23 June 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Landslip on state highway
Enquiry
There was landslide in Ngongotaha and I was wondering if council contractors were involved at all?
How long did it take to clear the road? Are there any issues this morning? Are contractors going back today?
Response
Reporter was referred to Waka Kotahi which is responsible for managing state highways.
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Media: TVNZ
Topic: Emergency housing issues and Rotorua in general
Enquiry
TVNZ regional reporter requested interview with Mayor Chadwick in relation to emergency housing issues and Rotorua in general
Response
Mayor Chadwick was interviewed and made the following points -
Re emergency accommodation:
- Council very focused on housing and community safety
- Safety patrollers work closely with police, extra eyes and ears
- Very aware of need to build our way out of this situation
- Need 6000 homes now, 10,000 in the longer term and need homes of all types including social housing
- We are working hard, using all tools available to us, alongside central government, iwi and others to open up land, provide more options (eg intensification), get developments going
- We are working on infrastructure like stormwater and roading - with funding assistance from government
- Re emergency housing, we have asked the government to change the settings, want looking after our own people and housing our local people to be priority
- Want settings changed so people from elsewhere don't come to Rotorua by choice
- Mayor Chadwick talked about the need to keep children in emergency housing engaged in education
- We share the community' frustration
- It's a complicated situation, there is no magic wand
- We want management of all motels providing emergency housing, the managed ones are working well, but ultimately don't want this to be a long term situation and we've ben adamant about that
- Government could always do more and we'd love to see them stretch the targets they've set for Rotorua
Re Rotorua general:
- We are starting to see international visitors coming again
- Uptick in conferences and events
- Lot of new tourism offerings
- Long weekends have been good for Rotorua, we are at capacity for Matariki weekend
- We have plenty of good accommodation
- Hotels that were providing MIQ now welcoming visitors again