30 July 2026: Police patrols, possible closure of Rotorua racecourse
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: CBD police patrols
Enquiry
I am writing a story about retail crime and the impact the police on the beat team may have had since they began patrolling Rotorua's CBD more than a year ago.
As Mayor Tania Tapsell attended the team's launch, I was hoping to get some comment from her for the story. I have included a few questions below.
- What was Rotorua's CBD like a year ago, and how would you compare it with the CBD today?
- In your opinion, what impact has the police on the beat team had on the CBD since its launch in July last year?
- Have you heard or noticed of any reduction in incidents such as retail theft in the CBD?
- What feedback have you received from the community about the CBD's atmosphere and the police on the beat team since the initiative began?
*NOTE: Rotorua police were also asked for comment
Response
From Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell:
The Police Beat Team has made a significant contribution to the positive progress we’re seeing in our inner city.
We advocated strongly for this additional support and appreciate Minister Mitchell delivering a dedicated Beat Team for Rotorua which has had positive outcomes.
Council’s CCTV and community safety teams, alongside the Police beat team, create a highly effective and coordinated approach to inner-city safety which we know is important to locals.
While there is still work to do, with retail theft being the most common offence, both safety and perceptions of our inner city are improving. Overall offending remains below long-term averages, with good progress being made in previously identified crime hotspots.
Feedback we hear is that people appreciate the increased visibility and reassurance provided by police and our community safety teams. We can’t get complacent though, keeping up this momentum and our coordinated approach will be key to protecting the gains we’ve made and continuing to build a safer, more welcoming and vibrant inner city.
The following comments were provided by Inspector Herby Ngawhika, Rotorua Area Police Commander:
Police on the Beat are regularly checking in with retailers and business owners as part of the working relationship Police have with them and our other partner agencies. When we are aware of retailers who have been victims of crime, the team makes a particular effort to visit them for reassurance and to discuss prevention opportunities.
Daily we’re dropping in on retailers when we’re walking the Beat and have formed some strong relationships with retailers and business owners. This is ongoing, and we are constantly working on understanding the needs of the retail community, as well as identifying risks or trends in incidents that people are seeing.
We’d welcome any engagement opportunities with retailers or CBD business owners and encourage those who have concerns or would like to know more about the Beat team and our role to get in contact with us.
Any incidents should be reported to 111 if happening now, or 105 after the fact. Retailers can make reports through 105 and also upload footage via Auror. Police use a range of tools, including CCTV, to identify and locate alleged offenders.
We urge people to not take matters into their own hands. While it can be frustrating to be the victim of crime, there is a risk associated to anybody that attempts to solve these matters themselves. Police will always follow up when able, and at times where attendance is not immediate, it helps us build a picture of incidents occurring in certain areas and we can adjust our patrols to meet those needs.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Possible closure of Rotorua racecourse
Enquiry
I'm writing a story on New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Harness Racing New Zealand's recommendation for Rotorua's racecourse to close, as outlined in their Project Stamina report.
As Rotorua Lakes Council owns the Arawa Park land, could I please get a response to the questions below. Please feel free to add any further information that may be relevant.
- Do council representatives agree or disagree with the recommendation that Rotorua Racecourse close? Why?
- What role would the council have in any decision about the future of the racecourse?
- If racing were to cease at Arawa Park, what would happen to the land?
- Have any potential alternative uses for the site been considered, formally or informally? If so, what are they?
- When the closure of Rotorua Racecourse was proposed in 2018 and 2022, were any potential future uses for the site discussed or considered? If so, what were they?
- What value does council believe the racecourse and wider Arawa Park site currently provides to Rotorua?
- What would council representatives say to Rotorua residents and racing stakeholders concerned about the potential loss of the racecourse?
*NOTE: The reporter also sought comment from Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust
Response
From Group Manager - Destination Development, Jean-Paul Gaston:
The Rotorua Racing Club owns about a third of the Arawa Park site. Rotorua Lakes Council administers the remainder, which is gifted reserve land.
The land was gifted to the Crown, with administration vested in Council. The land is subject to the Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol Agreement.
Rotorua Lakes Council has not been involved in recent discussions regarding the future of the racecourse. Council's role is limited to administering the lease with the Rotorua Racing Club.
In 2023, Council participated in a Bay of Plenty Regional Racing Working Group established as the Tauranga Racing Club's lease approached expiry. One option considered was a single regional racing facility, which could have had implications for Rotorua. However, Tauranga City Council subsequently extended the Tauranga Racing Club's lease and the working group was disbanded.
If the Rotorua Racing Club were to end its lease, Council will engage with Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust, on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue regarding any potential future use of the gifted reserve land. Depending on the outcome of those discussions, any future proposal would follow the appropriate statutory and decision-making processes.
From Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust Chair David Tapsell:
The Trust will be watching the next steps around the recommendation to close Arawa Park (Rotorua Racecourse) with interest.
Ngāti Whakaue are the underlying landowners of the gifted Rotorua Racecourse land, which is a recreation reserve. It was gifted to the city by our iwi, for the specific purpose of racing.
In the event that final decisions result in a closure of the racecourse for that purpose, this would trigger a formal legal process to return the gifted land to Ngāti Whakaue, through the Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust.
We imagine that legal process would take some time, but we nonetheless welcome the return of our whenua as soon as that is possible.
Pukeroa have not yet considered the potential future use of this whenua in any detail, but we will turn our minds to that once we have more certainty on the process, including timing.
Our purpose is to utilise and develop our land to deliver greater outcomes for our shareholders and Ngati Whakaue, which in turn benefits Rotorua as a whole - which has been our way for more than a century.
