4 March 2024
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Amber Lodge
Enquiry
*NOTE: this enquiry was sent to RLC and MBIE
I have now heard from three separate sources, including a resident, that Amber Lodge was closed and residents were told they needed to leave. However, I'm assuming whatever the owner needed to do to stay open was rectified as the residents did not end up needing to leave.
Am I correct in my assumption? If not, please explain?
Can I please ask if the lodge was inspected, if any direction was given to the owner, and what other specifics of the situation are?
Including the council's/ mbie's involvement.
Please include relevant dates.
Is/was Amber Lodge under investigation? (Was it one of the four?) If concluded, please provide the findings and a summary of what was involved.
Response
From General Manager District Development Jean-Paul Gaston:
We can confirm that there has been no direction from Rotorua Lakes Council to close Amber Lodge.
Council officers received a complaint regarding unsanitary conditions at Amber Lodge. The property was inspected on 13 February and the owner was issued with a Health Nuisance notice under the Health Act 1956 and was directed to carry out a number of actions to ensure compliance with Act.
Amber Lodge can remain open as long as the owner can meet the conditions applied under the Health Nuisance notice.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Council involvement in Polynesian Spa admission fees
Enquiry
I was wondering if someone were able to please tell me the relationship the council has with Polynesian Spa?
I've noticed it mentioned a couple of times now in public excluded items regarding a charge increase - I thought it was a private company so was wanting to understand why council would be involved.
Response
We provided the following information:
For your understanding re RLC and Polynesian Spa - Polynesian Spa Ltd leases the site on the Government Gardens Reserve from the council and the lease requires Council approval for any changes to admission fees.
The lease was taken over by the council when the Crown handed administration of the reserves to the council in the mid-1980s.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Spa Lodge
Enquiry
Reporter asked if there was any update from information previously provided regarding Spa Lodge
Response
We informed the reporter there was no update at this stage.
