27 May 2026: Courts, parking, local government reform, Otonga crossing
Media: Newsroom
Topic: Announcement of new courts for Rotorua
Enquiry
Reporter sought an interview with Mayor Tania Tapsell about today’s announcement by the Courts Minister of investment in new court facilities for Rotorua
Response
Mayor Tapsell made the following key points:
- The current courthouse is unsuitable, unsafe and no longer fit-for-purpose - we've waited long enough for new facilities
- This is affecting justice outcomes, and community confidence
- The announcement is great news
The mayor also shared with Newsroom a joint letter from her and other local government and business leaders, advocating for new facilities.
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Media: The Heat FM
Topics: New inner city parking system and Rotorua museum project
Enquiry
Announcer requested an interview with Mayor Tapsell regarding the new inner city parking system that will start in July The heat also interviewed Mayor Tapsell about the museum project
Response
Parking: link to interview here
Museum: link to interview here
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Media: Te Arawa FM
Topic: Local Government reforms and "Head Start" pathway to establishing unitary authorities
Enquiry
Sought an interview with Mayor Tapsell about the Government’s local government reforms “Head Start” pathway
Response
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Media (multiple): Rotorua Daily Post, Te Arawa FM, NewsTalkZB
Topic: Announcement of new courthouses for Rotorua
Enquiries
The above outlets requested comment from Mayor Tapsell about the Government’s announcement today re $100m investment in Rotorua courthouses
Responses
Mayor Tapsell highlighted the significance of the investment for Rotorua, nothing that this is one of the biggest Government investments into Rotorua, that it has been much needed for some time now and said it was fantastic that we’ll soon have fit-for-purpose, modern facilities that will complement other investments in our inner city.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Otonga pedestrian crossing
Enquiry
Just have some questions about the pedestrian crossing by Otonga Primary.
Been speaking to a few people who are raising serious safety concerns about it and was wondering if RLC might have a response to that?
- Someone has referred to the crossing location as an “accident waiting to happen”? How does the council react to such local concern?
- What was the specific decision-making process that led the pedestrian crossing to its current position near the Springfield Rd/Otonga Rd roundabout?
- How does the council respond to concerns that vegetation, fencing, and nearby buildings reduce visibility of the crossing, particularly for westbound traffic?
- Has the council conducted any site visits or monitoring of traffic behaviour at peak school times since the relocation?
- Is the council aware of congestion issues where vehicles queue back into the roundabout, and if so, what mitigation has been considered?
- Have any complaints, near-miss reports, or safety concerns been formally logged by residents, schools, or road users about this crossing?
- What options are being considered locally to improve safety?
- Would the council support reinstating the crossing closer to its previous location if safety concerns are validated?
Response
From Stavros Michael, Infrastructure and Assets Group Manager:
Someone has referred to the crossing location as an “accident waiting to happen”? How does the council react to such local concern?
We understand why people feel concerned, especially around schools. Safety is our top priority in these environments.
The Transport Safety Team regularly receives requests for improvements across the roading network, particularly relating to crossings and vehicle speeds near schools. One of the biggest challenges we see is that drivers don’t always adjust their speed to suit school environments, where children can behave unpredictably.
We would like to do more but like many councils, are working within limited funding and have to prioritise areas of greatest need. Regardless, the underlying safety message remains the same: lower speeds prevent harm, particularly around schools.
What was the specific decision-making process that led the pedestrian crossing to its current position near the Springfield Rd/Otonga Rd roundabout?
The current location of the crossing was informed directly by safety concerns raised by the school. In 2017, the school Principal and Board of Trustees requested improvements to the original crossing on Springfield Road.
In response, a detailed safety assessment was carried out which included observing how and where people were actually crossing. This showed that pedestrians - particularly students - were naturally crossing at the intersection, even though there were no formal facilities there at the time.
The roundabout and crossing layout were therefore designed to align with these ‘desire lines’, so that children can cross where they already feel comfortable crossing, but with added safety features.
How does the council respond to concerns that vegetation, fencing, and nearby buildings reduce visibility of the crossing, particularly for westbound traffic?
Clear visibility is critical for safety, especially near schools. We actively maintain vegetation through our Parks and Open Spaces team, and any issues identified are addressed promptly. Following a recent inspection, we’ve identified some new planting that requires attention and have already scheduled this for removal or trimming.
In terms of the design, visibility and stopping distances are carefully considered. At speeds around 40km/h, crossings are positioned to give drivers enough distance to see a pedestrian and stop safely. The roundabout is also designed so pedestrians cross in two stages, reducing their exposure to traffic.
That said, there is always room for improvement and we are planning upgrades that will include tactile paving and hold bars to better guide pedestrians and reinforce the correct crossing behaviour.
Has the council conducted any site visits or monitoring of traffic behaviour at peak school times since the relocation?
We monitor traffic volumes across the city, including on Otonga Road and Springfield Road and these counts show traffic levels in this area are moderate compared to other school locations in Rotorua.
However, it’s important to note that traffic volume alone doesn’t determine safety. Near schools, the key factor is how safely vehicles interact with pedestrians and cyclists. This is why the design focuses on encouraging lower speeds and safer driver behaviour, rather than simply managing traffic flow.
Is the council aware of congestion issues where vehicles queue back into the roundabout, and if so, what mitigation has been considered?
We have not received any reports or complaints about congestion at this roundabout.
Have any complaints, near-miss reports, or safety concerns been formally logged by residents, schools, or road users about this crossing?
We regularly receive general requests for improvements to crossings and safer speeds near schools, which reflects how important these environments are to the community.
For this location, there were safety concerns prior to installation of the roundabout. Since then, other than a letter we have recently received from Otonga School, there have been no formally logged complaints.
There have been two reported incidents involving students at different crossing points, which we take very seriously. Importantly, overall crash data shows an improvement in safety outcomes:
- 2010–2017: 6 crashes
- 2018–2026: 3 crashes
While any incident is concerning, this reduction indicates that the changes made have improved safety overall.
What options are being considered locally to improve safety?
We are committed to continuous improvement, particularly around schools.
Planned upgrades for this intersection include improving the crossing points with tactile paving, hold bars and clearer pedestrian guidance features. These aim to help ensure people, especially children, understand how to use crossings safely.
We also work directly with the school to support safer travel behaviours. This includes funding cycle skills training, running safe walking programmes and exploring options such as supervised crossing support during peak times.
Infrastructure is only one part of the solution - safe speeds, education and driver awareness are just as important.
Would the council support reinstating the crossing closer to its previous location if safety concerns are validated?
Based on current evidence, we would not support relocating the crossing.
The existing crossing is located where people, particularly students, naturally choose to cross. Moving it away from that point would likely result in people continuing to cross at the roundabout but without the benefit of formal safety features.
Crash data indicates the current layout has improved safety outcomes compared to the previous arrangement. It’s also important to note that the crossing was originally moved at the request of the school due to safety concerns at the previous location.
Our focus remains on improving the current layout and ensuring it works as safely as possible for everyone - especially children walking and cycling to and from school.
