28 August 2020
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Issues associated with emergency accommodation in motels
Enquiry
I'm seeking some comment from the council and mayor Steve Chadwick with regards to emergency housing issues in the Fenton St/Glenholme areas in Rotorua.
Here's some background.
Police say the area around Fenton St/Glenholme side streets had gone from being a relatively crime free area to now seeing a "huge" increase compared with 12 months ago. They say it is putting pressure on resources. They also say the people they are dealing with are "new to them" and the ones prepared to talk tell police they have come from out of town and are staying in emergency housing, some have been bailed here after committing crimes elsewhere in the region/country. The main issues police say they are seeing is family violence, disorder and dishonesty crimes.
Residents in the area are also not happy. I've spoken to a family in Lytton St who bought their "forever home" at the end of last year but are now dealing with family members having their car stolen, sheds broken into, people loitering, fights among gang associates and people wandering on to their front lawn to steal their kids' toys. They said they counted 23 shopping trolleys on their way to work in the CBD the other day. They installed an alarm up their driveway and it activated at 1am on the first night with a hooded man. They have rung the police every time and will continue to do so but they just want their neighbourhood back and they want their dream of their kids walking to school and being able to ride their bikes down their street. They are concerned rather than finding a solution, the Government is permanently making the problem worse by allowing the motels to be used in this way for pro-longed periods.
I have comment from MSD and HUD.
Latest figures from HUD show the bulk of emergency housing clients in the Bay of Plenty area are living in Rotorua, with $5 million being spent in the latest quarter. There was $2.7 million spent in Tauranga.
Can the council please answer the following?
- Have the problems experienced in the CBD improved since the night shelter closed and more emergency housing was opened up on Fenton St?
- Does the council still employ city guardians to patrol? Do they still focus on the CBD or are they being used in Fenton St/Glenholme now? Please be specific if you can around how many patrols are being used and at what times.
- How will the council's housing strategy immediately help locals struggling in the Fenton St and Glenholme areas?
- Is the council concerned with the amount (people and money) of emergency housing that is in Rotorua? It has increased from $3.8 million being spent in the quarter ending March to $5 million in the quarter ending June. See details https://www.hud.govt.nz/assets/Community-and-Public-Housing/Follow-our-progress/Regional-Dashboards-2020/June-2020/Housing-regional-Factsheets-June-2020-Bay-of-Plenty.pdf
Can Steve Chadwick please answer the following?
- As mayor, what's your message to those who are fed up with the anti-social and bad behaviour of those who are staying in emergency housing in the Fenton St and Glenholme areas?
- Are you concerned about the increase in crime in that area?
- (I have asked this before, but I'll ask again to ensure I have an updated answer). Are you satisfied Rotorua isn't being used as an easy option for other cities/areas to send their homeless considering we have more accommodation providers?
Response
From Operations Group Manager Jocelyn Mikaere:
Anecdotally our Safe City Guardians have noted fewer incidents in the CBD recently. The COVID lockdown and the fact it is generally quieter in the CBD during winter will also have impacted.
The Guardians team continues to patrol the CBD with patrol schedules adapted as needed. The team has a specific focus on the CBD.
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
I'm very concerned about this and we need to see some change.
This week we have spoken to some of our Government agency leaders. I've also spoken to Ta Toby and we will be getting our agencies together urgently to get the facts on the table and agree a plan to address what's happening.
We need a better way to coordinate a targeted all-of-government response so we can maximise the benefits of collective effort and get better outcomes for our community. Council can help to pull that together.
I'm not happy with what I've been hearing and I'm also very aware of the additional pressure on our police as a result of not only the increase in emergency housing, but also the role they have to play in our managed isolation facilities.
People need to feel safe in their homes, in their businesses and in their communities.
Our housing plan addresses supply but these social issues that are escalating into increasing levels of crime and making residents feel unsafe require a more immediate response.
Its unacceptable and Rotorua can't - and won't - be a dumping ground for problems from other areas.
The following information (provided for understanding/background) was also provided:
- Have the problems experienced in the CBD improved since the night shelter closed and more emergency housing was opened up on Fenton St?: See comment from Jocelyn Mikaere but you should speak to the police re this
- Does the council still employ city guardians to patrol? Do they still focus on the CBD or are they being used in Fenton St/Glenholme now? Please be specific if you can around how many patrols are being used and at what times: See comment from Jocelyn below but for your understanding - because your question asking if we still employ city guardians implies they were set up recently which is not the case: City guardians team was established 2011 (so well before night shelter in CBD) with the role to help improve safety and perceptions of safety in the CBD, provide assistance to CBD visitors and businesses and collaborate with police. They were set up specifically to work in the CBD.
- How will the council's housing strategy immediately help locals struggling in the Fenton St and Glenholme areas? See mayor's response but also for your understanding/in summary: The strategy addresses the supply of housing in Rotorua although it acknowledges there will be social benefits to achieving the goals set out. You'll find all of this outlined in the draft strategy - see THIS LINK to have a read to get an understanding of it and the various strands that will contribute to the goals.
And you'll know that Kainga Ora is already progressing with increasing emergency and social housing in Rotorua, as Daily Post has reported (see HERE from 11 March 2020, HERE from 13 June 2020, and HERE from 8 July 2020).
A June 2020 update provided to Council's SP&F committee might also be useful for you - see THIS LINK.
Is the council concerned with the amount (people and money) of emergency housing that is in Rotorua? It has increased from $3.8 million being spent in the quarter ending March to $5 million in the quarter ending June. See details https://www.hud.govt.nz/assets/Community-and-Publi... This isn't a question for the council organisation.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Agreement to work on long-term wastewater discharge solution
Enquiry
Just following from the release [see HERE] we have a few questions. Deadline is 4pm.
- Is there still a possibility the wastewater will be discharged in the lake?
- Does this decision have anything to do with the Trility contract?
- Does withdrawing the RMA consent process through Environment Court make way for Trility to pursue its own consents?
- When is council expecting a response from the court?
- How long is exploring other options expected to take until they have an alternative?
- Is council paying CNI for use of forest land? Even though they have 'generously offered'
- Is treated wastewater the same as recovered wastewater?
Response
Please see below responses to your questions which, if needed, can be attributed to Council's Infrastructure Group Manager Stavros Michael:
Is there still a possibility the wastewater will be discharged in the lake?
As outlined in the release, the parties are coming together to find a new solution, ie one that doesn't involve discharging to the lake.
Does this decision have anything to do with the Trility contract?
No
Does withdrawing the RMA consent process through Environment Court make way for Trility to pursue its own consents?
No. The Trility consortium is contracted to operate wastewater systems on Council's behalf. Council retains ownership and control of the system and, as such, will remain the resource consent applicant and, ultimately, the consent holder.
If the Environment Court approves the withdrawal of RLC consents currently before it, RLC will prepare and lodge the appropriate new resource consent applications with BOP Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council, which are the consent authorities.
The application for resource consents relating to the original proposal were referred directly to the Environment Court to hear and decide, rather than the two councils, given the likelihood of appeals. This avoided the need (plus cost and time) to have both council hearings and then appeal hearings in the Environment Court. The Court agreed and, on that basis, accepted the application for direct referral to hear and decide itself.
When is council expecting a response from the court?
That is up to the Court.
How long is exploring other options expected to take until they have an alternative?
The parties have not set a timeframe at this stage.
Is council paying CNI for use of forest land? Even though they have 'generously offered'
RLC will continue to pay a lease for use of the forest land.
Is treated wastewater the same as recovered wastewater?
Yes
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: By-elections and councillors standing for Parliament
Enquiry
For the council:
I was wondering if the council could please tell me how much a by-election would (currently) cost?
Asking as two current RLC councillors are now running for Parliament and it wasn't covered off in our previous story about Tania.
Can you please also tell me how many meetings Cr Tapsell has been absent from since June 6?
For [Mayor] Steve [Chadwick]:
I was also wondering, as Steve said in the last story - she had stood down temporarily during the election period when she was a Rotorua District Councillor and stood for Parliament in 1999 - does she expect the same of Crs Tapsell and Raukawa-Tait?
A general comment on what she thinks of Merepeka running for Parliament would also be most welcome.
Response
Please see below:
A by-election would currently cost $120K
Cr Tapsell has been absent from 4 meetings since June 6
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
It is a matter for Tania and Merepeka to determine whether their commitments during the election period would impact on their ability to still be effective as local councillors.
Both will manage their responsibilities with care.
I'm not surprised regarding Merepeka, having seen her speaking out on issues relating to various Maori issues over many years.
And I'm not concerned at this point regarding the potential for a by-election. That potential is always there and we will cross that bridge when we come to it, if needed. This is what democracy is all about.
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Media: TV1
Topic: Ranolf Street flats
Enquiry
I'm working on a story about rentals in the Rotorua region and I'd like an update please on what work is being done to ensure the block of Ranolf Street flats owned by Sue, Stephen and Ashok Bhana are suitable for living in.
I'm aware the council ruled the flats dangerous and insanitary in 2017, and that Sue, Stephen and Ashok Bhana retained ownership of the flats after a last minute payment to creditors.
I'd like to know if the flats are currently considered suitable for living in, when the last inspection was, and if they are currently being rented to the council's knowledge.
Response
5 of the 12 flats are still unable to be occupied because the remedial work has not been completed.
The last recorded inspection was on 5/07/2019.
We do not know how many are currently being rented.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Te Arawa partnership
Enquiry
I'm working on a story regarding Māori wards, following on from TCC's decision to establish them this week. Obviously, RLC works in partnership with Te Arawa.
Can I please double check I have this right: Local iwi vote for who they want on the Te Arawa board, which then appoints a person to sit on two key council committees. They have voting rights but are not elected by the general public.
Also, I'd like some comment from the mayor about this if possible. Basically: How do you think the partnership is working and what, if anything, would you like to improve the council's inclusion of Māori?
Response
We would strongly encourage you to speak to the chair or representative from Te Tatau o Te Arawa, which is the Te Arawa partnership board, to get their perspective on the partnership rather than just RLC perspective.
Re your first question:
Yes Te Arawa members vote for candidates for the Te Tatau o Te Arawa board (please call it by its full name rather than just Te Arawa board'). The general public does not vote for the board.
The board appoints 2 of its members to sit on Council's Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee and 2 members to sit on the Operations & Monitoring Committee. The Te Tatau o Te Arawa members have full voting rights on the committees. They do not sit on the Full Council meetings.
Te Tatau o Te Arawa members also sit on other various committees on which Council makes appointments.
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
The partnership between Te Arawa and Council is hugely important to us and is enabling us to find better and more enduring solutions for our community. The value of the partnership
to Rotorua is becoming increasingly evident as we continue to build genuine relationships, based on respect and trust, with iwi across the district, collaborating for the benefit of our whole community. We don't always agree on everything, but we are able to work through issues and challenges.
The partnership is helping us to navigate some difficult challenges and has also resulted in the gift of Rotorua ReoRua which is a Te Tatau o Te Arawa-led initiative that gives us a real sense of pride.
We knew the partnership was the right thing for us to enable Te Arawa to contribute to decision-making for the good of Rotorua and they told us what model would work for them.
I congratulate Tauranga - it's a landmark decision for them.
