4 September 2019
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Fatal tour bus crash
Enquiry
We understand today's bus crash involved an international tour company based in Auckland carrying Chinese visitors to Rotorua.
- Is the council in the position to offer any comment in relation to the help that is being given to the visitors/survivors of the crash. What else is the council's involvement?
- Can you comment about the tragedy and what it means for Rotorua, how this is the last thing we want to happen to people who come to our city.
Daily Post also contacted Destination Rotorua:
We understand those on the bus were Chinese visitors and we have heard i-Site is at St John helping out.
Is Michelle or someone appropriate able to offer some comment about the following?
- What is Destination Rotorua doing to help emergency services?
- Why is this tragic news for Rotorua?
- Anything else that's relevant
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick: "This is absolutely tragic and as a community we will do whatever we can to assist. At the request of the police, Rotorua Lakes Council is providing any welfare assistance needed for passengers who were not injured. That could include anything from providing food and translation services to liaising with accommodation providers and enabling them to contact family. This is a police-led operation and Council staff, under the direction of civil defence staff, are assisting as required." From Destination Rotorua: A member of our i-site team is assisting police with translation services and we'll provide any further help that we can. Our thoughts go out to the bus passengers involved and their loved ones. |
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Media: Stuff
Topic: Fatal tour bus crash
Enquiry
Reporter sought comment from Mayor Steve Chadwick about today's fatal crash near Rotorua.
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
This is absolutely tragic and as a community we will do whatever we can to assist. At the request of the police, Rotorua Lakes Council is providing any welfare assistance needed for passengers who were not injured. That could include anything from providing food and translation services to liaising with accommodation providers and enabling them to contact family. This is a police-led operation and Council staff, under the direction of civil defence staff, are assisting as required.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: MSD using motels as emergency accommodation
Enquiry
Reporter following up on a BOPTimes story in July relating to MSD accommodating people in need of emergency housing in Rotorua motels (see story HERE). Reporter following up on that story and a meeting of motelliers in Rotorua last week asked the following:
Can Steve possibly answer these questions please.
1 - Statistics show Rotorua tourism is continuing to grow but the number of people staying in Rotorua motels is declining. What does Council believe this can attributed to.
2 - Is it important for the local economy for visitors to Rotorua to stay in Motels/Hotels as opposed to Air Bnb's.
3 - Does the Council agree MSD clients may be impacting on where visitors choose to stay.
4 - Are there any plans in place to help with Rotorua's housing crisis?
5 - What did Steve take away from the meeting hosted by the Hotel Association last week?
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick: Using motels as temporary housing is not a long-term solution. We need more homes - of all types - and solutions will require a collaborative approach by all with a role to play. This includes local and central government and its agencies which need to be aligned in order to make a difference. More people are now realising that this situation is just one part of a much bigger and very complex housing picture. That was a take-away for me from the meeting with motelliers, along with agreement that a housing plan is needed and a willingness to have constructive input into that. Right now government agencies are making decisions in isolation and counter to what other government agencies are trying to achieve which is keeping our people out of homes and this is something we are talking about with Government and its agencies. Ultimately, we all want the same outcome but we need a better collective response. About 2700 people in our community are registered as not having a home right now and what we are currently doing collectively isn't producing the homes our community desperately requires. We want to develop a plan and actions so we can provide homes that match people's needs and align with the aspirations of our community. Council can't do this alone and is prepared to with all agencies and organisations to provide housing solutions for our community. Regarding visitors and motels: Visitors to Rotorua choose the type of accommodation suited to their needs and short-term rentals like those on Airbnb and Bookabach are part of the mix, as they are elsewhere. Stats NZ figures I've been provided show a 1 per cent decrease in motel guest nights in the year ending June 2019, partly attributable to fewer international visitor arrivals in New Zealand. As a key visitor destination, Rotorua feels the impact of those types of changes. The key thing for us is that visitors have a positive experience and feel safe when in Rotorua. I would expect any motellier having problems with occupants, deals with that appropriately, whether they are visitors or people they choose to accommodate through an arrangement with the Ministry for Social Development. |
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Maori Wardens
Enquiry
I am doing a piece on Rotorua's Māori Wardens, speaking to all sorts of different groups they coordinate with.
Can you describe the value of the work the wardens provide to help council's sites and services operate?
In what areas do the wardens collaborate with council, and how frequently?
Anything else you would like to add is welcome
Response
From Inner City Manager Richard Horn:
Our local Maori Wardens are in the inner city every day and interacting with Council's Safe City Guardians who are also patrolling daily. The two groups share information and assist one another if required.
Council may from time to time call on the Wardens for assistance to deal with an incident or to help with crowd management for events.
They are a familiar group in our community and their assistance when needed is always greatly appreciated.
Please note: The Maori Wardens don't patrol in the inner city on behalf of Council but do patrol on behalf of police and Visions of a Helping Hand so would suggest you speak to them also if you haven't already.