Something To Celebrate

During the past two weeks I have had the pleasure of attending two events worthy of the community recognition they each received. Wednesday 3^rd November marked the 20 year milestone of the LENZ Rotorua Young Achievers Awards.  These awards celebrate the many great achievements of our senior high school students as they prepare to embark on the next stage in their lives.

Without exception, the recipients are motivated students whose maturity and work ethic are already apparent.  To achieve at this level takes more than good luck and a supportive family.  Of course a supportive family is what makes the difference in the beginning, however it is the students themselves who put in the hard yards.  Their ability to focus on long term goals while not being too distracted by short term temptations will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

The Trustpower Spirit of Rotorua Awards were held on the 8^th November.  These awards recognise and celebrate the volunteers in our community.  They showcase the many and varied ways people find to be of service and give back to the community they love.  What is especially heartening is that in our busy lives volunteering is not just for the retired or more senior members in our midst.  Awarded volunteers were people of all ages who recognise the enormous personal satisfaction that comes with service to others, being involved in something you love with others of like mind. 

I have no doubt many of the Young Achievers of today will be our volunteers of tomorrow.  Many of them already understand what a difference they can make in the lives of others.

Congratulations to all who were recognised in these events and congratulations also to the people and organisations who made these events a reality.  This is our community at work.

All Sworn In

On Thursday 28th October the official swearing in ceremony for the new council was held at Rotorua District Council.  Friends and family gathered to share in this important occasion as we, the newly elected  Mayor and Councillors made our declarations about serving our community to the very best of our ability.  It is a reminder that our role is one of service and advocacy.  Our willingness to do what we believe is right and to stand up for what we believe is best for our community is the driving force for all those who stand for election.  I am looking forward to the next three years and hope by the next election we have a web cam installed as they do in the  council chamber in Taupo,  so more of the community can witness this important event.

It's Official

The results are now final. The new councillors will be sworn in at the Rotorua District Council Chamber at an inaugural council meeting in front of family and friends on October 28th.

The new council committee structure will be announced after the first working council meeting on November 4th. There will be a very quick return to business this term and I for one am delighted that we are going to be getting back to work soon.

There are a lot of good things about an election campaign, like getting into the community and listening to people’s concerns, however it is also a stressful time for all concerned.

I have enjoyed a short break to recharge and am now raring to go. There are a number of big issues coming up, including the notification of the District Plan and submissions on the lakefront development and CBD revitalisation proposals. More on these later.

Thanks again for all your support.

Thanks Your Your Support!

Provisional results have just been announced for the 2010 Rotorua Local Body Elections.  I am delighted to have been returned for a second term on Council, having polled fifth out of 28 candidates with a provisional total of 7574 votes.   I am very grateful for the support I have received and assure you all that I will continue to work hard as your representative on the Rotorua District Council.

A summary of the results as they stand can be found at http://www.rdc.govt.nz/YourCouncil/Elections.aspx.  Voter turnout was looking a little lower than 2007, but 1400 votes were received today and still need to be included in the final count.

Congratulations to my re-elected and newly elected fellow councillors: Cr Bentley, Cr Calnan, Cr Donaldson, Cr Gould, Cr Kenny, Cr Maxwell, Cr McVicker, Cr Searanke, Cr Sturt, Cr Waaka and Cr Wepa.  Congratulations also to Mayor Kevin Winters who has been re-elected to lead the council for his third term.

Best wishes are due to all those who stood, but were unsuccessful this time.  I wish you all the best for your future endeavours.Preliminary results are expected to be updated later today or early tomorrow, so there may be some adjustments to the final standings.  The successful candidates will be sworn in at a ceremony to be held at the inaugural council meeting to be held at the Council Chambers on 28^th October.

Thank you again for your support.  YIPPPEEEEEEEE!

Do You Think It Suits Me?

Some of those big corflute “canvasses” are just too hard for some budding artists to resist!

I acquired some pretty wild facial hair out at Ngongotaha in the last couple of days, but to complete the look I think I should have a cavalier hat, beauty spot on my cheek and a rapier strapped to my hip.

Time is running out for all you Da Vincis out there.  They all come down on Friday with the election results being announced on Saturday afternoon.

If you haven’t voted yet, you’re also running out of time.  Voting papers should go into the post by Wednesday this week or can be hand delivered to the Council Chambers before 12 noon on Saturday 9^th October.

Meet The Candidates

Last week a meeting was organised by Progress Ngongotaha  at the Ngongotaha Community Hall and tonight the Mokoia Community Association held a meeting at Lakes High School.  These two community-based organisations provided the opportunity for those standing for election to speak to the community.

Both organisations are to be congratulated on running  well organised meetings where every candidate had an equal opportunity to introduce themselves  in two minutes and to answer submitted questions from the floor.

At Ngongotaha  approximately 50 people came to hear candidates with a good mix of questions raised.  At Lakes High about 25 people attended and  the range of community concerns was distilled down to one central issue: How can we make  Rotorua a more caring community?

I enjoyed listening to all the candidates air their views. The range of responses will give those who attended some food for thought.   If you weren’t able to attend either of the meetings and would like to know more about any of the candidates I suggest you give them a call and have a chat.  I think Rotorua is very lucky to have so many people prepared to step up for election.

If you want to know how I feel about any issue now or in the future please feel free to contact me.

 

50 Year Vision for Rotorua

On Friday about 50 people from around the community got together to discuss developing a 50 year vision for Rotorua.  It was great to hear the similarities in what most people wanted for our city. 

While RDC is facilitating this process the desire is for the vision to be developed by the community and key stakeholders. The wider community is  looking for a vision that we can all get behind and that supports  sustainable economic growth.  

Deryck Shaw and Paul Killerby from APR are collating all the information obtained and this will be presented to Council before the end of September. The new council will have the responsibility of putting this vision into action.  Watch this space.

Social Issues Facing Us

The Rotorua Social Services Council (ROSSCO) forum today was the first opportunity to meet some of the candidates standing for election to Council.  ROSSCO invited each candidate to list and speak about three major social issues facing Rotorua.   These are the issues that I spoke about:

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is a major issue throughout the country.  At a local level the use of  bylaws to effect change is a valuable tool.  Local  liquor bans like those applied at the Ragamuffin Concert and the recently held  Ireland vs NZ Maori rugby match have had huge community support.   By working proactively with the Police the success of the 24 hour liquor bans was clear and have been nationally and internationally recognised as best practice.

Many of our suburban shopping centres are now alcohol free with the recent introduction of permanent liquor bans.   We must begin to reduce the number of liquor outlets and place tighter controls on hours of operation.  These actions will go some way toward reducing alcohol related problems.  However the biggest changes must come from central government, they  have a huge role to play in setting the drinking age and acceptable drink/drive blood alcohol levels.  We as  a community must continue to make our voice heard about these issues.

Supporting Youth

I support programs designed specifically for youth and believe that it is a huge part of our social responsibility on Council. We must recognise that the changing family dynamics in our community are felt keenly by our youth.  Many community-based organisations and trusts are providing much needed guidance and life skills in this area and financial support from Council is vital for these initiatives to continue.  While it is easy to insist that the problem is one for central government to solve, the issue for me is that these young people are our future.  The more we can help to integrate them into our community the stronger our community will become.

Improving Street Lighting

Our older suburbs are suffering from poorly-lit areas that do nothing to enhance feelings of safety for residents. We must target spending to those areas most in need.  I believe the current Council policy on street lighting needs review and put simply, some areas are much more in need than others.  Street safety and beautification can go hand in hand and it’s time we stopped worrying about strict equity and simpy did what is right.

Many of the social issues facing our community are governed by  central government policy and it’s important to be clear about the responsibilities and areas of influence that is appropriate at a local government level.

I was pleased to take part in this first gathering of candidates and was impressed at everyone’s ability to keep to the three minute limit!

 

 

 

 

 

A Small Village With A Big Heart

This morning I was out in Ngongotaha to witness the blessing of a magnificent red beech log.  The log was gifted to the village by the Kaharoa Mangorewa Trust to commemorate the importance of forestry to this area.

The log has been placed on the paved area  adjacent to the car park at the entrance to the stream walk,  just off Taui Street.  It is well worth taking time to explore this area which also features a beautiful bridge across the stream linking to Stage One of the Ngongotaha to City Cycleway.

There is a great feeling of community partnerships in action,  with Progress Ngongotaha , the Ngongotaha Rail Trust and Te Whare Hauora o Ngongotaha and others working closely together for the benefit of the whole community.

I have enjoyed my close and ongoing association  with Ngongotaha and  love the growing collection of community art works that mirror the cultural richness of the community.

And They're Off!

Today is the first day that election hoardings and other campaign materials are allowed to be displayed in Rotorua.  You can expect all candidates to be putting their best foot forward in every way they can.  Hoardings (the big roadside displays) must be on private property and everyone looks for eye-catching designs and busy locations.

I think that social media will have an increasing role this process as years go by. Many people now use FaceBook and I certainly hope this Blog will help people get some idea of who I am and what I’ve been doing with my time on Council so far. I hope readers will check back here from time to time through the election period, feel free to make comments on individual posts and to ask questions.

Local Government NZ has also put together a website for the public, allowing all candidates to post a web page and receive questions from voters that can be addressed to all candidates simultaneously. This is the link to my page; you can look down the bottom to see which other candidates are registered.  

I'm just back from the first day of work on my hoardings with my support team of Rob, Kevin and Greg.  Thanks to those of you who have allowed us to place one of my signs on your property.

I look forward to any of your feedback about the elections and any of your questions.  
 

You’ll be seeing me around!

Signs Signs Everywhere...

The lists are out.   There are three candidates for Mayor of Rotorua, 28 people are running for council positions (remember no wards this time) and  four for the Rotorua Lakes  Community Board.   There are also good turnouts for Lakes DHB and BOP Regional Council.  Some of those standing are new, some have been elected before and others are standing for more than one position.

As you can imagine, people from all parts of the city are either intensely interested in the elections or hardly know they are happening, however after Saturday it will be very hard to miss the fact that it’s election time.  The city and countryside will be covered, or possibly smothered in hoardings, posters and billboards.  Some might call this visual pollution, however for others it can brighten up dull parts of town and for all residents it is a very clear reminder that if you want to have your say on who is chosen to guide the city, now is the time to make your vote count.

All of the current councillors are standing for re-election, however historically there is usually about 20% turnover. In the meantime, it’s business as usual on Council with meetings continuing almost right up to Election Day.

If you are interested in hearing from those standing for mayor then the Chamber of Commerce are hosting a breakfast for the mayoral candidates on Thursday 16^th September at the  Heritage Hotel.  Tickets are available from the Chamber.

The first public Meet The Candidates meeting announced so far is on Monday 20^th September at Lakes High School from 7-9 pm. More information is available from the Mokoia Community Association.  I hope to see you there.

Is your name on the list?

Election time again and the talk of the town is who else is standing for Mayor?  Rumour has it there are now three  candidates, all will be revealed on Monday the 23^rd when those nominated will be listed in the Daily Post.

 Billboards go up here in Rotorua from the 28^th August and must come down Friday 8^th October, before Election day on the 9^th.  Six weeks of campaigning if you were wondering and yes it is different for every region as signage is governed by  local bylaws.

Nominations close this Friday at 12 noon so it’s not too late to  put yours in.  Everyone is interested to see how the voting stacks up this time now we have abolished the wards and you can vote for up to 12 councillors.

I understand Lakes High  School are planning a public meeting dates TBC . If you are interested  look out for the listing of public meetings.

 

From The Mouths of Babes

This year’s topic for the annual Keep Rotorua Beautiful (KRB) intermediate speech awards was all about green waste. What it is, where it comes from, what we do with it now and where to from here.

There was not  a tree hugger in sight, yet the room was full of committed students speaking out about green waste.   Society’s changing attitudes to  a wide range of environmental issues means that we can no longer put down green issues as the wild ramblings  of a few hippies.  Green issues have matured and come of age.

This  is evident by the  growing number of our young people who know , care and speak out about the changes we must make, starting with  individuals, families and now especially communities.

The worm has indeed turned with the resurgence and popularity of composting and worm farming both domestically and commercially.   Recycling is now seen as a viable business opportunity as well as good for the planet. There is not only money in green waste but energy.  These initiatives are sustainable over the  long term and make good economic sense.

The intermediate students all spoke with passion, from personal experience in their own families and they had researched what others around the country and the world are doing.  It would appear it is the middle generation who have lost touch with doing what’s right, in favour of with doing what’s easy.  It is great to see a growing momentum building in our community, returning to a more sustainable way of dealing with organic waste than burying it in a landfill.

By the way the winner was Sophia Morrell from Kaitao Intermediate School in Rotorua.

Is Luxury Too Good For Our Troubled Youth?

On Thursday 29^th July, I was fortunate to be part a group invited to see the inner workings and meet the newly trained staff of the Youth Justice Residence, Te Maioha o Parekarangi, on SH30 east of Rotorua.  A number of criticisms have been leveled at this facility, ranging from “this place is like a motel” and “too good for the young offenders”, to the lament that more has not been done to prevent these young people from ending up here in the first place.

Now that I have seen the facility and heard about the philosophy guiding those charged with the care of our youth, I am fully in support of the aims and aspirations of all involved.

Te Maioha O Parekarangi is a place of last resort.  The youth that end up here are in real need of focused  care, a structured environment and learning opportunities that can prepare them for a different path than the one that took them there in the first place.  For many this will be a life-changing experience, some will leave with skills that prepare them for the workforce,  while  others will learn much needed basic life skills that most of us take for granted.

All will gain from daily mentoring by the staff  who have chosen to work with youth because they believe they can make a difference and that our youth are worth the investment.  The life skills the staff bring from all walks of life will add to the huge diversity of experiences that will help shape and guide these young people back to productive lives.

Providing a purpose-built, attractively decorated  and maintained facility with state of the art equipment is I believe the right way to assist our youth to see another side of life.

The focus here is truly on the huge potential that these young people have and the refusal of our community to give up on them even if they have given up on themselves.  My congratulations go to all who have been involved in this very valuable project.

 

 

Making An Entrance

If you haven’t been out of town lately you may not have seen the latest additions to the western entrance to our city.  These powerful artworks have created a dramatic statement about who we are as a people and the welcome we are extending to our guests and returning family and friends.

Three major state highways lead  into Rotorua and each offers a very different approach to the city.  From this month, State Highway 5  at Tarukenga boasts an impressive group of artworks.  These have been designed by three local artists who were commissioned to create works that welcomed visitors  and locals while telling a story about the land and local Iwi.

 

Lead artist Lewis Gardiner, carver Robert Shuster Rika and sculptor Jamie Pickernell were supported by Rotorua District Council’s Landscape Architect Joby Barham and Arts Officer Kiri Jarden.

 

The inward journey begins  adjacent to the Tarukenga Marae where there are two carvings by Robert Schuster Rika representing ancestors Ngati Tura and Ngati Ngakau.  These stand at the palisades followed by a series of pou by Lewis Gardiner, extending to the Tarukenga rest stop where a large cast aluminum statute by Lewis takes pride of place.  This striking piece was inspired by the Maori proverb – As man disappears from sight, the land remains.

Supporting this is an interpretation panel created by Jamie Pickernell offering a welcome from Te Arawa and from Ngati Tura and Te Ngakau. The artists’ message is to remind people of our connection to the land and that we have a responsibility to care for our environment now and into the future.

Please take the time to stop when you are next passing  and enjoy these latest additions to the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the place that we call home.

Election Year

I was asked to write an article for the Lake Rotoiti Community Association's July newsletter. Here's what I wrote:

Election Year rolls around again; so what's different this time?

The Annual Plan process is well behind us now with decisions made, rates struck and the inevitable gnashing of teeth about whether you think we could have done better. It is an interesting process as we have as many differing views as we do people who make them. This balancing act requires a broad perspective and a willingness to look at the whole picture over the long haul and not settle for a quick fix.

Fortunately Rotorua, like many smaller cities and districts is not controlled along party political lines and this I believe is our greatest strength. What has always struck me about local government is that the elected members really do represent a cross section of the community.

Up until recently the choice was four distinct wards with three councillors elected from each ward to give a total of 12 councillors for the district. Each ward is represented by the councillors they have voted for however, all councillors are sworn in to represent the whole district. With the establishment of the Rotorua Lakes Community Board in 2007 the lakeside communities have enjoyed additional representation. As one of two RDC representatives on this board, I am aware of the huge input from the community board. It is hard to imagine the Council being as well informed about issues in these communities without the advocacy of the community board.

After repeated calls from the community to abolish the ward system, the councillors voted to go district wide for the 2010 Elections. This October for the first time, the ward system will no longer apply and voters may select candidates from any part of the district.

How does that affect you?

As voters you have the opportunity to vote for up to 12 candidates. This offers you greater flexibility and choice over who you believe will best guide the city now and into the future. It allows you to choose a mix of candidates that best represents the direction you believe the council should be heading in. All candidates offer a mix of skills, experience and cultural diversity and as voters each one of you gets the chance to make your vote count.

At the last elections voter turnout in the Rotorua electorate was just 44%. It is vital that as many people as possible exercise their democratic right to vote. Your vote does count and does make a difference. At present Rotorua District Council comprises six men and six woman councillors plus the mayor, Kevin Winters. I believe women bring a different approach to governance and I hope that women will continue to be well represented on our council.

"And where are the women in local government? Following the 2007 elections, women made up 32% of all elected members, and 46% of District Health Board members. Three city councils and ten district councils have women mayors, and out of Local Government New Zealand's 15 National council members, five are women.'' Kerry Prendergast Vice-President Local Government NZ.

I urge anyone with a passion for our community to consider standing for council. Information is available from the RDC Electoral Officer, Mr Peter Christophers. I also encourage each of you to make your vote count.

Women's Business

After recognising that there was a need for focus on women in business, the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce  last month initiated monthly meetings for women in business.  It is difficult for many women to get to evening meetings, so every second meeting will be at lunchtime,  hopefully being manageable for women with family commitments.

Last week I was one of three women asked to speak at the inaugural lunchtime meeting.  The Chamber of Commerce posed us a series of questions around governance, past  work/life experiences, handling conflict and  juggling the competing needs of family and careers.  We were also asked to comment on the different decision-making styles of men and women.

As women we often need to juggle our work and home commitments and while our work is of equal importance to that of our partners, it is usually us that have to drop what we’re doing if disaster strikes or the kids get sick.

As women, I believe we have an enormous capacity for adapting to change, be it personal, physical or fiscal.  It is this ability that stands us in good stead in business, where common sense can be in short supply and a willingness to work with what you have got can lead to good decision making.

A further step for some women is a position of governance and while there are far fewer women at this level worldwide, the benefits to a company, organisation or government are real and quantifiable.

So girls, when you are ready, put yourselves forward for a position to effect change somewhere at a governance level.  To you men reading this, remember the huge range of skills and experience women can bring and support us in any way you can.

Women Matter (october 2007)

The "Women Matter" study aims at assessing the impact of gender diversity on companies' performance. It shows that the companies where women are most strongly represented at board or top-management level are also the companies that perform best, on both organizational and financial performance.

The Place Of Meetings

At a monthly breakfast meeting this morning  I was asked  about how many meetings councillors attend and where our responsibilities lie.

First and foremost, there are regular committee meetings on a six-weekly rotation that all councillors are expected to attend and these are listed on the RDC website.

Next, there are many other meetings, powhiri , openings, visiting delegations and other assorted social events that support and acknowledge the very different aspects that make up our community.  These are available for all councillors to attend.

Is it possible to attend all of these?  What value comes from these meetings and is it quantifiable? Is it about short term goals or long term relationships? 

The decision to attend these meetings is one each individual councillor makes dependent on any number of factors.  All councillors have a life outside of council and it is not a full time position.  Some weeks, the demands on our time can make it feel like one.

The ebb and flow of meetings means that there is usually time for other commitments and for some, this is in private business.  It is very difficult to have the flexibility required to attend council meetings if you are not your own boss.

A significant amount of extra time is spent in preparation for meetings and many councillors spend time researching various areas of interest.  The better prepared we are for meetings, the more interesting the debate. 

I believe that our community wants and deserves to see its councillors out and about in the community - be it at a formal event or community gathering.  They need to feel that they can approach us at any time.

Since being elected to the Council in 2007 I have made it a priority to attend as many meetings as I am able. If you want to see the how many meetings I have been to this year click this link.

Maybe I’ll see you at the next one….

Tourism Board Gets A Shake Up

Tourism has always been big business for Rotorua and since 1992 the Tourism Advisory Board has been in place to help promote the business of tourism.  Recently this group of elected representatives from within the tourism industry and including three council representatives has recognised that it is time to update the boards structure.  Tourism is a fast changing industry and the demands and challenges of this market-place require a new way of  thinking.

A full independent review of the Destination  Rotorua Tourism Board has been completed  with presentations made to RDC Councillors, current Tourism Board members and others from within the industry. Feedback is now being sought in order to make a recommendation to council .

If you have an opinion on this issue , now is the time to have your say on the direction the board needs to take.  Please take the time to read the report get an idea of what others are doing around the country and help formulate a uniquely Rotorua model.

To make a submission on any of the recommendations please click here or visit the Have Your Say section of the Homepage of the RDC website www.rdc.govt.nz where you can complete an online submission form. 

Mobile Traders: Where And When?

Many of us have stopped at road-side stalls to buy items on offer,  especially seasonal produce in bulk supply. Think flowers, avocados and asparagus. Often these are spur of the moment decisions as opposed to a planned shopping trip.  An aspect of them being in the right place at the right time.

Itinerant traders or hawkers are a part of many communities, most often selling perishable goods out of a truck or similar vehicle.  These range from fruit and vegetables to flowers and fresh fish. In Rotorua the Council has allocated specific sites and an annual fee is payable for a license to operate. While the numbers are small, the Council has stipulations based on a number of issues about safety, speed of traffic and parking for example.

This can become a problem when a local rate-paying business notices that  a nearby mobile shop is in direct competition with them and is in effect able to undercut them due to fewer overheads.

This issue raises many questions for our community around how we define a mobile trader.  Is someone parking Monday to Friday 9-5 am itinerant, or are they taking unfair advantage of a policy that gives them access to a market without paying the usual business expenses of rent, wages and rates?

It is clear to me that margins are tight in retail and businesses are under constant pressure to make ends meet. I believe it is important that our policies support and protect our business ratepayers.

A review of this policy will be underway soon and I welcome your feedback on this issue.  

No Bins In Sight, More Of The Same Planned

The final debate was held today to determine what, if any changes are to be made towards reducing the amount of our waste that goes to landfill.

Yes you guessed it.  A vote of 7 to 5 has given us more of the same.

Sadly, the goal of decreasing the volume of domestic waste sent to landfill was over-shadowed by issues that other communities have managed to get their heads around. RDC will not be offering kerbside recycling to our community.

The in-town facility will be enlarged and a satellite station will be provided at Ngongotaha. Good news for Ngongotaha and Kaharoa residents. Not such good news for those that can’t or won’t go to either of these places.

While the  planned improvements should make my visits there more pleasant, I doubt it will encourage anyone who doesn’t already recycle to start now.

 I sincerely thank all of you for your submissions on this issue and I don’t for a minute believe this is the last time we will debate this in our community.

 

 

 

Community Restoration

Last night at Green Drinks a small crowd was updated on  the grass roots community gardens project led by Denise La Grouw.  Now Denise is quick to point out that she is just part of a team, however success stories like this always have someone with vision and passion driving them. After a number of years this group of dedicated volunteers has established the Hannah’s Bay Community Restoration Trust.  Their vision: building communities that work together holistically.

Already  through word of mouth a large number of schools have taken part, learning how to plant seeds, build gardens and work collectively. All of the gardens are made from recycled objects. From old tires to broken wooden pallets, discarded objects find a second and third use. Both local and regional councils have been helpful, as have the Periodic Detention crews assisting in the heavier work required.

The establishment of the trust has enabled the group to seek funding as the demand for community involvement in everyone's own neighborhood is increasing.  If you have not seen what is happening down there, take a walk around the Hannah's Bay Reserve and if you are interested in assisting or making a donation to the trust see contact details below.

Denise La Grouw

Coordinator
Hannah’s Bay Community Restoration Trust (charitable status)

34 Willow Avenue

Hannah's Bay

Rotorua

Ph (07) 345-5592

denisel@clear.net.nz

Bank account details:  Kiwibank 389010-034530-00

Quotes from Denise … what is important is that we develop caring communities – you only love what you know and you only protect what you love.  Kei te pai … all you can do is keep moving forward with a passion for engaging whole communities in feeling a sense of guardianship for the planet that we share – our home.

How Busy Are Our Lakes?

As a local resident  it is hard to miss the fact that our lakes are a huge drawcard for all sorts of people doing any number of sports on and around the water. These range from organised events with a registration fee, to club and social groups taking  advantage of an ideal environment located close to the city.

Understandably this is causing some unexpected issues for local residents, participants and RDC.  Anecdotal evidence says that some lakes are having huge issues with rubbish, boat trailers and lake closures to name a few.

Locals raised these issues with the Rotorua Lakes Community Board, Environment Bay of Plenty and Rotorua District Council late last year and a report was commissioned to look at these and other related issues.

The draft report has now been released.  Among other things, the report acknowledges that each lake has its own character and therefore requires a specific response unique to that lake.  The lakes community will be invited  to share their thoughts on this issue later this year.

I look forward to hearing your views when responses are invited.

Large Tree Required To Print Annual Plan Submissions

I’ve spent time this weekend reading the submissions we’ve received to the annual plan and I’m delighted to see how many there are, how willing our community is to have their say.

There were 3,754 submissions and 3,416 were about the Council’s plan for recycling in our community and 124 were in response to the draft Air Quality Bylaw.

As far recycling is concerned, the vast majority (over 85%) of submissions have favoured the Council’s preferred option of enlarging the current in town recycling centre and adding an additional site at Ngongotaha.

 Some submissions raised questions about the accuracy, presentation and a perceived bias of the provided information, favouring the status quo.  Even so, we have received a very clear message of community preference for recycling centres over kerbside collection, even though kerbside collection is provided by almost every other Council in the country.

My concern about the plan to simply enlarge our recycling centre and add one more, is that this will not necessarily encourage people to start recycling if they do not already do so.  A larger in-town centre will obviously be easier to use, but will more people be encouraged to use it?

The Council has devoted the coming week to hear and consider all submissions.  The issue will be formally debated in June and a decision will be made at that time.  If the Council decision goes with the weight of submissions, I sincerely hope that this is only the beginning of a very intensive program encouraging more of our community to actively recycle and reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks

Over the past four weeks  I have attended two workshops run by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).  These workshops are designed to assist  councillors in getting to grips with  the responsibilities of asking the right questions and making the right decisions. 

The first workshop focused on asset management and left me with a far clearer idea about how we manage Council's assets, not to mention some insights into how engineers think!

The community's assets are what makes our community tick and how well we manage, maintain and plan for these assets plays a vital role in community development.  Many of our assets have a lifespan of 50 years or more, so attention to the growth and development of our region is an important factor when allocating funding as we need to make sure the asset will cope with future demands. 

Essentially asset management for most of us is about levels of service.  The Council asks the community: "Are you getting the services you need for a reasonable cost?"   Sometimes this means we need to look at different ways of doing things, not just building something bigger.  And this is where asking the right questions can make all the difference. 

The second workshop was on effective decision making.  I received a clear reminder that it more about the ability to influence the collective decision-making around the council table than it is about an individual's views and issues.  A key test is the willingness to make the right decisions which are not necessarily the most popular ones while taking the community with you. The Local Government Act 2002 provides the legal framework that guides this process. 

As elected officials we are not at the council chambers every day and we are not staff with designated roles and responsibilities.  Decision making at our level is about governance not management (certainly not micromanagement); there's no point in having a dog and doing all the barking yourself.

Women In Local Body Politics

What does it take to be a local body councillor?

Is it something you might be interested in learning more about?

What do our councillors do and what sort of time commitment is required?

These and many more issues will be discussed at a meeting organised and hosted by the Zonta Club of Rotorua.  The meeting will be held at  Galaxy Travel, 1183 Amohau Street on Thursday 13^th May at 730 pm. For more information phone Janette on 07 347 8177 (evenings). 

There are currently six women councillors on the Rotorua District Council and Zonta is providing an opportunity for other women to meet them informally, to hear them speak about their experiences and answer any questions you may have. 

If you are considering running for council or are interested in how the council works, why not take this opportunity to come along and hear what we have to say. 

Sorry guys this is for women only.