15 June 2021
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Conferences and events
Enquiry
I'm hearing that Rotorua is doing great when it comes to conferences and events at the moment, which is music to the ears of those involved in the sector locally to be busy again.
How many confirmed conferences and events are on the books in Rotorua during this current financial year?
What are forward bookings looking like for the 2022/2023 financial year?
Why are we so busy?
Is it busier this financial year than what it was pre-Covid?
Are there any issues with finding accommodation for the delegates/attendees given we have 3 MIQ hotels and more than 40 motels with emergency housing?
Are there any financial figures available that tells us how much conferences and events means to Rotorua each year?
Feel free to add anything you think is helpful.
Response
From Joelene Elliott, Manager, Business Events and Energy Events Centre:
Confirmed conferences and events during this current financial year:
Note: these figures are shown by calendar year, not financial year.
There are currently 22 conferences booked at the Energy Events Centre for 2021 and we will be expecting to host over 12,000 delegates this year.
Nine of these conferences will each host more than 500 delegates, three of them have over 1,000 delegates each.
Individual hotels also host business events, however we do not have access to that data.
Forward bookings looking like for the 2022/2023 financial year:
Looking ahead to the 2022 calendar year, we have a number of conferences and conference enquiries in the system. We are expecting to do as well or better than 2021.
We are of course in discussion with a number of other conference organisers and we look forward to confirming and welcoming even more conferences to Rotorua in 2022.
Why are we so busy?
There are a number of reasons. Firstly, some events that were cancelled or postponed in 2020 have been rebooked for this year. Secondly, there is a limited supply of conference infrastructure around New Zealand at the moment and Rotorua is well-known for the quality experience it offers for business events. Finally, with limited outbound travel possible, businesses that may have historically chosen to hold their events off-shore, are now staying in New Zealand.
Is it busier this financial year than what it was pre-Covid?
Our conference bookings at the Energy Events Centre for 2021 are up 15% on the bookings we had in 2019.
Any issues with finding accommodation for the delegates/attendees given we have 3 MIQ hotels and more than 40 motels with emergency housing?
Yes, that is a concern, however what we tend to see is that the majority of business events travel is during the week so it helps to balance out the domestic preference for weekend leisure travel.
Any financial figures available that tells us how much conferences and events means to Rotorua each year?
The business events sector is accountable for contributing approximately $50m to Rotorua’s economy each year of which the Energy Events Centre contributes over $15m.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Housing
Enquiry
Bryce Heard from the Chamber has sent me the following thoughts for a story to offer some solutions to our housing problem, basically trying to get everyone to stop blaming each other and get on with the business of building houses/fats/apartments.
I've bullet pointed below his key points and have listed some questions below for the council.
Bryce's main points:
- He's done an appraisal of the situation and come up with some ways to confront it and deal with it.
- Rotorua is said to be 4000 homes short to meet its housing needs. If we do nothing about it, by 2030 population forecasts indicate that this shortage will reach 6000 houses.
- This year we have consented 209 new houses in the 10 months July 2020 to April 2021 inclusive. At this rate we will consent 251 houses for the year ending 30 June 2021. That is up quite a bit on the 170 consented for the preceding year, but it is nowhere near enough.
- If we are to build 6000 houses by the end of 2030, we need to be building at the rate of 667 houses a year every year, starting July 2021 next month. Therefore, we need to lift our game by 166%.
- If we continued to build at 251 per year, we would still be 3741 houses short by the end of 2030 year. In other words, at 251 houses per year we are just treading water and all other things equal, the homeless situation could be as bad in nine years as it is now.
- According to Stats NZ the average number of houses consented nationwide for the year ending 30 June 2020 was 7.6 consents per 1000 of population. Rotorua has a population of approximately 75,000. In 2020 we built 2.3 houses per 1000 population and this year we are running at 3.3 per 1000. To build 667 per year, we would be building at the rate of 8.8 per 1000 of population. This is not impossible. Auckland built at the rate of 8.5 per 1000 last year.
- To do this, we must enact a local solution. Unfortunately, we have no power over central government policy and it seems highly improbable that central government will build us 6000 houses in Rotorua. This government’s treatment of landlords with the introduction of their new capital gains tax and removal of deductibility of interest costs, is bizarre and unhelpful for anyone – least of all the homeless. This is because landlords build almost half of the new houses required in NZ (48%) and attacking them financially will only reduce the new builds, add to the housing shortage, keep property prices high, and rental cost up as well. High levels of homeless naturally follows.
- There are three things we can do....
- 1. Continue to make every land lot available that we possibly can and encourage and support the traditional building of new houses on new subdivisions. Council policy must support this proactively. This will help, but it is mostly focussed in the middle and upper end of the housing market. We need lower end as well
- 2. We must move swiftly to convert older single dwellings on quarter acre sections into multi-unit dwellings. Most of the old sections in Rotorua can support 2-6 houses and most of the infrastructure like roads, footpaths, streetlighting, water and electricity are already in place. The swift provision of lower cost flats and houses is possible via this route. But consenting will need to keep pace, especially resource consenting. This will address the lower cost end of the market.
- 3. The many empty spaces that presently make up our CBD are just waiting for investment to convert them into flats, apartments, parking lots and inner city living. The same rule applies as for the second option above, most of the infrastructure is already there.
- What is holding us up? Probably only three things. The first is nimbyism and second is a brave plan for the CBD redevelopment. The final requirement is speedy policy making and consenting.
- Let’s all stop playing the blame game and get to work on it!
Questions for the council:
- Is the council investing extra resourcing to help speed up consenting processes? Do you think this is needed? Why/why not?
- Is there a "brave plan" for the CBD redevelopment that looks at empty CBD buildings in the hope of turning them into apartments/flats?
- Do you think it is doable to build 667 houses a year in Rotorua until 2030?
- What is the council doing to attract developers/builders to build houses in Rotorua?
I've just spoken to Todd McClay and he's made a couple of suggestions the council might like to respond to.
- Both the council and the Government bear the responsibility for this and they have the ability to do something about it.
- The Government should make urgent changes to the RMA to push through consents more quickly to speed up the processes. Developers are frustrated and are walking away. (Have put this to the Government too)
- Taupo District Council is smaller but he said the rates it issues consents is greater than Rotorua's. He said other councils are issuing consents at greater rates and he said this could suggest it is to do with processes. He also wondered if stormwater or wastewater was struggling because of a lack of investment?
- He said Rotorua's council should ask Taupo how they do it.
Response
The reporter was offered an interview with senior council staff to provide her with a broader, more in-depth understanding of the challenges Rotorua faces around housing and the work that is happening in response, given the importance of the issue and the complexities involved. The reporter indicated she would be interested in such an interview for a backgrounder as a follow-up but would still be running story as intended tomorrow.
The following information was provided:
RLC housing-related mahi
As you’ll be aware, housing is a key plank of the proposed 2021-31 Long-term Plan which will be adopted at the end of June. See pages 6-9 of the LTP consultation document, which you’ll find HERE(External link), re proposed LTP actions actions relating to housing.
Work on an inner city strategy is underway and note reference to CBD on p7 of the LTP consultation document + see p5 of the same document re proposed inner city incentives policy which will, in part, aim to encourage accommodation and residential development in the CBD.
Also underway are actions outlined in the Draft Economic Development Strategy Framework which includes actions relating to the CBD:
- Build investment and development confidence in the CBD through an Inner City Plan and targeted incentives
- Partner with major investors and developers to establish 2 place making CBD projects that support inner city residential living
- Partner with Central Government to ensure investment supports city vibrancy and resilience
For your reference, you’ll find the Draft Economic Development Strategy HERE
Updates re information previously provided about Council work that relates to housing and is underway (updates in red):
Housing Strategy (developed in partnership with Te Arawa and Central Government agencies)
Actions in the strategy are underway in collaboration with the relevant parties/agencies; the plan aims to deliver short, medium and long-term housing solutions and RLC is currently working closely with Central Government agencies, iwi and others to address emergency housing in Rotorua.
Investment in infrastructure upgrades including wastewater, roading and stormwater is underway throughout the city;
This is ongoing and the draft 30-year infrastructure plan that will be adopted alongside the 2021-31 Long-term Plan outlines plans to invest $424m into core infrastructure (roading, stormwater, sewerage and water supplies) across the next 10 years to ensure safe, reliable infrastructure that is able to meet current demand and support future demand and housing development.
Council is progressing a District Plan Change to facilitate housing at Pukehangi
Fast-track Plan Change was approved by Government in March this year (see HERE on RLC website and reported by RDP HERE). RLC continues to work with the developers to support the progression of their housing development plans at Pukehangi.
Council and NZTA received Government funding for roading and stormwater upgrades to support proposed housing at Wharenui
Planning for this is underway/progressing - see bottom of p64/top of p65 of the last Operations & Monitoring Committee agenda HERE re update on CIP funding provided for infrastructure to enable housing at Wharenui
Council is collaborating with Tatau Pounamu Collective on an eastside locality plan that will address the future needs, aspirations and resilience of communities there
Following approval of a draft plan developed by RLC and TPC, we have been working with the community and a finalised plan will be presented to elected members for their approval soon. See HERE for further information about this kaupapa.
Long-term infrastructure planning is underway
See above re 30-year infrastructure plan and LTP
Other mahi also underway in relation to housing: See below excerpts from pages 45 and 46 of the last Operations & Monitoring Committee agenda (agenda is HERE) re updates on housing-related mahi the council is undertaking (this includes Taskforce mahi but you’ll also see reference to other work that’s underway and relates to housing)
Emergency Housing
The Rotorua Housing Taskforce, Te Rākau Taumatua, was established in response to pressing issues related to housing, in particular homelessness and emergency housing, which was exacerbated by the need to house people quickly through the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Taskforce brings together staff from Council with Te Arawa representatives and senior officials from Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Social Development, Te Puni Kōkiri, Kāinga Ora, with involvement also from Rotorua Police and the Lakes District Health Board.
The aim is to ensure vulnerable tamariki and their whanau in emergency housing are well-supported and have access to the facilities they need while more permanent housing solutions requiring more time to develop are achieved.
In the short-term the goal is to provide safe, appropriate temporary emergency accommodation for tamariki and whanau in need.
The medium-term goal is to increase the pool of transitional housing available in Rotorua to provide fit-for-purpose, secure homes and ensure access to wrap-around support and services. The ultimate goal is to help families regain control over their housing situation and create attainable pathways into permanent housing and home ownership.
Government Ministers have endorsed four Taskforce recommendations that are being progressed immediately:
- Contracting specific motels for the express purpose of emergency accommodation, to ensure the motels being used are good quality, suitable and safe for families.
- Contracting additional wrap-around support services to meet the needs of families in those motels. MSD will also improve support available for those in other motels.
- Strengthened assessment and placement processes for families and individuals.
- Establishment of a physical Housing Hub where people and families will be assessed to identify what type of housing support and additional support is needed.
Conversations with motels about contracting have begun and motels will be guided through the Change of Use consenting process to bring their operations in line with Rotorua’s District Plan.
Approximately 200 households with tamariki will be carefully placed into emergency housing accommodation (motels) contracted by HUD. While work is initially focusing on these whanau, any additional support available will focus on young people, disabled persons and those escaping domestic violence situations.
Each agency has a specific role to play in alleviating pressure on housing but no single agency can do it alone. By taking a cross-agency collaborative approach, the taskforce is working towards shared short, medium and long-term goals for the entire community.
National Policy Statement for Urban Development
Work has continued on establishing a programme to support implementation of the National Policy Statement for Urban Development 2020. A Key focus of the programme is outlining the pathway for enabling housing delivery, urban growth and the development of well-functioning communities. Currently we have mapped the key initiatives through to the next Long-term Plan (for 2024-2034) starting with understanding gaps in the operative District Plan relating to enabling intensification. A report outlining the proposed programme will be presented to a subsequent Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee meeting.
Housing and Business Capacity Assessment (HBA)
The HBA provides an evidence base to inform spatial planning decisions across the Rotorua District. In short, the assessment estimates the demand for dwellings and business land and the supply of development capacity to meet that demand. This determines whether there is sufficient capacity to meet needs over the next 30 years. To date we have agreed on a spatial framework as it relates to urban land and we are now developing the model to inform the assessment. Significant amounts of data have been prepared and compiled as input for the modelling, to ensure the best quality outcomes from the exercise. An Eastside market assessment has been developed concurrently to provide a market assessment of potential land uses within this area. This it to help determine if re-zoning through a future plan change would be commercially feasible, reasonably expected to be realised and supports the needs of the current and future Eastside community.
Development Support
A development support manager’s role has recently been created to support developers through council development processes, including consenting. The role also focuses on connecting developers, land owners and technical capability to ensure development opportunities are realised. Feedback has been positive around this additional level of support.
Housing Acceleration Fund
Following recent announcement of the Government’s upcoming Housing Acceleration fund, the District Development team have begun assessing projects and initiatives that could be potential candidates for funding support, in preparation for further information about the fund criteria and deadlines. A number of residential development areas may meet funding criteria and staff are confirming current timelines and infrastructure barriers with developers in advance of the application process
From Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
In the Public Housing Plan 2021, the Government identified intentions for a further 430 to 450 public homes across the Bay of Plenty in 2023 and 2024. The 190 mentioned is the minimum number that Kāinga Ora expects to deliver in Rotorua. This in addition to the 85 extra homes expected through the 2018 Public Housing Plan. This would be supplemented by public housing from Community Housing Providers and, given the significant need in Rotorua, we would also look to bring on additional public housing from Kāinga Ora where there are opportunities to do so.
The Government has also made announcements that support housing supply and affordability through the $3.8billion Housing Acceleration Fund and Kāinga Ora Land Programme (announced in March) which provide opportunities to increase the supply of build ready land. Together this will help Kāinga Ora and developers to deliver affordable and market housing alongside public housing. One of the key objectives of the Kāinga Ora Land programme is to bring on new housing supply in areas where market development has been weaker. Further details of the Housing Acceleration Fund and the Kāinga Ora Land programme will be announced soon.
Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga, announced in Budget 2021, commits $380m towards new investment in Māori Housing over four years to accelerate Māori led housing solutions. $350m of the Housing Acceleration fund has also been set aside to for enabling infrastructure for Maori Housing.
Recognising that a ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work for every location, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is taking a placed-based approach to address housing needs in Rotorua. We are working with Kāinga Ora, Te Arawa iwi and Rotorua Lakes Council and other agencies to develop and implement joined up solutions. This includes supporting the development of the Rotorua Housing Strategy and key actions it identified, including enabling the market to deliver significantly more housing.
The Government’s National Policy Statement – Urban Development has put in place requirements for local councils to enable greater intensification to support more housing supply and affordability.
Property development and new builds will be exempt from the interest limitation rules recently announced by the Government. In addition, new builds would be subject to a five-year bright-line test, rather than the 10-year test. Exempting property development and new builds should help boost supply by channelling investment towards increasing housing stock.
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Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: Bikes in Schools programme
Enquiry
- How does it feel to have another bike track opened at a local school for students and community to make use of?
- Why is it important to have this sort of recreational facility available?
- Why is it great/important for council to show its support to this initiative?
- How many Rotorua schools has the Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust supported? Which ones?
Also just want to check the below info is still relevant from a previous Bikes in Schools story I've written.
The school's new bike track is a part of the Bikes in Schools programme.
The Bikes in Schools initiative at Selwyn Primary School was funded by the Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust, and Rotorua Lakes Council helps to facilitate the process for Rotorua schools to be able to access equipment and build the bike tracks.
Response
You can attribute the following to Niki Carling, Safe and Sustainable Journeys Manager at Rotorua Lakes Council:
How does it feel to have another bike track opened at a local school for students and community to make use of?
It is fabulous to have another Bikes in Schools track open in Rotorua. It means all of Selwyn Primary’s students can have opportunities to ride a bike at school, which is a huge asset for the school and community.
The Bikes in Schools initiative provides everything needed for kids to ride a bike every school day, within the school grounds. Council facilitates the Bikes in Schools programme by helping schools apply, guiding them through decision making, and providing ongoing support to help schools maintain their track and bikes. Council’s Bike Ready programme also helps teach children how to ride bikes safely.
Why is it important to have this sort of recreational facility available? Why is it great/important for council to show its support to this initiative?
We continually hear feedback that the benefits of the Bikes in Schools initiative go beyond improving the physical health and wellbeing of students. Principals and teachers see an increase in confidence, self-esteem and the resilience of pupils. Parents see that it provides a safe environment for their children to learn skills and build confidence to ride safely, self-manage risks, and find enjoyment in being active.
Council is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging sustainable modes of transport and building a safe and sustainable transport system. Cycling is an important part of this picture. Encouraging a love of riding for tamariki will help the community to reach Council’s sustainable transport goals; aiming for sustainable modes to make up 39% of total mode share in Rotorua by 2030. These goals align with Central Government’s strategic direction.
The Bikes in Schools programme helps to instil the habit of using sustainable modes of transport to move around – and Rotorua is an ideal city for residents to commute by bike every day.
How many Rotorua schools has the Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust supported? Which ones?
Currently, seven schools in Rotorua have a Bikes in Schools programme, and all were provided seed funding by the Bike On New Zealand Trust. These are Whakarewarewa School, Owhata School, Mokoia Intermediate School, Rotokawa School, Sunset Primary School, Selwyn School and Rotorua Primary School.
The Bikes in Schools projects at Rotorua Primary School, Sunset Primary School and Selwyn School have asphalt tracks that include a pump track segment.
Also just want to check the below info is still relevant from a previous Bikes in Schools story I've written.
The Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust provided seed funding for the Bikes in Schools initiative at Selwyn School. Rotorua Lakes Council helps to facilitate the process for any interested Rotorua school to be able to access equipment and build the bike tracks.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Counselling offered to staff
Enquiry
I am writing a story about how more people in workplaces are getting counselling post-Covid and the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace in 2021. Experts say the longer impacts of Covid on mental health are still to be seen.
- What EAP and counselling support services does the council have available to its employees and post-Covid has the need for those services decreased or increased and why?
- Who pays for these services and what has the bill been for the last 12 months and the 12 months before that?
- How important is health and wellbeing in the workplace and what initiatives does the council have in place to help staff be happy?
- And is there anything the council is doing now - or more of - for staff post-Covid?
- Plus how many staff does the council employ at the moment compared to one year ago?
Response
From Thomas Collé, Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Enablement
We have a contracted Employee Assistance Programme with Benestar. Through that programme staff and their immediate family can access free, confidential and professional counselling services.
June 2019 – May 2020 – 68 clients seen
June 2020 – May 2021 – 77 clients seen
*We cannot speak to the reason for counselling as that is confidential between counsellor and client.
The service is paid for by Rotorua Lakes Council.
June 2019 – May 2020 = $22,425 for standard service (plus $2875 spent on specialised online programme for working parents during COVID-19 lockdown).
June 2020 – May 2021 = $23,287
The wellbeing of staff is a top priority for Rotorua Lakes Council. Staff spend a majority of their life at work and it can often be a demanding environment, especially now as we continue to deal with the uncertainty of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A safe and healthy workplace means more than just productivity. Each council team member is part of our community and we know that a positive environment within the organisation will enable each person to enjoy life more outside of work.
Rotorua Lakes Council is part of the WorkWell scheme which was developed by Toi Te Ora Public Health to support organisations to implement initiatives to encourage health and wellbeing within the workplace. The WorkWell programme supports corporate policies such as flexible working, drug and alcohol policy, smoke free policy, sun protection policy and eye health policy.
The key focus areas of the WorkWell programme are (please note these are set by Toi Te Ora as part of the national scheme):
- Smoke free
- Safe drinking and drug free
- Healthy eating
- Physical activity
- Mental wellbeing
- Sun safety
- Immunisation
Rotorua Lakes Council has been part of the programme since 2011, achieved Gold Standard Accreditation in 2018 and has maintained Gold Accreditation to the current date.
As an example, some of the activities that Council offers include free financial wellbeing and nutrition seminars, Flu vaccinations, access to an occupational health nurse and support for national campaigns for health and wellbeing. Staff report changes as a result of the programme that include healthier eating, weight loss, increased physical activity, smoking cessation.
During COVID-19 lockdown council provided access free online webinars for parents working from home. Staff also had access to free BNZ financial wellbeing resources and support, mental health resources and working from home risk assessments.
Following the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns council reviewed its Flexible Working Arrangements Policy. Council recognises that the ability to work flexibly is an increasingly important dimension of the modern workplace in terms of the quality of working life and plays an important part in supporting diversity and equal employment opportunities.
Current staff numbers: permanent/fixed term staff (full and part time) – 368 (FTEs – 348)
As at 14 June 2020: permanent/fixed term staff (full and part time) – 338 (FTEs – 318)
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Media: Newstalk ZB
Topic: RLC organisational realignment
Enquiry
I'm producing this afternoon's Newstalk ZB Drive show with Heather du Plessis-Allan and keen to learn more about the council's restructure and the seven new deputy chief executives.
I'm wondering if [CE Geoff Williams] might be available for a brief phone interview to talk to Heather about this?
Response
CE Geoff Williams was interviewed by Heather du Plessis-Allan for the Newstalk ZB Drive show.
A copy of the news release relating to the organisational realignment (see HERE) was also provided.
You can listen to the interview at THIS LINK on NewsTalk ZB’s website