24 July 2018

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Overnight drop-in centre

Inquiry

A reporter sought additional comment following yesterday's response.

• Has a consent application been received yet? (I understand Tiny is meeting with Simon Bell at 1pm today, so this should take place today)
• What needs to happen next from a process point of view?
• How long can it take to process a consent application?
• Did the council send a reminder to Visions of a Helping Hand on Friday about the $200,000 fine?
• Why has the council spokesman not been named?

Further questions -

Tiny Deane has told us they were reminded of the fine on Friday, that's why he closed it on Saturday, is this not the case?

We believe this could have happened over the phone or via email, not by letter.

Responses

The reporter was sent the following information and response -

Just wanted to point out a couple of things in relation to your additional questions about the Eruera Street building. Please note below, I have provide some background information to you, which is not attributed, in response to your question, followed by a statement.

• Council did not send a reminder letter to Visions of a Helping Hand on Friday about a penalty
• As always we do our best to provide a response in a timely manner but given the short timeframe to provide comment to you we have sought information from a number of sources which is why the comments supplied yesterday and today have been attributed to a spokesperson'.

Please attribute the following statement to Council spokesperson:

We have made a commitment to process any application for consent under urgency for Mr Deane. However, we have not as yet received an application for consent. We have tried to speed things up by paying for expert reports which are needed to support a consent application.

Under the Building Act, all buildings must be safe and fit for purpose. That is Council's main priority. Anyone who ignores this requirement under the Act could be liable for prosecution and a penalty of up to $200,000. More importantly, ignoring requirements poses an unacceptable safety risk to people's lives.

MSD is the lead agency dealing with homelessness and emergency and social housing. Council has advocated strongly for Visions of a Helping Hand (and for the homeless community) to MSD.

Further response -

Council has consistently emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of people using the building and the consequences of not doing so.

On Friday, Council received a letter of assurance from Visions of a Helping Hand regarding their plan for the ongoing management of the drop-n centre, which council was happy with.

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Media: Newshub

Topic: Overnight drop-in centre

Inquiry

The reporter sought a statement from the council in relation to Tiny Deanes and his homeless shelter.

• Why could he be fined $200,000 by the council?
• Why is the building deemed unsafe?
• What does Mr Deanes need to do to reopen the shelter?
• Does the council support Mr Deanes homeless shelter intiative - why/why not?
• What does the council have in place to help homeless people in Rotorua?

Response

Newshub was supplied with the same information as supplied to Rotorua Daily Post above and was also given the statement released by Council on Friday 20 July on Homelessness.