21 February 2024
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Keep NZ Beautiful Awards and litter
Enquiry
I am doing a story on your very own Gary Coker's voluntary litter clean-ups (speaking as a resident), as well as Tracey McLeod's.
Both are keen to see the city enter the 2024 Beautiful Awards for Most Beautiful Small City again.
Can I please offer the below for response:
Coker said: “I know from the years that it was done there quite a lot of civic pride driving around the city, seeing those signs . . and certainly, you know, in this day and age, a bit of pride in the city would go a long way, that’s for sure.”
McLeod believed it would draw people to the tourist town, which was incentive to enter.
McLeod believed there needed to be a bigger focus on clearing rubbish, particularly from the city’s reserves.
There had been a “concerted effort” in getting grass mowed compared to this time last year, she said, and was impressed with how Coker had worked to get maintenance requests in open spaces resolved.
When was the last time the council entered the city for the awards?
How many times did it win?
Why does it not enter?
Will it consider doing it this year?
Why/why not?
How important are voluntary rubbish clean ups in keeping the city clean?
Response
We provided the following information and comments:
Regarding previous Keep NZ Beautiful Awards won by Rotorua, see info below:
Rotorua won the award in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2010 and in 2008, Rotorua was runner-up to Dunedin.
See below from Group Manager Infrastructure and Environment Stavros Michael:
Regarding Keep NZ Beautiful Awards:
Nominations for Rotorua were previously submitted by the Keep Rotorua Beautiful Trust, not the council. The trust no longer exists.
RotoruaNZ, as the district’s destination marketer, submitted an entry for the 2023 awards. There has been no discussion about submitting an entry for the 2024 awards.
Any such decision would need to be balanced against availability of resources and other priorities. We do not have dedicated resource for award entries.
Regarding clean-ups:
It’s always disappointing to see rubbish or litter in our public spaces and we are very appreciative of people in our communities who take the initiative and contribute to keeping our city as clean and tidy as possible. Every little bit helps.
We work closely with local community groups to organise and contribute towards clean-ups and provide support to encourage change on a neighbourhood level.
We also work with schools and the community to educate locals about rubbish and recycling and how to look after the environment through sustainable practices.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Mamaku hall closure
Enquiry
shown at the community board meeting yesterday regarding community halls? And the names of the two presenters from the communities who spoke?
Response
The information requested was provided. See presentation slides HERE
