Te Arawa 2050 Vision Committee's inaugural meeting

The next chapter of the partnership between Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa began today with the inaugural meeting of the new Te Arawa 2050 Vision Committee.

Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell, says this milestone meeting starts a journey of partnership focused on delivering a better Rotorua for all.

“By working together with input from elected members of Te Tatau o Te Arawa we can bring to life our shared aspirations for both Te Arawa and our wider community. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“At a time of great uncertainty in our country, Rotorua is once again leading the way by respecting and empowering the voice and value of engaging with iwi and Māori,” says Mayor Tapsell.

During today’s meeting, Mayor Tapsell appointed Rotorua Lakes Councillor, Trevor Maxwell, as Chair of the Committee and Te Tatau o Te Arawa Chair, James Hamiora, as Deputy Chair.

“Councillor Maxwell, as the longest serving Councillor in New Zealand, will bring great experience and passion to the role,” says Mayor Tapsell.

Newly appointed Chair, Cr Maxwell, says “I’m personally honoured and humbled that Mayor Tapsell, fellow Councillor colleagues, and our Te Tatau o Te Arawa whānau have asked me to Chair this important partnership.”

Council approved the establishment of the Committee in December 2024, which was proposed following a joint review of the partnership terms of reference, which started in 2023.

Established in 2015 following consultation saw the inception of a Te Tatau o Te Arawa board with membership of Te Arawa representatives on council committees.

Te Tatau o Te Arawa chair, James Hamiora, says his board wants to see Rotorua and Te Arawa thrive together.

“We mihi to our new Komiti chair and the establishment of this new Council Committee. It will help Te Arawa and the wider Rotorua community to advance our people, place, culture and economy by uniting as Te Tiriti partners while demonstrating our leadership as innovators who want to see Rotorua prosper. We look forward to further embedding Te Arawatanga into the Rotorua Way. Let the journey continue,” says Te Tatau o Te Arawa chair, James Hamiora.

The purpose of the Te Arawa 2050 Committee is to advance mutual benefits for both Te Arawa and the Rotorua district, working on projects that align with the goals and aspirations of both partners and providing advice for Council decision-making.

The scope of the committee will be focused on and limited to a maximum of five projects at any given time.

Today the Committee discussed and provided feedback to staff on projects they’d like to focus on throughout 2025. A subsequent report detailing these final projects will come to the next Committee meeting on Wednesday 16 April 2025.

Committee Membership consists of the Rotorua Mayor and all councillors, the chairperson of Te Tatau and four Te Tatau board members and will meet at least four times a year.

The Committee is recommendatory only, making recommendations to the full Council which will make the final decisions.

See the full agenda from today’s meeting hereand watch the livestream recording of the meeting here.