26 October 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Latest StatsNZ population data
Enquiry
I am seeking some comment from Tania Tapsell regarding Stats NZ data that came out today on population estimates. My story deadline is 2.30pm tomorrow.
Please see data below:
Rotorua population estimates at June 30 in 2018: 74,800; in 2020: 77,100; in 2021 (provisional): 76,900; in 2022 (provisional): 76,800. Rotorua population average annual change, June 2018-2020: 1200 or 1.6 per cent.
The regions with the highest percentage growth were Northland (1.3 percent), Bay of Plenty and Tasman (both 1.1 percent), and Waikato (1.0 percent).
Sources:
https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/regional-population-growth-slows/
Questions:
What is your reaction to these population estimates for Rotorua?
Does it reflect what you are seeing in terms of growth in the region?
Why do you think the region has not seen significant growth since 2018?
Please feel free to add any other comments.
Response
From Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell:
Rotorua has experienced consistent growth since 2013. The last year we saw an increase was in 2020.
Because of the pandemic, we did lose growth due to the lack of international migration which had previously been a key driver for growth in our district. It’s not unexpected that growth has slowed over the past couple of years.
Growth for Rotorua is a good thing because it means more jobs and opportunities. However, we are also currently suffering from a housing shortage so council is working hard to support housing options and development.
To plan well for future growth we will also be looking at a commercial and industrial plan change to create more space for business development within a year.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Emergency housing policies
Enquiry
I did a LGOIMA of RotoruaNZ's communications with relevant Govt ministries/agencies on emergency housing.
Attached [see attached] are two of the documents that came through in the response - you may be aware of these. One is John McRae writing to the Social Development Minister in support of Steve's November letter to her.
The other letter is the Minister's response.
I'm interested in your [Mayor Tapsell's] perspective on two things out of that letter:
- The minister's statement MSD is not 'actively' relocating people to Rotorua for emergency housing, but it is paying for transport for those who choose to relocate to EH here.
The minister's statement MSD is not responsible for the behaviour of clients in motels, noting this report that shows Cabinet was warned about possible impacts of the system in 2020: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/rotorua-emergency-housing-ministers-warned-of-the-risks-to-public-safety-a-year-ago/SURIA576DE25MUZ4E4MD3E37F4/
Response
Mayor Tapsell made the following key points when she spoke with the reporter:
- current policies were enabling and allowing people from out of town to come to Rotorua
- Govt had been warned about the impact of EH and we now have evidence to show the impact this is having on our visitor economy and on community safety
- we need an exit strategy now
- we need economic support from Govt to help our tourism industry recover
- we need more police to be able to respond better to antisocial behaviour
- independent review of EH is needed now more than ever
- Rotorua community deserves better and more transparent info from Govt.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Emergency housing providers
Enquiry
Does the council have a list somewhere of all the non-contracted emergency housing motels?
Response
We referred the reporter to the RotoruaNZ Accommodation Dashboard and invited her to come back to us if this was not what she was looking for. Reporter responded and indicated it was. Rotorua Accommodation Dashboard | Emergency Housing in Rotorua | Rotorua NZ