s great to see them taking this initiative to help curb the problem.

Have any other retailers stated they are likely to implement a similar system to Kmart?

None have notified Council but we would be happy to see that happening.

Was any consideration given to enforcing deposited trolley as well as or instead of the new waste bylaw?

Yes, we received legal advice. A high level of proof is required which, on most occasions, is not practical or achievable.

Any numbers on how many trolleys collected by council so far? If no numbers, perhaps a comment on how the system has been going in its first few weeks?

186 were collected during October and all were picked up by stores within the given timeframe.

Do you believe Kmart’s system can reduce trolley abandonment?

During October 16 of the trolleys collected were from Kmart, so not a large proportion of the total, but any systems like this that stores implement will help to reduce the problem.