19 Nov 2025: housing, Puwhakamua, weather, trees, NZ Warriors
Media: 1News, NewstalkZB, Radio NZ
Topic: End of contracted emergency housing
Enquiry
Requests to interview Mayor Tapsell about Minister Potaka’s news release announcing the end of the use of motels in Rotorua for contracted emergency housing.
Response
Mayor Tapsell agreed to all three interviews.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Puwhakamua programme
Enquiry
I am looking for an update on the ongoing situation at 796b Te Ngae Rd. Questions follow.
- Are the council still actively investigating the status of the Puwhakamua programme at 796b Te Ngae Rd and whether it is compliant with resource consent regulations?
- Have council received any complaints in the past 18 months regarding the properties at 796b and 796a Te Ngae Rd?
Subsequent from reporter:
Was wondering if any dates were set for court hearings etc or is that process still being completed?
Response
We provided the following information:
Rotorua Lakes Council has applied to the Environment Court for declarations as to whether this is a permitted activity or requires resource consent under the Rotorua District Plan. The court process is now underway.
We don’t have anything further to add at this time.
Court dates are yet to be confirmed.
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Media: TVNZ/1News
Topic: Weather
Enquiry
Wondering if you've received any reports of flooding overnight/this morning?
Response
We informed the reporter there was nothing reported overnight, provided the link to our website news item (Weather update - Rotorua Lakes Council) nothing this would be updated if/when there was anything further to report and offered to send them a heads up if there were any updates to that news item during the course of the day.
We later informed the reporter there had been an update with a handful of reports coming in this morning and we again provided the link to the news item.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Removal of trees in Amohia St
Enquiry
Just looking for a weather update on the Amohia tree felling. Assume it has been delayed slightly?
Response
We provided the following information:
The work was completed yesterday and the road re-opened late yesterday afternoon.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter and Aukaha News
Topic: NZ Warriors visit
Enquiry
Reporters sought interviews with members of the NZ Warriors who are coming to Rotorua this week as part of a Warriors Community Foundation tour.
Response
We have connected the reporters with staff at NZ Warriors.
