2 Sept 2026: Lakes Trust news, abuse and threats towards council staff

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Te Arawa Lakes Trust announcement

Enquiry

The Mayor was approached with the following questions about today's announcement.

• Te Arawa Lakes Trust says 15 positions are being disestablished as part of its reset. What was your reaction to that news?
• Last month you said past decisions had "relegated" Te Arawa Lakes Trust and were not appropriate. Does today's announcement reinforce those concerns?
• How concerned are you about the potential loss or transfer of environmental programmes currently delivered by TALT, including weed harvesting, pest management and biosecurity work?
• Do you agree with TALT's claim that the post-settlement funding and governance arrangements have left the trust under-resourced and contributed to this situation?

What role, if any, should the Crown play in responding to the issues raised by TALT and ensuring the trust can continue to fulfil its responsibilities relating to the lakes?

Response

Mayor Tapsell was interviewed over the phone.

See the link to the article which includes comment from the Mayor: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/te-arawa-lakes-trust-cuts-15-jobs-scales-back-rotorua-lake-programmes/ZB55GOQJZVDWREQBRFPJG7MKF4/

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Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Abuse, threats and violence towards council staff

Enquiry

I received a LGOIMA response regarding the trolley bylaw work recently and have some further questions/am looking to seek comment, from the council for a story.

• Does council consider the shopping trolley bylaw a success? Why or why not?
• When the bylaw was proposed, council said a 2023 trial found about 260 abandoned trolleys were being collected each month. Since the bylaw came into force, collections have averaged about 110 a month. Does council believe that shows the bylaw is working?
• Council estimates it spent about $18,753 operating the scheme over the period covered by this request, while retailers were invoiced about $5,220. Is council satisfied with the level of cost recovery?
• What happened to trolleys that were not collected by retailers? How many remain unclaimed, and what does council do with them?
• Pak'nSave and The Warehouse account for more than half of the trolleys collected since the bylaw came into force. Has council identified why these retailers account for so many abandoned trolleys?
• Council's internal reports say trolley collections are declining and the bylaw is showing positive results. What evidence gives council confidence the bylaw is achieving its intended purpose?

Response

From Group Manager – Destination Development, Jean-Paul Gaston:

Council is encouraged by the positive impact the shopping trolley bylaw is having across the community.

Since the bylaw came into force, the number of abandoned trolleys collected by Council has fallen significantly, from around 260 per month during the 2023 trial to an average of about 110 per month. This sustained reduction indicates that fewer trolleys are being abandoned in public spaces, helping to keep neighbourhoods cleaner, safer and more welcoming.

The primary objective of the bylaw is to reduce abandoned trolleys and improve public spaces for the benefit of the wider community. The reduction in trolley collections is an important measure of its success and suggests the bylaw is achieving its intended purpose.

Council is grateful for the involvement and contributions of New World, The Warehouse, Pak’nSave and Countdown in developing the approach. The solution provides a cost-effective way of managing abandoned trolleys without placing the cost burden on ratepayers.

The bylaw provides a clear and practical process for retailers and Council to manage abandoned trolleys. Where a trolley is not collected by its owner within three days, Council arranges for its return and the owner is invoiced. We currently have no unclaimed trolleys.

Council has not undertaken a detailed analysis of recovery numbers by individual retailer. The number of trolleys collected is likely to reflect a range of factors, including the size of a retailer’s trolley fleet, customer numbers and the location of stores.

Overall, the reduction in abandoned trolley collections is encouraging. Council will continue to monitor the scheme and work with retailers to support positive outcomes for the community and well-maintained public spaces.