3 February 2023
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Incident at library
Enquiry
We understand there was an incident at the library on Wednesday 1 Feb, where apparently a handgun was seen there around 3.30pm/4pm. We've contacted the police for comment but was wondering what the library can tell us about this incident? did the library go into lockdown as a result? If so, around how many staff and patrons were inside at the time? Please feel free to add anything further of importance or relevance.
Response
From DCE Community Wellbeing Anaru Pewhairangi:
Shortly after 3.30pm Wednesday 1 February, Library Staff and patrons were directed by police to leave the building after a report of a possible sighting of a firearm. Police searched and cleared the building and Te Aka Mauri was reopened to the public by 4.05pm. Staff were offered counselling and the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Gina Rangi (Te Arawa Partnership, Deputy Chief Executive) and I met with staff to check on their welfare. The team is in great spirits and work has resumed as normal. I am proud of the response and calmness of our staff during the incident.
note:
There were about 50 staff working in the building at the time and about 150 members of the public.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Mayor's remuneration
Enquiry
Is anyone able to advise if the mayor's remuneration has already been set/approved? (And what it is) I can't seem to find anything on it.
Subsequent from reporter:
Just following on from that - is it accurate the mayor would be paid $159,679 as set by the authority in October, or is this subject to change?
Response:
We provided the following information:
The Remuneration Authority has set the Mayor’s salary at $159,679.
The Authority also determines a separate remuneration pool that must be allocated in full to the remaining 10 elected Councillors.
*NOTE: We subsequently also provided the reporter with Mayor Tapsell’s statement, put out today, regarding next week’s meeting – see HERE on RLC website
*NOTE: this enquiry relates to a report on elected members’ remuneration which is to be considered at next week’s Council meeting (agenda is HERE on RLC website)
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Emergency Housing
Enquiry
I'm just chasing up on a bunch of emergency housing areas and hoped I could get a response to the following. They might form one, two or three stories. I'm not sure yet.
- Has the council appealed the independent commissioners' decision relating to the resource consent applications? If not, why not? (Appeal period lapsed last week).
- When will the resource consents be issued?
- Once these are issued, will the council force the closure of the 17 (could be fewer now, I'm going off the December dashboard) EH motels still operating in Rotorua given they do not have proper resource consent?
- Has there been an improvement in the past few months with how contracted emergency housing motels have been operating and communicating with the council and local residents?
- What improvements have you noticed? Why has this been?
- Have some of the recommendations started to be implemented?
- There's been a big reduction in the number of people in EH. Has the council noticed general improvements throughout the city (this can be anything from your guardian patrols, graffiti, damage to council property etc).
- What is happening with Four Canoes Hotel now? Is it still subject to a Dangerous Building Notice and a Notice to Fix?
- What improvements, if any, have been made there?
- Are people still allowed to live on site?
- Will the council shut the building down?
- Has the council issued any other accommodation providers that have emergency housing with similar notices?
Response
We provided the following from DCE District Development, Jean-Paul Gaston:
Has the council appealed the independent commissioners' decision relating to the resource consent applications? If not, why not? (Appeal period lapsed last week).
No. It would be very unusual for a council, having appointed independent commissioners to hear submissions, assess all evidence and make decisions, to then appeal. Matters council raised in its evidence have been addressed in the independent panel’s decision.
When will the resource consents be issued?
The independent commissioners have approved the consent applications, with conditions as outlined in their decision. We are making enquiries with the Environment Court as to whether any appeals have been received. If not, the consents would take effect once that has been confirmed.
Once these are issued, will the council force the closure of the 17 (could be fewer now, I'm going off the December dashboard) EH motels still operating in Rotorua given they do not have proper resource consent?
As you are aware, council is undertaking a process with accommodation operators to ensure that those who wish to continue providing emergency housing have the appropriate consent. This is ongoing.
Council is continuing to work through a phased and site specific approach with any remaining non-tourist accommodation providers to address any relevant regulatory requirements.
As we have stated previously, all premises operating activities requiring resource consent will be required to get one.
Has there been an improvement in the past few months with how contracted emergency housing motels have been operating and communicating with the council and local residents? What improvements have you noticed? Why has this been?
Questions relating to how contracted establishments are operating should be referred to HUD which contracts these providers.
Council deals directly with HUD regarding the contracted motels and continues to be in regular contact with the agency.
Have some of the recommendations started to be implemented?
Council has noted that some contracted emergency housing providers have already started to implement some of the recommended consent conditions.
There's been a big reduction in the number of people in EH. Has the council noticed general improvements throughout the city (this can be anything from your guardian patrols, graffiti, damage to council property etc).
The holiday period has from our perspective been quieter generally in terms of anti-social activity in the wider CBD area and that’s what we are also hearing from police.
Our integrated model alongside police during this period, which is part of our community safety strategy, has been focussed on high visibility, response and reassurance and we have had a focus on “signal crime” such as graffiti and anti-social behaviour, making sure that our response meets the needs of our community.
Note for reporters: it appears you are potentially making an attempt here to link any reduction in the type of behaviour/offending that you have listed with a reduction in people in emergency housing. RLC makes no such assumption. The above is simply a statement of fact ie the holiday period has generally been quieter.
What is happening with Four Canoes Hotel now? Is it still subject to a Dangerous Building Notice and a Notice to Fix?
The dangerous building notice was withdrawn on receipt of further input from FENZ after improvements to the building’s safety features by the owner. A Notice To Fix (NTF) is in place and aligns with the owner’s stated commitment to revert back to providing tourist accommodation by the end of February 2023.
As we advised in Aug 2022, the owner of the premises, who was issued with a Dangerous Building Notice and a Notice to Fix on Monday 8 August 2022, was at that time proposing remediation/mitigation which council was working through with them.
What improvements, if any, have been made there?
Repairs to existing safety features were implemented including removing non-compliant door locks and screen doors and maintenance of some smoke stop doors. Additional protection was provided by the installation of smoke detectors in each of the bedrooms.
Are people still allowed to live on site?
There has been a commitment to transition the few people who remain there to other accommodation and the NTF aligns with this.
Will the council shut the building down?
Kelly, see above re returning to tourist accommodation and moving remaining residents out.
Has the council issued any other accommodation providers that have emergency housing with similar notices?
No
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Media: Stuff
Topic: Museum
Enquiry
getting in touch to request some comment?
To provide some background, I'm looking into the issue of seismic safety as it relates to heritage buildings in the wake of news the Chateau Tongariro is set to close its doors (see HERE)
We have a similar situation here of course with the Museum and Blue Baths also closed, so I thought it might be interesting to get something on that as an earlier example of a much loved heritage building forced to close.
To that end I wanted to ask:
Is it possible to give a rough figure for revenue lost to council due to the Museum's closure?
Given its iconic status here in Rotorua, and beyond, has the museum's closure been a blow to Rotorua's tourism and visitor offering?
What is the latest news as regards a possible reopening of the museum?
Response
The following information was provided:
Is it possible to give a rough figure for revenue lost to council due to the Museum's closure?
We don’t have a “rough figure” for you Benn but prior to closure annual revenue was just under $3m (per year).
Given its iconic status here in Rotorua, and beyond, has the museum's closure been a blow to Rotorua's tourism and visitor offering?
As previously advised, please speak with RotoruaNZ regarding this.
What is the latest news as regards a possible reopening of the museum?
The museum project remains on track for completion in the second half of 2025 subject to approval of tender and contract and any decisions made by Council regarding this project.
As reported in July last year (see HERE) the previous council noted that the new council would receive relevant information to inform decisions on next steps for this project.
Following the July update, there was a community update on the museum project in September which you’ll find HERE
RotoruaNZ were also approached for comment and provided the following in response from CE Andrew Wilson:
“The Chateau Tongariro Hotel is certainly a significant part of Ruapehu’s tourism landscape and we know the impact of its closure will be felt by local operators who are a part of that eco-system.
And whilst the immediate focus will largely be on its closure, we’re sure the local community will rally together to discuss possible options for its future use.”