6 November 2024

Media: RadioNZ

Topic: Emergency housing consents hearing

Enquiry

What time will the audio recordings of the hearing be published to the website today (and tomorrow/Thursday)?

Response

We provided this link

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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)

Topic: Jason Momoa honorary citizenship

Enquiry

I'm getting a story online based on the mayor's Facebook post about Jason Momoa's honourary citizenship - a very cool idea!

I'd like to get some additional comment and information from her please, which I'll use to update the live story.

Can I please find out:

• A few more details about how the announcement was made, was it partway through the show? Did the mayor give a wee speech?
• What did she hang around his neck? A description and/or an image would be useful.
• How unusual is it to be made an honourary citizen? If there are others can I please know who they are or, at least, the most well-known ones? Or was it something created for Momoa?
• Did Momoa say anything in response? How did he react?
• Are we aware of any additional activities Momoa has taken part in since being in the city? In an earlier video he mentioned taking his friends to some thermal pools, any details you have about any other Rotorua attractions he may have visited and enjoyed would be cool.

Response

Mayor Tapsell provided the following comment and information:

“I was honoured to be invited on stage by Jason Momoa to open up his show with this exciting news, when I made the announcement we’d made him an Honorary Citizen of Rotorua the crowd went wild. I’ve never experienced anything like that before. Jason loves Rotorua and its clear our people are excited to have him as an Honorary Citizen of our community.”

“We wanted to gift him a special taonga given the significance of becoming an Honorary Citizen.

“We’re fortunate the National Māori Arts and Crafts Institute is located at Te Puia in Rotorua and after speaking with Maaka Toi, the artist who carved it, I knew it would suit him.

“There is a design representing the three sacred waves that carried the artists ancestor Nukutawhiti to shore carved into the pounamu; the first symbolising a big wave where all planning and great ideas go, the second representing the energy when you go through challenges, and the final wave acknowledges when you reach your destination.

“When I placed it on Jason Momoa I mentioned this can give him confidence of protection and support when he goes through these journeys in life.”

Sonya – please see photo attached.

Re how unusual is it to be made an honorary citizen?

“It is very rare. This is the only Honorary Citizenship that I have given as Mayor but I’m aware that it’s also been given to business people from Japan and Taiwan in the past.

“As an actor and musician who is passionate about our people and place, this was a special acknowledgement of Jason Momoa’s commitment to culture through performing arts, and a symbolic gesture that he can consider Rotorua home now too.”

Honorary Citizens that we are aware of include the following. These were awarded at the discretion of previous Mayors for a variety of reasons:

- David Chin

- Keith Webber

- Kaneka Ikeda

- Kenji Nishi

Re did Momoa say anything in response? How did he react?

After the announcement to those attending the ÖOF Tatatá concert, which Mr Momoa plays the Bass guitar in, he shared with the crowd that he was very honoured to be made an Honorary Citizen of Rotorua. He has often mentioned how much he loves Rotorua, our people, and our culture and in speaking with the Mayor he said “mahalo nui loa” which means thank you very much in his Hawaiian culture.

Re any additional activities Momoa has taken part in since being in the city:

We’re aware Mr Momoa visited:

- Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa

- Te Pā Tū

- Black Label BBQ

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Rotorua Daily Post annual Christmas Appeal

Enquiry

I am working on this year's annual Christmas Appeal for the Daily Post and want to request comment from Mayor Tapsell for the article, please. This year the drive is still with Salvation Army on Amohau St, they have said that despite cost of living pressures being a very real reality for the Rotorua community there, people are still very generous and give what they can, even if they themselves are doing it "tough". I was hoping Tania may be able to add a comment to this for the 2024 article.

Let me know if there's further info needed in this request.

Response

From Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell:

“We're thrilled to see the Rotorua Christmas Appeal launch once again. Rotorua Lakes Council has supported this initiative for many years, and as a donation drop-off point it’s heartwarming seeing the generosity of our community and staff.

“The Christmas Appeal represents the spirit of the festive season and highlights the manaakitanga that defines our Rotorua community. With many families doing it tough at the moment, the Appeal is sure to make a very real difference for many this year.

“We can’t express enough how meaningful these gifts of food are to ensure everyone in Rotorua gets to enjoy this special time with family.”

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Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Tree vandalism

Enquiry

Reporter sought comment from an appropriate council spokesperson on a LGOIMA response she had received from RLC (see below) regarding vandalism of council trees:

I refer to your LGOIMA request of 1 November 2024 regarding tree vandalism, and provide the following responses to your questions:

• How many cases of tree vandalism has the council had in the last 52 weeks.
• What suburbs have the highest number of vandalisms on a tree/shrub in the region?
• Are shrubs and trees which have been vandalised counted together or separately?
• How much has the council spent in 2024 (or the last 52 weeks) on tree vandalism in total?
• What species of trees are vandalised the most?

Council does not record tree vandalism as a separate issue therefore the information for the above questions cannot be provided.

How is tree vandalism determined by the council.

The absence of any other discernible factor that may have caused the tree’s demise e.g. pest or disease, weather, traffic accident etc.

What are the repercussions of tree vandalism in the city or region?

Council would incur a cost in both replacement of the planting stock, and planting and maintenance. Before replacing Council would also consider whether replacement is validated at that particular site.

How much does it cost to replace a vandalised tree?

Cost would depend on planting stock size, however an average for a standard sized tree (2m high/45L) would be around $300 including planting stock, labour and stakes/ties/mulch.

What species of trees are the hardest to replace?

Any native species as their slow growth generally is reflected in costs from the nurseries, and any lost growth means eco-services/aesthetics the tree had provided are slower to be recouped.

How many staff at council have roles related to tree vandalism.

Council has 1 Urban Forest Advisor.

Response

The reporter was informed that it would be difficult to provide a meaningful comment on an issue for which we have no records.