18 March 2020
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Homeless in Kuirau Park
Enquiry
Councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait has told me she was visiting Kuirau Park this week and speaking with some homeless people down there.
While she was there on Tuesday morning this week she witnessed what she understands to be council-contracted security guards asking some of those people to move on from the park. She spoke to the security guards and they told her they had been instructed by the council to move those people on.
Councillor Raukawa-Tait did not see those people doing anything unsafe either to themselves or others. She said "they were doing nothing wrong".
She says the security guards had two orange stripes down the front of their jackets.
Can you please find out for me:
- Does the council agree with the councillor's account of what happened?
- If a company was instructed to do this, which company was it?
- Why were those people being moved out of the park?
- Were those people doing anything unsafe or "high impact" to themselves, others or the environment? [That high impact phrasing comes from here]
I would also like to invite the council to reply, if it wishes, to Merepeka's comments, below:
They were doing nothing wrong
What do you want them to do, jump in the lake?
They'd [the security guards] been told by council they had to move these people along
[The people being moved along were] very articulate, not causing trouble and certainly not stoned
[The people being moved along wanted to] stay with their belongings
[the belongings will] get picked up and dumped that's wrong.
It disregards people who are our neighbours
A couple of them were quite angry because they were doing nothing wrong
I will follow through on this [with the council] and see what we can do.
Response
From Operations Group Manager, Jocelyn Mikaere:
"As part of Council's inner city safety campaign staff patrol Kuirau Park daily.
On 17 March 2020 contracted security staff responded to a complaint from a member of the public about illegal camping in Kuirau Park. As per the Reserves Act a group of people who were camping in the park were asked to vacate."
Background information for your own reference:
- Council is receiving 6 - 8 public enquiries daily about what Council is doing about the homeless issue in Kuirau Park.
- The Police have reported three known serious assaults in Kuirau Park within the last seven days.
- Police are continuing to respond to complaints of drug use, intimidation and anti-social behaviour
- Council's Inner City Safety team patrol Kuirau Park daily as part of their normal CBD patrols
- Council is obliged to respond to complaints or staffs' observations relating to public health and safety.
- Council staff will only respond to instances where there is a high impact on others, themselves or the environment - e.g. illegal camping, damage to property, anti-social behaviour, litter or unsanitary conditions.
- Council staff are taking an educational approach to let complainants know that there is nothing wrong with people being in Kuirau Park even if they perceive it to be a 'bad look'.
- Should people be asked to move on or vacate a park, Council staff do not stop anyone from taking their own belongings. If any belongings are left unattended they are stickered with a notice and 24 hours is given for it to be claimed. If it is not claimed within 24 hours the items are removed. Anything of value (i.e. cell phones) it will be passed on to the Police to be held in their lost and found.
- When staff are engaging with anyone who identifies as homeless or says they have nowhere to go, they do their best to link people with social support and services that are available from agencies and organisations that have responsibility for social housing and are experts in the field
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Impact of COVID-19 on Rotorua businesses
Enquiry
I am working on a story today about the motel industry in the midst of this pandemic. One person has come forward and said how are we going to pay rates when we have no business and believed they needed to open this conversation with council.
So would you be able to get these questions back by 2pm please. Could you send a receipt of email too.
- How is council planning to support businesses in these tough economic times?
- Can council amend the rates to relieve some financial pressure from businesses who are struggling? Why or why not?
Response
Information only (not quotes):
As an organisation Rotorua Lakes Council is committed to helping reduce the spread of COVID-19 and supporting our community.
The health and safety of staff, customers and the wider community is our first priority.
We are following the advice of the Ministry of Health and Government and procedures and practices in relation to COVID-19 are being put in place where needed.
Council-controlled-organisation Rotorua Economic Development is in contact with and providing support, advice and guidance to the local business community (all sectors) to understand the local impact and respond as needed.
Local businesses wanting advice and support and needing help to understand and access assistance that is available are encouraged to contact Rotorua Economic Development.
Further Council actions and decisions relating to COVID-19 will be communicated to relevant stakeholders and the wider community.
From Rotorua Lakes Council's, Chief Financial Officer, Thomas Coll:
How Council can support the business community is a discussion that will be had with elected members.
Council staff are always available and happy to sit down with business owners to get an understanding of their individual circumstances and work through options that could help relieve financial pressures.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: DHB role re homelessness
Enquiry
I am working on a story about the Lakes DHB's role assisting with the homelessness situation in Rotorua. It was part of their discussion on Friday at the board meeting.
I was wondering if you would be able to please provide me an attributable comment on Rotorua Lakes Council's relationship with the Lakes DHB, particularly pertaining to the homelessness issue and safety in the CBD.
What discussions has RLC had with LDHB regarding this?
What other organisations, does RLC work with on this issue? [Doesn't have to be comprehensive if there's a lot - just a representative sample would be useful]
What role can the DHB have addressing this issue (in the council's view)?
Further clarification:
It was in the context of a discussion around the presentation of a summary of the DHB's cross-sector activity (page 35 here).
One member, Rob Vigor-Brown said the DHB needs to do more to get homeless people out of the CBD.
Please note this is of course very high level and paraphrased.
Staff, including the CE. said it wasn't the DHB's role but it could assist with wraparound healthcare services for homeless people.
Another member said he saw it as something the district council would lead and DHB would support.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait agreed with Vigor-Brown in part and said the DHB had an opportunity to take leadership in the area, but that she had also communicated that opportunity to the district council as well. She also said Māori leaders and the police had a role to play.
The discussion concluded with an instruction for the chief executive to reach out to the council on the matter.
Please note I am further clarifying both Vigor-Brown and Raukawa-Tait's comments today but am confident this won't impact the questions I have asked of council nor the general context.
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
With work underway on a district housing plan I requested a meeting with the DHB relating to the issue of homelessness and wrap-around services needed to support what's put in place. We discussed the need for extended community mental health and detox services.
Our housing solutions are not just about providing houses - we also need to ensure we have wrap-around social and support services in place so people get the help they may need. The DHB will be crucial to that support network as providers of community health services.
Council is collaborating with a range of stakeholders on housing solutions including the Ministry for Housing and Development, Kainga Ora, Ministry of Social Development, other social housing and social service providers, Te Arawa iwi and organisations providing support for homeless people in our community.
Housing and homelessness is extremely complex and will require a whole-of-community and whole-of-government response with health services playing an important role.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Rotorua Lakes Council response to COVID-19
Enquiry
Understandably, the coronavirus has presented all sorts of challenges for many organisations. Below, you'll see a release from the Hamilton City Council regarding their response. Can we please find out how each of our councils are responding to the coronavirus? Please come back to us by midday today.
- How has Covid-19 impacted the council so far?
- What, if any, changes have been made to services, events, ceremonies and meetings, and public encounters (such as mayoral visits and the customer help desk/reception), etc?
- How many staff does the council have and how is the council managing its staff and ratepayers' wellbeing in response to coronavirus? How many staff are currently working from home? Have any, if any, been moved to remote offices? Have any offices or branches been closed?
I've kept the questions fairly general as we are talking about a wide-reaching event but please feel free to include any additional specifics you feel is important.
Response
The reporter was directed to the information on Council's website HERE
