24 September 2019
Media: Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times
Topic: Westpac-McDermott Regional Economic Confidence Survey
Enquiry
I am writing an article on the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Regional Economic Confidence survey, which found only 9 per cent of Bay households expected their region's economy to improve in the next year. That was compared to the previous quarter when 19 per cent of households said they expected the region's economy to improve.
The Bay was one of 11 regions surveyed nationwide that recorded a decline in regional confidence, falling 10 per cent in the September quarter.
My questions to the Mayor Steve Chadwick are:
- Do you agree/disagree with the data? Why/why not?
- What do you think has contributed to the drop in economic confidence in the last three months?
- Lower log prices, less harvesting activity and job losses, as well as smaller kiwifruit harvest and house price inflation, were likely to have reflected lower confidence levels. Do you agree/disagree? Why/why not?
- What do we have to be confident about in the region's economy in the upcoming three months?
- Please add anything else you would like to say here:
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:
In Rotorua there are a few key drivers we've experienced that may have impacted on people's confidence. Forestry has been impacted in recent times by logs prices coming back down to more normal levels from a bit of a boom time, international tourism numbers have been leveling off and the dairy industry is feeling the pressure financially so dairy farmers are hunkering down which impacts their spending decisions.
I think in terms of how local business people are feeling, it really depends on who you talk to. There's plenty of investment happening and construction underway across council projects and the accommodation, visitor and commercial sectors, and I would expect that all of that will have a positive impact.
It is also worth pointing out that, while Bay of Plenty households surveyed are less confident in how the economy will perform in the next 12 months than they were last quarter, the region had the highest overall growth in consumer confidence in the country at an increase of 7.8. This could be why we are hearing positive feedback anecdotally in the business sector.
Facts for your information - not as quotes:
In the past three months more than $44 million in building work has been consented (commercial - $14.6m and residential $29.8m)
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Council debt
Enquiry
Reporter sought up-to-date figure re Council debt
Response
Total debt (as at today) is $211m ($20m less than was forecast)
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Census data release
Enquiry
Reporter sought comment form Mayor Chadwick relating to data released from the 2018 Census yesterday.
Response
Mayor Chadwick spoke to the reporter and made the following key points:
- This shows growth is a reality in Rotorua and we have included growth in the likes of infrastructure strategy
- More than 500 residential lots consented in the city but Council can't make people build
- While population growth has many benefits, it also brings challenges and we know there is a urgent need to increase housing across the spectrum
- As I stated in my letter to the ministers of housing, transport and local government, we're currently being frustrated by what appears to be misalignment of Central Govt agencies - that's something we are working on with Govt and its agencies
- Example of misalignment: NZTA submitting against a proposed residential housing development
Council can't do it alone - we need a housing plan and actions to get housing of all type for Rotorua
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Media: Rotorua Weekender (part of Rotorua Daily Post)
Topic: Rotorua Museum bike tours
Enquiry
- Why was it decided to hold these tours throughout these months? Is it a new event for Rotorua?
- What sorts of art work will these bike tours visit/explore?
- Why do you encourage people to come along?
- What are you looking forward to about the tours?
- Why do you think it is great/important to celebrate both biking and public art?
- Do you by any chance have a photo which might work to put with the story?
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response
The following information was provided, along with images:
- Why was it decided to hold these tours throughout these months? Is it a new event for Rotorua?
Because the tours are weather dependent Spring/Summer is the best time to enjoy the city's art by cycle.
I ran the first tour during bike fest 2018 and repeated it in Feb 2019 during the Aotearoa Bike Month and again in April 2019 to celebrate World Sculpture Day.
I had considered extending the Museum guides Outside the Walls tours to incorporate a walking tour that looked at our public art, but we have so much great art in and near the CBD that it was too difficult to plan a route where the art could be enjoyed in a reasonable timeframe. You can cover so much more territory by bike and as I love cycling it was natural to combine the two.
- What sorts of art work will these bike tours visit/explore?
We'll include sculpture, carvings, murals and chorus boxes in town and around the lakefront and Government Gardens.
- Why do you encourage people to come along?
It's a great way to enjoy the outdoors, take advantage of some of our fabulous cycle paths and take a little gentle exercise while learning about our public art and some of the stories behind it.
- What are you looking forward to about the tours?
Our guides love meeting new people and we have a passion for sharing the stories of Rotorua. It is amazing what you don't know until you hear about it!
- Why do you think it is great/important to celebrate both biking and public art?
Cycling is such an enjoyable way of covering a decent amount of ground in a short time and as we are spoiled for cycle ways and public art, why not. It is easy to go about your daily business without even noticing some of the art works in town, so this is a great opportunity to have them pointed out, learn a little about the artists and their works.
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
Need to supply your own paihikara (bike), pōtae paihikara (helmet), and anything else you need to make your ride comfortable. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
