19 December 2022
Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: New Year's Eve Whanau Market
Enquiry
Reporter working on story about upcoming New Year’s Eve Whānau Market
What will the New Year's Eve Whanau Market include?
What entertainment and activities will there be?
Why will this be a great option for families to welcome in the new year?
Why was it decided to host this event for New Year's in Rotorua?
Is there anything you would like to add? Any New Year safety reminders?
Response
We provided images for use and the following from Stewart Brown, Rotorua Lakes Council, Arts, Culture & Mahi Toi Manager:
What will the New Year's Eve Whanau Market include?What entertainment and activities will there be? At its heart, there will be a great range of local musical performers to entertain the crowds. The hilarious and talented Krissy Knap and Jack Grace will each have their time on the stage, with special performances from Cook Island dancers and duo, Top Shelf, will end the evening. Taste buds will be taken care of by nearly sixteen food vendors, plus a selection of craft and gift stalls.
Why will this be a great option for families to welcome in the new year? We want to provide a family-friendly environment for people to gather, enjoy the evening and to say farewell to 2022. As well as the stage performers, we will have some fun activities on offer. Kids can create some crafts, play giant games and have our talented balloon man will twist balloon shapes for them.
Why was it decided to host this event for New Year's in Rotorua? This special New Year’s Eve is focussed at whānau and gives them an opportunity to celebrate together after a tough year.
Is there anything you would like to add? Any New Year safety reminders? This is a smoke and alcohol free event.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Damaged cricket grounds
Enquiry
The Boord Park cricket grounds were vandalised by motorbikes on Friday. Was just after comment from council on this please.
How much will the repair cost?
Have the police been notified?
Response
From Rob Pitkenthley, Rotorua Lakes Council’s sport, recreation and environment manager:
The Council worked with the Rotorua Cricket Association last time by sourcing some artificial covering to then supply to the Association for laying. The cost of the artificial covering was nothing as it was left over from the hockey turf replacement. We are not sure if the Association incurred any cost for laying it.
It is very disappointing that this damage has happened again and we will continue to work with the Association for necessary repairs.
The incident had already been reported to the police by neighbours.
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Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: Rotorua Lakes Council summer interns
Enquiry
Reporter who attended last week’s welcome at RLC for our summer interns but was unable to stay to the end sought assistance arranging interviews with a couple of interns.
She indicated she would be asking the following questions:
- What sort of work are you doing as part of your summer internship? When does this start?
- What was your inspiration/motivation for taking up this opportunity?
- What are you most looking forward to about your time as an intern? Why do you think this is a great opportunity?
- How are you hoping this internship will help in your future endeavours?
- Is there anything you would like to add?
Response
Arrangements were made for the reporter to interview two RLC summer interns, one working in the wastewater team and another who is working in the District Development team
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Retirement village completed
Enquiry
I am writing a story on how Lynmore Rise retirement village has finished 2.5 years ahead of schedule and how plans are afoot for another retirement village across the road. I was hoping for some comments and have some questions for your consideration. My deadline is 10 am tomorrow. Thanks
How important are projects like Lymore Rise that are done by private developers to add to the housing stock in the city - and why?
Plus how the council crunched any numbers in regards to new houses that are expected to be built in the city in the future and how many jobs that could create - and what are those numbers?
And is the council developer friendly as in - is Rotorua a good place for investors to build or buy housing and why?
Response
We informed the reporter that unfortunately the DCE who would have been able to comment on this is now on leave. However, we provided the reporter with information and comment which was provided to a Daily Post reporter this month and is still relevant and said she was welcome to use this if she wished. (see below)
We also let the reporter know that we are working on compiling information for another reporter relating to subdivisions which will provide some indication of numbers but this work is not yet finished.
From Jean-Paul Gaston, DCE District Development:
“Our planning and consenting teams have had another extremely busy year and we are working with a number of key developers and iwi groups planning further residential development or looking for new commercial development opportunities in Rotorua.
“Numbers of both residential and commercial consents are down on 2021 this year and this reflects a number of international and national factors, for example, supply issues, cost escalations, changes in interest rates and tightening of borrowing parameters by banks.
“Despite this, it has been great to see progress on some residential developments that will contribute towards addressing our acute housing shortage, and it is pleasing to see a continued level of commercial investment, all despite the cost escalations that we have been seeing.
“We look forward to seeing this continue into 2023 and beyond.”
Information re 1 Jan to 30 Nov for the past two calendar years:
2021 | Total value of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 - $104,181,850 Total value of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 - $149,407,677 Total number of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 – 128 Total number of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2021 - 1036 |
2022 | Total value of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 - $71,105,500 Total value of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 - $158,407,942 Total number of commercial consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 – 103 Total number of residential consents issued 1 Jan to 30 Nov 2022 - 983 |