4 August 2022
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Ombudsman investigation into workshops held by councils
Enquiry
Could I please have a response from the council organisation and the Mayor to the news that ombudsman will be testing concerns that council workshops are undermining local democracy.
See ombudsman release HERE.
Response
From Rotorua Lakes Council Chief Executive Geoff Williams
Rotorua Lakes Council is committed to transparent communication of its decision making process to our community. We support the Ombudsman’s investigation and will participate fully.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Vehicle damage to parks
Enquiry
NOTE: This is a follow-up to enquiries made last week regarding vehicle damage at Kuirau Park and Murray Linton Rose Garden
In my due diligence before the story is published, I am passing on comments from those I've interviewed and am giving the council the right to reply.
- Of Kuirau, we've had some from the neighbourhood speak and their comments are, as follows:
This first person wrote to the Rotorua Daily Post after they got a response from the council on 1/6/22, saying that they would be contacted in a week or so. They claimed that they are still waiting on their response from the council. I have not seen this response, they simply informed me of this during the interview.
"The jewel in the city's crown is an appalling, shameful mess."
"There are just mounds of churned-up grass, stagnant stinking water, muck, mud, and the occasional stuck vehicle.”
"The council doesn't have a plan."
“Shameless! Kuirau is a disgrace though. It appears that the council doesn't care because they aren't doing anything about it. It just encourages people with the desire to trash the whenua to do just that.”
“I find it incomprehensible. Why would the council let it get to the state it’s in? They are putting lots of money into the lakefront, but they are leaving Kuirau like this?”
- Another neighbour's responses to the current state of Kuirau:
“It is now a place for people to go do donuts in their cars or four-wheel drives.”
“We have basically seen it become a quagmire. Not only has this affected our relationship to the park and our enjoyment of the park, but it has also degraded our family’s experience of living in the neighbourhood.”
“The fact that a******s are coming in and doing this to a public reserve - I want to point the finger at you. Kuirau should be an asset for the whole community, for our children and also our visitors.”
"We're effectively sitting in the CBD with a massive eyesore. When tourists come back to Rotorua, we don't want this to be part of the visitor experience.
“It’s progressively gotten worse and that’s sad. Although I still use the park daily, it’s become less and less attractive.
“Clearly there are drainage issues and now Kuirau has become an adhoc swamp. A decision needs to be made to either return it to wetlands or do the drainage properly.
“I have changed my shoes when out walking in Kuirau - from running shoes, to hiking boots, and now gumboots - you need gumboots to navigate the grassed areas, now.”
A Māori leader within the community said this:
“It is a hard one because the council does have the responsibility for Kuirau."
“The council should explore their options, the use of bollards would be effective in discouraging that activity from happening.”
“Ō ngā Waiariki is just as important as the turfing of the grass. People dump rapihi in the ngāwha. To me, this is what should be addressed first.”
- Another local of Murray Linton Rose Garden said this:
"We've had a lot of hoons around lately in one of the best parks in Rotorua, the Murray Linton Rose Garden. It looks like the hoons have had a go at it the other night, driving around and around the streets racing. It looks like they've ploughed up the park.
"This park is unfenced and that's the council's responsibility."
"Two years ago, I was at the Home Roadshow and I spoke to a council representative. I told them about the park two years ago.
"Why haven't they put a fence around it? Just a low fence that would stop the cars and motorbikes from driving on the park."
"At the moment, all it is, it's a flaming mess!
"Also, the toilets are broken. It has been for some time."
They continue:
"They [council] don't do anything to look after the parks. I rang them yesterday (27th July) hoping to speak to somebody who is in charge of the infrastructure or the maintenance of it.
"[At the time of the interview] they haven't even had the decency to get back to me."
Response
From Manager Sport, Recreation and Environment, Rob Pitkethley
Given last month was the second wettest July on record for Rotorua, all of our reserves are incredibly wet at the moment, and repairs cannot be carried out on the fields until they dry out completely.
As mentioned previously, there is a development plan in place for Kuirau Park that includes considerations for future development to try and deter those that are not using the parks for recreational use.
As also previously mentioned, we do encourage residents to report illegal incidents underway to the Police and damage to council and we do endeavour to respond to these enquiries in a timely manner.
We as a community and as council collectively have a role to play as kaitiaki of our public spaces to maintain and care for them as best as we can to ensure our people and manuhiri are able to enjoy them.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Contracted emergency housing motels' consent applications
Enquiry
NOTE: This was a follow up to the query we received last month about resource consent submissions for Government-contracted motels in Rotorua. Original response sent 14 July 2022.
I held off doing a story on this until we had more information about the numbers.
Is someone able to provide the answers to questions:
- How many submissions were received?
- How many were for/against the applications?
- Am I right that the council aren't currently taking legal action against any motels to force them to get resource consent?
- Are we any further ahead with knowing a date and size of the hearing?
Response
How many submissions were received?
3656 submissions were received.
How many were for/against the applications?
Around 80% were opposed
Am I right that the council aren't currently taking legal action against any motels to force them to get resource consent?
This is still a live and ongoing process in which the relevant parties are engaged in.
Are we any further ahead with knowing a date and size of the hearing?
This is decided by the commissioners panel and we are awaiting their response.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Four Canoes operations
Enquiry
- Has the council intervened at all since Lifewise removed its staff from operated at the site for safety reasons?
- Who is looking after the people who are staying at the hotel? Has the council increased its security patrols there?
- Is the council going to force MHUD to get resource consent for this hotel? If not, why not? (I know you have answered this question but I'm wondering if the position has changed given the events last month).
- Does the council acknowledge this hotel is not structurally suitable to be housing high needs mental health clients?
- Does the council acknowledge it is not appropriate to house high needs mental health clients in unsafe surroundings in Rotorua's central city?
- Is the council doing anything urgently do rectify this situation, including requesting MHUD move this contract to another location?
I’ve attached the previous story for reference.
Response
From DCE Community Wellbeing - Anaru Pewhairangi:
“Council continues to liaise with MHUD and other government partners around putting a plan in place that ensures safety and support for people both living and working at this site.”
MHUD received a similar enquiry and provided the following response:
Has the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development intervened at all since Lifewise removed its staff from operated at the site for safety reasons?
We are working continually with the provider to ensure people have the level of support they need.
The Ministry continues to contract Lifewise to deliver the service at Four Canoes. Given the complex needs of the individuals and whānau involved it’s important we continue to talk and work with Lifewise to resolve any issues that are raised and this includes providing access to wraparound mental health support for people who need it.
The Ministry is committed to working collaboratively with contract providers to resolve any issues.
Who is looking after the people who are staying at the hotel?
Lifewise is continuing to support the clients staying at the Four Canoes. Other government agencies include Te Whatu Ora alongside the Ministry of Social Development, Oranga Tamariki, ACC, Kāinga Ora, Te Tūāpapa Kura Kainga and Police are supporting Lifewise.
What is the long-term strategy for the hotel? It was set up as a Covid response hotel but when will that end?
HUD is working closely with agencies to find alternative accommodation and ensure better access to mental health and drug and alcohol support services for the clients at Four Canoes. This will take some time.
Will MHUD seek a resource consent for this hotel? If not, why not?
As above
Does MHUD acknowledge this hotel is not structurally suitable to be housing high needs mental health clients?
We acknowledge the situation is challenging for all involved The wellbeing of the people stating at the motel along with staff and the community is a priority. We are working with Lifewise to identify any further practical steps that might be taken to support improved health and safety at Four Canoes.
The situation is under constant review. We will continue to work with Rotorua Lakes Council and other agencies, through the Taskforce.
Does MHUD acknowledge it is not appropriate to house high needs mental health clients in unsafe surroundings in Rotorua's central city?
HUD is working with other agencies and the local community to find alternative accommodation. It must be acknowledged that wraparound support has been provided to clients who need it. This is multi-faceted support including helping people access essential government and NGO services and mental health and drug addiction services. Client needs will change and services will be adapted to support these changing needs.
Is MHUD doing anything urgently do rectify this situation, including looking at other locations where the contract can be carried out?
Refer answer to Question 3