19 March 2019

Media: Daily Post

Topic: Night Market stall holder abused

Enquiry

I have spoken with the stallholders for Mansour Kitchen about an incident last Thursday. Nabih was racially abused by what he believes was an American tourist and was obviously shaken considering it was the day before the Christchurch shootings.

The story isn't anything apart from in Rotorua we do not stand for this kind of abuse and it does not belong here.

When talking to his wife Cate, she said a [market] person ... helped with the situation but not sure if this is right.

But I would like someone to be able to confirm that this has happened as I know through Cate the event organisers were very supportive through the experience.

• How would you describe the incident?
• Has anything like this happened previously at the market?
• What procedures are in place to protect those at the market?
• What is your response to that sort of behaviour at the market?

Response

From Operations Group Manager Henry Weston:

The Night Market is a vibrant multicultural event where we aim to provide a friendly, safe environment for all people to enjoy and verbal abuse of any kind, anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour are not tolerated.

Security staff are present to deal with incidents if they arise and police are able to be called if necessary.

Regarding last Thursday: A verbal incident was reported and a man was told that his behaviour was unacceptable and would not be tolerated, he was asked to leave and did. We're unaware of any other similar incidents at the market.

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Media: Te Arawa FM

Topic: Rotorua CBD

Enquiry

Te Arawa FM has recently launched its Māori language news bulletins and would appreciate your help with a story that we're working on about the Rotorua CBD Vacancy Survey conducted by Telfer Young.

We have been talking to a couple of local Māori business owners about the survey. One kaikōrero said that a potential solution to help address the 10% office and shop vacancies would be to develop a Māori business hub similar to Eat Streat.

He's calling on the Council to help do this. While, another business owner we spoke to suggested that an ideal location for a Māori hub would be the old Soundshell site at the Lakefront. (This owner is supportive of the idea but isn't entirely sold on how a collaborative hub would be sustainable.)

We'd be keen to do a phone interview with a kaikōrero Māori ... for five minutes about the following questions for our bulletins:

How did the Eat Streat kaupapa come about?

Could Council help to establish a Māori business hub similar to Eat Street? (If so, how?)

What is your response to the idea of setting up a Māori hub near the Soundshell location? (We're mindful that this area will be developed and are aware that this new site will also have the Te Arawa wharewaka moved there)

Anything else you would like to say?

Response

We were not able to get someone for on air interview today but provided the following in response:

Council is happy to work with anyone who has ideas or proposals. Our vision is for a full and vibrant inner city that's a place people want to visit.

We can't say what that might look like or how it might happen as we haven't yet been approached so don't have a full understanding of what's proposed but we are certainly open to ideas and new ways of doing things and would be happy to have a discussion.

Our CBD has a large footprint and is already a diverse space, occupied by offices, shared working spaces, retail shops, cafes and restaurants, education organisations, an arts and culture centre, gyms, churches and a variety of Maori businesses and trusts with a bit of inner city living an potential for more of all of the above.

Eat Streat was a concept that was part of revitalising the inner city and was first trialled as an outdoor dining area. Enclosing it came later.

This was an area already occupied by a number of restaurants and cafes and over time, as other types of occupants have moved out, more restaurants have moved in to refill those vacancies.

East Streat was part of revitalising the CBD - the idea being to create a destination within the CBD that would attract both locals and visitors.

It required buy-in and involvement of the businesses there and while Council still maintains the structure, activity within Eat Streat is organised and managed by the Eat Streat collective themselves.

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Media: Rotorua Weekender

Topic: Electric vehicle roadshow

Enquiry

I am writing a story on the 5th annual electric vehicle roadshow and I have some questions.

For [Mayor] Steve [Chadwick]:

Do you drive an electric car?

Why do you support this initiative?

In your view are electric cars the way of the future and why?

For council:

How many electric charging stations are in Rotorua and who look after those?

What initiatives has the council supported around electric cars?

Are there any other projects that could incorporate electric cars in the pipeline?

How many lease cars does the council have and are any of them electric or could they be in the future?

NOTE: The Great EV Roadshow is coming to Rotorua next week and Mayor Chadwick has been invited along. See HERE for details about the roadshow which will be at the Thursday Night Market on 28 March

Response

From Mayor of Rotorua, Steve Chadwick:

I often challenge Council's chief executive to introduce electric vehicles to the organisation's fleet. Although the Council vehicle I use isn't electric, I do use my e-bike to get around as well. I am pleased Council brought in some e-bikes for staff to use in their day-to-day mahi but I know we can go further. My aspiration for Rotorua is that we are a district that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Please attribute the following to Rotorua Lakes Council's property manager, Brian Stirton:

The Council has 60 vehicles in its fleet and at this stage, we do not have any electric vehicles. With help from our vehicle supplier, Council is investigating the option of electric vehicles for the organisation in future. Instead of buying one Council vehicle, we have bought four e-bikes for staff to use. Council is supportive of the electric vehicle movement and teamed up with Unison a couple of years ago to install a charging station on Haupapa Street which Council allocated.

In relation to your question about locations of charging stations: please check out: chargenet.nz