3 June 2026: Reforms, council voting, bore failure, cable theft

Media:The Post

Topic: Local Government Reforms

Enquiry

I am getting in touch with regard to the upcoming decisions regarding council amalgamation.

The Post is working on a piece about the discussions surrounding council amalgamations.

This will include:

- What councils are looking at combining?

- How the conversations are going?

- how big the rating base will be for the new proposed councils?

Given Tania Tapsell is the chair of Bay of Plenty regional mayoral forum I was hoping to get a statement from her on the questions above.

Response

From Mayor Tapsell:

This is a significant moment for local government, and we recognise that any change must protect strong local decision-making and deliver real, practical benefits for communities like Rotorua.

Across the Bay of Plenty, we have natural sub-regions - Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty in the west; Kawerau, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki in the east; and Rotorua in the centre.

Other potential options that have arisen for Rotorua are looking towards Taupō and/or South Waikato.

We’re currently in discussions with other Bay of Plenty and Waikato mayors to explore a range of options. These conversations are at an early stage and focused on understanding what different models could look like, rather than landing on any specific configuration. No decisions have been made about preferred partners or proposed structures at this point.

We’re all keeping an open mind about where this could lead. Councils are talking with each other, and with our communities, at pace, given the short timeframe.

At the same time, we’ve already been working together across the region on shared services to improve affordability and efficiency, alongside significant work through Local Waters Done Well.

Across the Bay of Plenty, we’re all focused on getting the best possible outcomes for the people we represent.

A decision on whether to participate in the Simplifying Local Government Head Start pathway, and submit an outline proposal, will be considered at a Council meeting on Monday, 8 June.

Note: more information, and FAQs, is available on our website: Simplifying Local Government - Rotorua Lakes Council

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Media: Newsroom

Topic: Council voting

Enquiry

Request to interview Mayor Tapsell about yesterday’s Government announcement: Council voting to be restricted to elected members | Beehive.govt.nz

Response

You can listen to the interview at the following link or see below for key points made by Mayor Tapsell: Concerns sudden council voting changes will have 'unintended consequences'

Mayor Tapsell made the following key points:

• Emphasised that independent people who join council committees bring specialist expertise, qualifications, and experience that enhance Council decision-making and enrich discussions.
• Noted that some announcements have been targeted towards iwi committees, or iwi involvement in council committees, and that we must remember many members are, in fact, voted in as representatives on behalf of iwi.
• Pleased that Minister Watts has made it clear independent members will still be able to participate in committee meetings. However, she raised concerns that removing voting powers is a quick shift from a long-held practice and hopes there will continue to be opportunities to provide input to ensure there are no unintended consequences.
• A key concern raised by LGNZ is that this change has been added to a bill that has already gone through the Select Committee process, which means it may not be as thoroughly tested and debated as would normally occur. While the Minister has the power to do this, there is also the need to consider public input.
• Another risk, raised in discussions with other mayors, relates to Audit and Risk Committees where it is best practice to have one to two independent members with specialist expertise.
• LGNZ is asking that, throughout this process, there is sufficient time for further discussions with the government to ensure this change takes us forwards, not backwards.

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Media: Stuff, Rotorua Daily Post, Aukaha News, 1News, Mediaworks

Topic: Geothermal bore failure

Enquiries

Outlets sought information regarding the failure of a grouted geothermal bore on a marae property at Tarewa Road following footage shown on social media of the geyser-like occurrence.

Response

All media were provided with the following information:

What happened

A grouted (closed off) private bore at a marae on Tarewa Road in Rotorua failed, causing water, steam, mud and concrete to be sprayed into the air, creating a geyser effect.

A member of the public alerted Rotorua Lakes Council about 4.30pm.

There was no damage to any buildings.

We understand vehicles in the vicinity were sprayed with the steam and mud. This should be washed off gently with soapy water, ideally while still wet.

We do not know the exact cause.

We understand the bore was grouted some time in the 1980s.

Action taken

The site was fenced off.

Contractors are now on site to re-grout the bore which take a couple of days to complete.

Rotorua Lakes Council has been in contact with the owners.

Geothermal activity

Rotorua Lakes Council’s geothermal inspector, contractor Andrew Austin, says there has been a bit of increased geothermal activity generally in recent weeks, since recent heavy rain, which is normal following rain events and usually dies down again over time.

For expert information relating to geothermal activity please contact Brad Scott, via Earth, Science New Zealand who is an expert in this and knows the Rotorua geothermal field well

General information

Bore owners are responsible for upkeep and maintenance of geothermal bores.

Rotorua Lakes Council is responsible for regulatory aspects and for public safety.

Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for managing the Rotorua geothermal resource and issuing consents for its use.

Rotorua Daily Post also asked about geothermal activity at Ohinemutu and was provided with the following additional information:

At 10am yesterday, Council was notified of a thermal spring eruption near reclaimed land in front of Tunohopu Marae in Ohinemutu. The activity was caused by a build-up of sediment, and the spring settled once this was cleared.

Aukaha News, also asked about geothermal consenting and engagement with mana whenua and was referred to BOP Regional Council as the geothermal consenting authority

At 3.15pm we provided all media who had contacted us about the bore with an update:

The bore on Tarewa Road is now controlled and contractors will begin work on re-grouting the bore, tomorrow.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Theft of cabling from water pump shed site

Enquiry

Reporter sought information about the theft of power and data cables from a water supply pump shed at Hamurana.

Response

From Eric Gurden, Rotorua Lakes Council Water Services Manager:

The theft of about 150m of data cable and power cable at council’s Rewarewa Spring water supply pump shed was discovered on 28 May.

The cabling was part of a monitoring system linked to the water take at Rewarewa, which supplies the Kaharoa and Hamurana communities.

Water supply was not affected.

The cabling was removed by digging underground at a water pump shed at Rewarewa Spring (near Hamurana Golf Course) and pulling it out, possibly using a vehicle.

This is theft from the community and is a nuisance for us as it will need to be replaced which will cost approximately $2000.

The theft has been reported to police.

The power cable was made of copper but was a small cable.