24 February 2021
Media: Local Democracry Reporter
Topic: Te Ahi Tupua sculpture installation
Enquiry
As you may know I requested emails regarding the installation of Te Ahi Tupua.
I have some questions arising from that LGOIMA:
- How much did the Black Hawk helicopter ultimately cost? Was it $18,630? Who, or what (org), paid for this?
- How much was the Beck helicopter going to cost (i.e. what was the quote?)
- Page 332 of the Kilwell emails - where is the attachment? Is that something that has been redacted?
- [Page 18 NZTA emails] Why did the council decide to withhold the fact a helicopter was required to transport the sculpture? When was it decided it was appropriate to release and why?
- [Page 293 NZTA emails] Who, or what, paid the traffic management costs (the $9328.05)?
- Can you please confirm or clarify that the council will cover the upkeep cost of the sculpture? How much is that expected to be per year? Based on the emails I've calculated it to be just under $33,000 every five to 10 years (est) - is that correct? [page 386 Kilwell emails]
- What is meant by 'removal costs' [pg 205 Kilwell emails] - and how much did they cost? And who/what paid?
Further questions:
I've got a couple of other questions for this and I also have some comments (below) to put to the council for right of reply, so I'll add these in and review that deadline for all of the answers to 10am tomorrow (February 24).
- Why was the sculpture double the weight it was estimated to be by engineers?
- What challenges did this present?
Comments for right of reply (please advise any inaccuracies also, if applicable):
AUT Professor of Construction Management John Tookey said it appeared there would have been weight assessments early on that were tweaked and either a recalculation was not done or not communicated.
"You get weight blow-outs engineering has a tendency to evolve."
However, he said weights being nearly double the initial estimation did "not happen too often at all".
While it was possible the extra weight could affect the structure's safety and stability in situ, Tookey believed it would be unlikely.
"It depends if the additional structural components have been calculated for which I fully expect they would have.
"Any weight additions are most likely attributable to contractors adding additional structural material to [ensure stability and safety]."
Tookey said anything built for a public space tended to be "massively over-designed" to ensure safety, and all engineering assumptions should have been checked by a peer-review process.
"There is a massive amount of liability for public structures."
Response
Information provided below:
You can read the LGOIMA from 2 November 2020 here
- How much did the Black Hawk helicopter ultimately cost? Was it $18,630? Who, or what (org), paid for this?Council does not hold this information. Transportation was the responsibility of Kilwell.
- How much was the Beck helicopter going to cost (i.e. what was the quote?)Council does not hold this information. Transportation was the responsibility of Kilwell.
- Page 332 of the Kilwell emails - where is the attachment? Is that something that has been redacted?We have attached the PS1 Certificate. The project report from Gurit contains Gurit's intellectual property and is withheld.
- [Page 18 NZTA emails] Why did the council decide to withhold the fact a helicopter was required to transport the sculpture? When was it decided it was appropriate to release and why?The transportation method was shared with the public in May 2019. Prior to this the project team were still working to confirm the use of a helicopter for transportation.
- [Page 293 NZTA emails] Who, or what, paid the traffic management costs (the $9328.05)?This cost was covered by Rotorua Lakes Council
- Can you please confirm or clarify that the council will cover the upkeep cost of the sculpture? How much is that expected to be per year? Based on the emails I've calculated it to be just under $33,000 every five to 10 years (est) - is that correct? [page 386 Kilwell emails]The cost of upkeep is as follows:- a wash once a year (approximate cost $1000)- repaint once every seven years (approximate cost $30,000)These costs will be covered by funds set aside in Council's annual Arts Maintenance budget.
- What is meant by 'removal costs' [pg 205 Kilwell emails] - and how much did they cost? And who/what paid?This refers to point 36 of the Notice of Conditions for Works on State Highway document [page 210 Kilwell emails] - should Te Ahi Tupua need to be removed to 'enable construction of any NZTA works'. Any requirement to remove or protect Te Ahi Tupua would be at Council's cost. Upkeep is explained above.Further questions
- Why was the sculpture double the weight it was estimated to be by engineers?
What challenges did this present?
You will need to refer these questions to Kilwell Fibretube.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Climate Action Plan
Enquiry
(Regarding engagement on draft Climate Action Plan) Just checking - for the Climate Change Action Plan - was it just 36 submitters through the Kōrero Mai platform? That's all?
Response
Yes that figure is correct.
Please also note that the report states community and stakeholder engagement and contribution to the Climate Action Plan has occurred over two years.
A wide range of stakeholders were invited and participated in the first workshops and discussions in 2019. The Draft Climate Action Plan was developed from here.
Engagement on the Draft Plan in 2020 was communicated to a wide range of stakeholders, directing them to Kōrero Mai and further face-to-face discussions were had. Meetings were also facilitated by the Lakes Community Board, the Rural Community Board including Federated Farmers; and a direct meeting was held with Te Urunga o Kea- Te Arawa Climate Change Working Group representatives.
All feedback has contributed to the final Climate Action Plan that is to be considered by Council this week.
The Plan is anticipated to be a living document that provides a starting point for constructive dialogue with stakeholders to help identify how we can ensure our community develops resilience to the negative effects of climate change, as well as be ready for new opportunities as they emerge.
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Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: Citizenship ceremony
Enquiry
I saw the first citizenship ceremony since lockdown was held yesterday and I was wondering if I could get a few answers from a spokesperson to the below questions:
- How did it feel to have the first citizenship ceremony back since lockdown?
- Does the ceremony still include the likes of a kapa haka performance, gift of a plant etc?
- Why is it special to have these ceremonies in person?
- What do you enjoy about the ceremonies?
- How many people became citizens yesterday and is it possible to know which countries they are from?
- Is it possible to know how many citizenship certificated were posted out since lockdown and returning yesterday?
- Is there anything you would like to add?
- Are there a couple photos from the ceremony we can use?
Response
Reporter was provided with images, a list of citizenship candidates who received their certificates yesterday and the following information:
Thank you for your interest in yesterday's ceremony. Attached is the candidate list which provides info about countries of origin.
Yes we did have a kapa haka performance at yesterday's ceremony and gift of plants. The performance was by Rotorua Primary School.
There was also a haka performed by some students from Rotorua Intermediate when their fellow student, Avish Chand, became a citizen. We have a pic of Avish and his family which we will send.
Regarding certificates posted out, you will need to contact the Department of Internal Affairs. Please note for your knowledge/future reference, citizenship is managed by DIA with local councils carrying out the citizenship ceremonies - that's the only bit that councils do so the posted certificates were posted sent by DIA not Council.
Regarding comment, we don't have a citizenship spokesperson within the council organisation but Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson officiated at yesterday's ceremony in the mayor's absence and he is happy to be contacted for some comment.