Council decisions
Council has today approved progressing a new partnership with Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara for ongoing management of Karamu Takina spring.
At its meeting today the Council voted in favour of entering into a Heads of Agreement that will include the return of land associated with the spring and two other pieces of land (Pururu North Reserve (tennis courts) and land at Tihi-o-tonga).
Council noted:
- The Karamu Takina spring is of immense cultural and spiritual importance to Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara, and a defining part of their identity.
- When approached by the Rotorua Borough Council in 1954, the traditional owners of the spring agreed to provide water to the city of Rotorua, but asked that their land be leased, not purchased.
- Council officers at that time insisted that the land be purchased.
- Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara continued to contribute to Council and the community including by gifting lands for reserves along Tarewa Road.
- Several of those reserves are no longer required for the purpose they were gifted.
- Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara propose a Heads of Agreement to establish a new relationship with Council.
- The Heads of Agreement will better enable effective working relationships with mana whenua and will better enable Council to deliver good infrastructure outcomes for the community as a whole.
- The importance of effective working relationships with mana whenua in order to deliver community outcomes.
The Council endorsed:
Entering into a proposed Heads of Agreement with Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara.
The Council resolved to:
- Start the process to revoke the reserve status of the recreation reserve under the Pururu Reserve South being Tarewa 7B, pursuant to Section 24 of the Reserves Act 1977.
- Vest land formerly known as Pururu North Reserve (tennis courts) in a new trust for the benefit of Tarewa Pounamu marae.
- Vest the listed land taken from Tihi-o-tonga A in a new trust for the benefit of Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara (subject to operating easements to ensure Council can continue to take water for municipal supply).
Three Waters “Better Off” funding
The Council resolved today to support making the application for Three Waters “Better Off” funding to which the Rotorua district is entitled and applying that to support stages 2 an 3 of the Aquatic Centre redevelopment.
The Council noted:
- That Rotorua district is entitled to $8.05m in the first tranche of the Three Waters “Be Better Off” fund.
- That an application must be made by September 2022.
- That making an application does not bind the council to support the Three Waters reform.
Council resolved:
To support making the application for funding to support the Aquatic Centre redevelopment (Stage 2 and 3).
The resolutions passed today relating to the two matters above were recommendations from the Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee. See more HERE on Council’s website.
Crankworx update
Elected members received an update on Crankworx Rotorua today, presented by the event director, Ariki Tibble of Mountain Bike Events Ltd.
You can view this part of the meeting via THIS LINK in the recording of today’s meeting.
View the presentation slides relating to this matter HERE
View the agenda for today’s meeting HERE
Today’s meeting was livestreamed and you can view the recording via THIS LINK on Council’s YouTube channel