12 January 2018

Media: Fairfax

Topic: Treefall fatality

Enquiry

Reporter sought Council comment regarding comments from a tree specialist who made the concerns to council known.

First I would like to clarify that is correct and he [Thomas Rika] has been contracted to do work for council in the past.

Second I would welcome some comment about the following statements:

1 - Rika said the remedial work done by the contractor after the inspection was "insufficient" and a much greater reduction in weight should have been done.

2 - Rika said the tree stump was shown to be rotten which would have been occurring for many years. Is this something that can be confirmed on your end.

3 - Rika says the accident was avoidable if the weight reduction was undertaken. Does council have a position on this statement.

Response

From Acting Chief Executive Craig Tiriana:

We understand that there is huge public interest in this matter but we do not intend to undermine the official inquiry by conducting an investigation through the media. Council continues to cooperate fully with police and information will become publicly available at the appropriate time. The important thing is to ensure the police are able to conduct their inquiry.

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Media: Fairfax

Topic: New York Times 'places to go in 2018'

Enquiry

As I'm sure you're aware, Rotorua has been included on the New York Times' list of places to go in 2018.

It would be great to hear the mayor's thoughts on this. Was she surprised at the news?

Of all the places in NZ, why does she think Rotorua was selected? What makes it a stand-out destination? And what are the top 5 attractions/experiences you recommend for visitors?

Fairfax also sought response from Destination Rotorua

Response

In the mayor's absence Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson provided the following response:

Rotorua Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson isn't surprised to see Rotorua on the New York Times list.

We have a long, proud history of tourism and manaakitanga/hospitality with our strong culture and unique natural environment at the forefront.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of the local economy and a lot has been invested in refreshing Rotorua's offering and lifting its profile nationally and internationally, he says.

Rotorua is a place where you can be as active or passive as you like with waterways, forests, geothermal wonders, spas, a multitude of attractions and activities - that's why people visit and why we live here.

Signature events showcase the best of our destination, adding to exposure like this, and we have a lot of great ambassadors like cultural groups and home-grown sportspeople competing and performing on the world stage, Mr Donaldson says.

From DR chief executive Michelle Templer:

It is fantastic to see Rotorua recognised in this way. We know Rotorua is a world-class destination - and we work hard with local industry to showcase this to stakeholders across New Zealand and the world every day - nonetheless it is amazing to see recognition in this list.

Rotorua offers a wide range of activities covering off cultural, natural, adventure and wellbeing activities, which makes it an amazing place for all levels of traveller.

Growth and confidence in the market has seen a number of new operators entering the local tourism sector over the past year and several key announcements relating to new ventures in accommodation, activities and attractions.

Five key things to do in Rotorua

Experience the culture - Steeped in cultural history, Rotorua is the heart of Maoridom where you can experience all aspects of this amazing culture. In fact Rotorua is the birthplace of tourism in NZ when, in the 1800's, the Te Arawa people would guide travellers through the geothermal wonders including the Pink and White Terraces

Explore the geothermal wonderland - From impressive geysers and mud pools, to soaking in the geothermal waters, enjoy the geothermal resource that makes our city so unique.

Test your adventurous side - There's plenty for thrill-seekers to get the heart racing, from soft-adventure suitable for the whole family right through to stomach-in-your-mouth type thrills.

Get back to nature - Explore Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest, or some of the region's 18 sparkling lakes and three major rivers.

Shop and dine - Rotorua has an increasing number of cafes catering for all tastes, and there's plenty to keep the shoppers happy too.

NOTE: Click on THIS LINK to view the New York Times '52 places to go in 2018'

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: GLO Festival follow-up

Enquiry

Rotorua Police have said during the Glo festival they dealt with kids, as young as 10, who were under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. They also said some youth were unsupervised.

Was the Council aware of this and what measures were put in place regarding this behaviour?

Did Council receive any complaints about the Glo Festival -how many and what were they regarding?

In the future police want to look at some options like age restrictions, behavioural expectations and better supervision of young people and work with partners to do that - is that something the Council would work with police on?

In Council's view how did the Glo Festival go and will it be looking at making any changes next year?

Response

From Arts and Culture Director Stewart Brown:

GLO Festival has always been targeted at families and has been well attended each year with great support from police and few problems occurring.

This year's festival attracted about 15,000 people, about 5000 more than in previous years.

Overall the free community event was a success from our point of view with the majority of the crowd enjoying themselves and very well behaved.

We were aware police dealt with a handful of youths at the venue regarding their behaviour but were unaware of any issues with children and have received no official complaints. The event has always been an alcohol-free event.

A debrief, which is common practice after events, will include police and we will discuss any potential changes or improvements needed to ensure GLO remains a fun, family-friendly event.

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Noise complaints during Christmas/New Year period

Enquiry

Reporter sought info re number of noise complaints received by council during Christmas and New Year (Dec 25-Jan 7) and a comparison to the same period the previous year.

Additional comment sought after numbers were provided:

Are council pleased with the 26% decrease in noise complaints this festive season?

What does council put it down to?

Anything else to add?

Response

For the 2016/17 Christmas Period the was 181 complaints

For the 2017/18 Christmas Period the was 134 complaints

From Community and Regulatory Services Manager Neven Hill -

It's always pleasing when Council receives fewer complaints but there are many factors that could have influenced the decrease such as the stormy weather. There were no particular trends that we noticed.

We want to remind everyone that if you are planning an activity or party where noise may be an issue to ensure you are mindful of your neighbours and neighbourhood. This will ensure everyone will have an enjoyable event and neighbours should not be disturbed.

Christmas/New Year period noise complaints 2017/18 (date, time and location of complaints received between 25 Dec 2017 and 7 Jan 2018)