1 June 2021
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Blue Baths closure
Enquiry
I have some comments I've received which I'm going to include in a follow up story regarding the Blue Baths' closure that will be published tomorrow.
I'd like to put those comments to the council for right of reply.
I also have one other question for my article:
Why did the council not announce the closure of the Blue Baths to the public?
Can you let me know ASAP if the council intends to respond
Comments
Reynold Macpherson - councillor, RDRR chairman
Macpherson said he had been "startled" to learn of the Blue Baths closure, especially that it had been shut for four months, calling it a "surprise".
He said his group [RDRR] was "disappointed the council once again is defaulting to secrecy."
"If the Rotorua Museum and Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre are any guide, residents and ratepayers will not be consulted but simply expected to pick up most of the tab."
He said he supported a restoration "to get the doors open" but not a redevelopment, as he believed redevelopment of the museum and performing arts centre had been "very expensive ... runaway projects".
Macpherson said the council had not provided enough information on the closure to the public, which he called a "mistake in approach".
"They're not taking the public with them."
Additional questions:
I understand fences have gone up around the Blue Baths building. Is this as a reaction to media / public interest? Why have they been put up? Why were they not erected before?
Response
We are yet to provide information about the closure of the Blue Baths because we are still in discussions with the lease holder. Once these discussions have concluded we will provide more information about what’s happening at the Blue Baths.
As we said [previously], Council has been working through options to best secure the site and ensure the surrounding area is safe. Erecting fencing in some areas has been deemed appropriate at this time. Again there, is no immediate risk to people standing nearby the building.
Regarding the comments from Cr Macpherson, it should be noted that the restoration of the Rotorua Museum and the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre was consulted on as part of the 2018 – 2028 Long-term Plan. Improvements to the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre were also part of consultation and engagement for the 2015 - 2025 Long-term Plan.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Motels used for emergency accommodation
Enquiry
I'm just wanting to drill down on what the council is doing to allow motels to legally operate under the district plan with emergency housing.
The Government's announcement last month about the changes being worked on in Rotorua said this in the media statement:
Rotorua Lakes District Council has agreed to facilitate a temporary change in consenting to permit longer term stays for motels assessed as suitable for emergency housing. It will take several weeks to assess and engage all motels.
Questions:
- How will this change to the district plan work specifically?
- Is it an easy change to make?
- How long will the change take?
- Does the public need to be consulted to make the change? Why/why not?
Follow up questions:
I guess what I'm confused about is currently you can't lawfully stay in some motels for a longer term (ie emergency housing) as that's against the district plan.
So will the council be changing something to allow that to be lawful?
Currently there's an issue, as has been previously acknowledged.
The new wording in the media release indicates people can apply to change their consents to allow longer stays. So my question is, how does that happen? How can the council get around the district plan as it stands now?
Response
Initial Response:
The media release that was put out by the Government on 13 May was actually changed online later that day – see updated version here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rotorua-emergency-housing-update
The reference they had (the one you’ve copied below) wasn’t quite right so they updated it. See the new wording below.
Rotorua Lakes Council will help ensure any applications for changes to consents to permit longer term stays in motels are processed efficiently. It will take several weeks to assess and engage all motels.
There is no change to the DP, any consents will be processed as normal but council will work with agencies to make sure everything is processed as efficiently as possible.
Response to additional questions:
Rotorua Lakes Council has provided assistance to the Taskforce to ensure that consent processes are clear and any applications for consent are processed efficiently. Any contracted motels will need to be fully assessed against the district plan and we will work alongside Government agencies, their consultants and the moteliers through the consenting processes.
Responses from Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Housing and Urban Development:
From MHUD:
Good progress is being made by the multi-agency taskforce toward implementing new initiatives to provide safe accommodation and better support for whanau and tamariki living in motels.
Working together with the Ministry of Social Development, we’ve started talking with motels about contracts for emergency housing. The initial focus is on motels that have amenities and have facilities suitable for longer term stays for whanau and tamariki. So far we’ve spoken with more than 30 motels and a number have expressed an interest in contracting with HUD and these negotiations are underway. We’re aiming to have up places for approximately 200 families by the end of June.
Contracting with motels exclusively for emergency housing will ensure there’s suitable accommodation for domestic and international visitors.
So far four social service providers have indicated their interest in providing wrap around support services for families staying in motels and we’re aiming to have these contracts confirmed by the middle of June.
The Ambassador motel is not one of the motels we have approached.
We’ll be in a position to provide more details about the support services and the number of places we’ve contracted by the end of the month.
From MSD:
Alongside Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) we are working with Te Arawa iwi, Rotorua Lakes Council and service providers to establish a Housing Hub, including contracting for wrap around support services for whanau and tamariki in motels.
This work is underway with the aim to have the Hub up and running in the coming months. It is too soon to go into detail, but we look forward to providing further updates down the track.
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Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: Fiesta Pinoy event
Enquiry
I'm getting in touch as I'm working on a preview for the Fiesta Pinoy event coming up next Thursday.
I'm getting some comment from the Bay of Plenty Philippines Friendship Society and Margriet Theron at the Multicultural Council, but just though I would see if the Night Market would like to contribute a couple comments around:
- Why you encourage the community to come and be a part of the celebration?
- Why does the market enjoy/think it's important to showcase cultures within the community?
Response
From Joanna Doherty, Rotorua Lakes Council, Arts & Culture, Business Development Manager.
Why you encourage the community to come and be a part of the celebration?Rotorua is home to a diverse range of cultures and it is important to recognise and celebrate them all. The local Filipino community are passionate about celebrating and sharing their culture so it is sure to be a great night.
Why does the market enjoy/think it's important to showcase cultures within the community?The popular Rotorua Night Market attracts hundreds of people every week. It provides a great opportunity for different ethnic communities to showcase their cultures, it’s a wonderful chance to learn more about the different cultures living here in Rotorua, and it all adds to the vibrancy of the Night Market for locals and visitors.