22 March 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Building consents for February
Enquiry
Reporter sought information on building consents for commercial and residential properties during February
Response
The following information was provided:
- The total value of commercial consents issued in February 2022 - $3,870,000
- The total value of residential consents issued in February 2022 - $13,924,500
- The total number of commercial consents issued in February 2022 - 7
- The total number of residential consents issued in February 2022 – 93
Project | Address | Value |
BIOGAS FACILITY | 3057 Broadlands Road | $3,000,000 |
FOUNDATIONS & EARTHWORKS | 1272 FENTON STREET | $100,000 |
INTERNAL ALTERATIONS | 1072 HAUPAPA STREET | $20,000 |
ALTERATIONS AND RE-CLAD CLASSROOMS | 2613 S HWAY 30 | $200,000 |
FITOUT FOR COSMETIC CLINIC | 1278 TUTANEKAI STREET | $350,000 |
INSTALL SWITCHBOARD, REMOVE SPAS, VARIOUS INTERNAL ALTERATIONS - BLOCK B | 265 FENTON STREET | $150,000 |
INSTALL SWITCHBOARD, REMOVE SPAS, VARIOUS INTERNAL ALTERATIONS - BLOCK A | 265 FENTON STREET | $40,000 |
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Protest against Representation Review outcome
Enquiry
I have some comments from the protest today to supply to the council and mayor for the right of reply. I've typed these up as fast as possible for you.
As always with any response please include clarification of any inaccuracies in what some people may have claimed.
Could the council and mayor please respond by 3pm today?
COMMENTS
Organiser Jo-Anne La Grouw told Local Democracy Reporting the council’s adopted governance model, which would see one Māori ward seat, one general ward seat and eight at-large seats, was not democratic.
She said she didn’t read newspapers or listen to the radio but had read a blog by ex-Rotorua district councillor Mike McVicker which prompted her into action.
“I thought, everybody’s against it but nobody’s doing anything. I thought I’ve got to do something.”
She said many people she knew wanted to vote for 10 councillors at large.
The council adopted Māori wards in May last year, and in November adopted what it called an “interim model” with one seat apiece for the Māori and general wards.
...
La Grouw said the group did not want to be known as protesters due to the association with the word with the Wellington protest.
“It’s friendly.”
In a statement provided to Local Democracy Reporting by La Grouw, but attributed to fellow demonstrator Mike McVicker, it said the council was “riding roughshod over its ratepayers in an effort to achieve its objective of iwi co-governance".
“Co-governance is basically the antithesis of democracy … the minority ruling over the majority.”
It said the council was “blatantly ignoring the overwhelming message from ratepayers that they do not accept race-based decisions” for the representation review.
It said Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick had “gone a step further” in pursuing the local bill.
“Democracy is the loser here.”
McVicker told Local Democracy Reporting he believed the council had ignored submitters on the representation review.
...
Rotorua district councillors Reynold Macpherson and Peter Bentley attended.
Macpherson said the eight at-large seats were “entirely democratic” and he opposed the interim model, saying as there were fewer on the Māori roll than general roll in the district’s population, it gave Māori ward voters 2.6 times the voting power of those not.
“One person, one vote, one value.
“In our Bill of Rights, we have a right to a thing called equal suffrage. That means we all have the same voting power.
“When 19,000 get to vote in one councillor, and 50,000 get to vote in one councillor, clearly the voting power is not the same.”
He said he supported a model with three Māori ward seats and seven general ward seats.
“Rotorua Residents and Ratepayers support Te Tatau [o Te Arawa]. They wanted three seats, because it’s proportional representation.”
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Demonstrators held up signs such as “one vote, one person = democracy” and “protect our democracy”. Some chanted “save our democracy”.
...
Demonstrator Jocelyn Green said she believed the council was “trying to give [Māori] extra seats”.
“They’re trying to put people into positions they’re not elected to.”
She said she was not able to not expand on how that would happen or why she believed that to be the case.
...
Another demonstrator, who wanted to be known only as Sharyn, said she had lived in Rotorua for 70 years and had always seen a “fair representation of people” on the council.
“They want to have extra seats for Māori.
“It’s about electing people onto the council in a fair way.”
She believed the council was acting on what “Wellington” wanted it to do.
“They shouldn’t be Wellington’s puppets.”
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
I respect people’s democratic right to peaceful protest and like the community, following the Council’s representation review and decision-making, am now awaiting the outcome of the Local Government Commission and Local Bill processes that are underway.
With regards to the Local Bill, I would encourage people to keep an eye on its progress through the Parliamentary process and to share their views if the select committee calls for submissions.
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Media: Aukaha News
Topic: Protest against Representation Review outcome
Enquiry
Making enquiry should Mayor like to respond to todays petition led by Reynold Macpherson 'Council against democracy in line for Co Governance'. What are Mayors thoughts?
Response
From Mayor Chadwick:
I respect people’s democratic right to peaceful protest and to use democratic tools like petitions.
Like the community, following the Council’s representation review and decision-making, am now awaiting the outcome of the Local Government Commission and Local Bill processes that are underway.
With regards to the Local Bill, I would encourage people to keep an eye on its progress through the Parliamentary process and to share their views if the select committee calls for submissions.