20 October 2022
Media: TVNZ (Breakfast show)
Topic: Local and general elections
Enquiry
TVNZ invited Mayor Tapsell to appear on a political panel on their Breakfast show to discuss what, if anything, the local body elections suggest about how next year’s general election will go, as well the relationship between central and local govt (and the issues that are causing tension).
Response
Watch the discussion HERE.
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Media: Radio NZ, NewstalkZB, Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Perceptions of Rotorua report and emergency housing
Enquiries
All three media outlets requested interviews with Mayor Tapsell today about the new report on the potential costs to tourism of negative perceptions of Rotorua and about her meeting today with Housing Minister Megan Woods.
Response
Mayor Tapsell was interviewed and reinforced the impact the issues associated with emergency housing motels were having on Rotorua’s visitor economy, that this is no longer just a social issue but also an economic issue, and that we need an urgent end to how motels are currently being used for emergency housing.
The Mayor said she reiterated this in her meeting with Minister Woods today and said the meeting was a step in the right direction and created opportunity to make progress in this space.
She said all were in agreement that Rotorua was facing serious challenges that need to be resolved and there was commitment to work together alongside Te Arawa to address the issues.
Listen to Mayor Tapsell's interview on RNZ's Checkpoint programme HERE.