26 July 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Vehicle damage at Kuirau Park
Enquiry
I'm keen to write a story about the damage occurring at Kuirau park, so I'd appreciate the council's response to my pātai.
- Is the council aware of the damage happening at Kuirau?
- What will the council do about it? / What is currently being done about it?
- How much will it cost to repair the damage?
- How long will repairs take?
- What is the council going to do to prevent loitering/littering/damage to the grounds?
- Who is responsible for keeping hoodlums off this area?
- Does the council have a long-term development plan for Kuirau that would be a viable solution for this unsavory behaviour?
- Do the council have ecologists involved in the development as evidence of potential wetlands and habitats for native flora and fauna?
Subsequent from reporter:
I've just had a thought, being Māori and knowing the whakapapa of the whenua...
What is council's obligations to uri (descendants) of Ngāti Whakaue, the iwi that gifted the whenua of Kuirau to council? If there is to be continued degradation of this beautiful park in the heart of the city, are Ngāti Whakaue able to enact changes to the stipulations of that gifting? As in, could the land be returned to Ngāti Whakaue if these issues are left in an unreasonable state for an extended period of time without being fully addressed to minimise the damage occurring?
Clarification from the reporter:
my reference is to a local who's reported that this has, in fact, occurred on several occasions over a period of time (their words).
Therefore, if damage like this continues to occur, with no checks and balances in place to prevent/deter this behaviour then that is what I meant by continual degradation.
... in their [person who spoke to Daily Post] account, to us, the damage has been extensive. The likes of car tracks etc.
Response
From Sport, Recreation and Environment Manager Rob Pitkethley:
There has been some vehicle damage to grass in the park recently and we have received one complaint regarding this. There has also been damage caused by geothermal activity and high rain flows and some flooding.
We deal with vehicle damage to grass once or twice a year and this is usually repaired with a heavy mower pass after the ground has dried out. The cost to repair depends on the amount of area damaged. If a mower pass is all that’s required, that can be done within the regular mowing schedule but if fill has to be brought in, that may cost a few hundred dollars.
Timing of repairs depends on getting dry enough conditions to do the work.
Vehicle damage to reserves is an offence and the Council works with the Police on enforcement where evidence can be obtained to initiate the necessary actions.
There is a development plan for Kuirau Park that includes potential harakeke areas for some of the low points where damage is occurring and ecologists will be involved in planting plans.
Options to restrict or block access to grass areas will also be considered as part of the future development plan for the park. Bollards or changes to the configuration through the park are among the options.
Regarding your pātai in relation to the park being gifted reserve see the following from Deputy Chief Executive Te Arawa Partnership Gina Rangi:
Kuirau Park is made up of 25 hectares gifted by Ngati Whakaue in the Rotorua Township (Fenton) Agreement. A further 5 hectares was gifted by Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara (this includes the land that the aquatics centre sits on).
In 1996 Council and Ngāti Whakaue agreed a protocol (called the Gifted Reserves Protocol) which sets out Council’s obligations towards Ngāti Whakaue, and management expectations for lands gifted under the Rotorua Townships Agreement.
If reserves are damaged by the public, it is Council’s responsibility to carry out repairs. Damage (such as vehicle damage) does not trigger the obligation to return the land, because the land is still being used as a public reserve. The trigger for returning land under the Gifted Reserves protocol is whether the land is still being used for the purpose it was gifted – if it is not, then it must be returned to Ngāti Whakaue. Recent examples where this has happened include:
The Gifted Reserves protocol committee (with representatives from Council and Ngāti Whakaue) meet every six months to review the management of the reserves. In addition, Council staff make sure the committee members are updated if anything arises between meetings.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Weather-related callouts
Enquiry
Just touching base to see what weather-related incidents the council contractors were called to overnight?
Response
Reporter was referred to the weather update on our website here.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: New Toi Ohomai cafe
Enquiry
I am writing an article on the official opening of the Junction on Fenton - a commercial cafe in the current iSite building on Rotorua's Fenton St - on August 1.
As the Toi Ohomai and Te Pūkenga-led project is supported by the Rotorua Lakes Council, I was wondering if we could please have a comment from the mayor about the project and how it will impact Rotorua's hospitality industry and the nationwide staffing shortage?
Reporter also asked if she could use comment from DCE District Development Jean-Paul Gaston in a recent news release about the cafe
Response
The Mayor was in hearings today and the reporter was referred to Toi Ohomai regarding questions about how the café would impact on the hospitality industry and current staff shortages in the sector.
The following information and comment was also provided:
Background if needed
Rotorua Lakes Council owns the iSite building and in March 2021 Council agreed to add an outdoor area to the site being developed by Toi Ohomai, to ensure the successful establishment of the café and realisation of associated benefits to the district and community.
From Rotorua Lakes Council’s District Development Deputy Chief Executive, Jean-Paul Gaston:
Partnering with Toi Ohomai to enable this unique initiative to progress has been a great opportunity to further embed Council’s commitment to a thriving inner city by helping to activate our historic iSite building and Jean Batten Square.
This is an exciting venture and I look forward to seeing the café used as a training facility to support our local hospitality sector and the retention of local students in the long term.