1 July 2024

Media: NZME

Topic: CBD changes over the years

Enquiry

*NOTE: this is further to enquiry and response last week regarding ‘high street’ and CBD changes over the years

Mike Steiner said it is a struggle for retail, especially those in the more selective high end market, as Rotorua has a high percentage of low socioeconomic population and that the changes Rotorua Lakes Council has been implementing are “insufficient to retain existing business or attract new”.

Response

From Group Manager Community and District Development Jean-Paul Gaston:

We look forward to input from people like Mr Steiner into the master plan that will be developed with the aim of making improvements and providing opportunities that will keep people in business and help attract new business and investment.

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Media: Tourism Ticker

Topic: New rate for short-term accommodation

Enquiry

I'm writing a story on the recent rate increases for short-term vacation accommodations (STVA) in Rotorua and would like to inquire about the council's strategies to ensure compliance and enforce these changes.

In other regions, enforcement has been minimal, is Rotorua planning a different approach compared to say Queenstown, where the council has acknowledged the challenges in policing these increases?

And also is there a ballpark at all for what sort of funding this could mean for Rotorua NZ?

Response

From Group Manager Corporate Services, Thomas Collé:

We are confident we will be able to enforce this new policy as it is based on advertised availability, not bookings or usage.

We will be monitoring information that is publicly available on booking sites to ensure all short-term accommodation providers to whom the policy applies are captured.

The amount of revenue council collects will depend on how many properties will ultimately be paying the Business and Economic Development Targeted Rate which is to be applied to short-term accommodation providers advertising a whole dwelling as available for 60 days or more per financial year. Listings may be added or removed at any time based on property owners’ decisions.