Rotorua's Mayor says the city is turning around its problems with emergency housing motels.
Resource consent applications are being sent to the Rotorua Lakes Council for seven motels for up to 549 people in 186 units.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development says it intends to stop referring people to emergency housing by July next year.
Mayor Tania Tapsell told Kerre Woodham there's been a definite change during her time in office.
She says there's been a 60% reduction in emergency housing motels .
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Kerry Wood and Morning's podcast from
News Talks. He'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
In the first hour. We were talking Rotterdur and here's why, Kerrie.
We're in Rotterdoa on the weekend. Stayed at the newly
developed Freedom camping spot on the lake front. Wow, it
was great. It felt so safe and clean. The whole
town looks amazing, lovely, clean, well maintained, massive improvement on
a year ago. Another text Morning Carrey. In late June,
I went to Rotada with my daughter. Brilliant time. City
(00:34):
area was great, clean and cluttered, no road cones, vibrant.
On a Thursday night, we had an amazing dinner and
great service. We did five or six different activities, had
nothing but great hospitality and service from the providers. Rotterdua
is an absolute gem. The locals were very friendly. In
my opinion, Rotterduur should rival Queenstown and Wonica on the
(00:55):
for the tourism Dollar. Morning Kerry group of nine of
us says Robin went to Rotterdua for three days recently.
We were mindful of past difficulties in that town. Could
not have enjoyed ourselves more. We saw no problems the
city was so clean and attractive, and the number of
exciting activities was more than we could fit into our schedule.
I wouldn't hesitate about going back. It's a credit to
(01:17):
our country that we can offer these experiences to our
international tourists. Rosald or Ameertania Tapsil joins me. Now morning
to you.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Cure to carry. I think I just became the happiest
men in the country.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
And that's only some of it. We had an hour
of there were maybe two texts, but amazingly overwhelmingly positive
in this from people who've been able to compare and
contrast what have you done?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Oh look, we are incredibly proud here and to be
able to hear that feedback. You know, we went really
hard at a council, but we went really hard as
a community because, as you know, we were getting a
bad reputation around the country for emergency housing motiles, social issues,
and we knew that actually that's not the auto doo
that we live and we're so lucky to live in
this great place to a world class destination, and let's
(02:07):
make sure that people know that. So there has been
a lot of effort from our council, from our businesses,
from our community to clean up the place. I mean,
we went really hard on emergency housing. So I suppose
the main thing behind all of this progress is just
being really real when things are going wrong. If things
are bad or there's an issue you need to fix,
just point it out and deal with it. And that's
(02:28):
what we managed to do with emergency housing, and so
that was the biggest one. But actually as a council,
we've made sure we've put in a lot of effort
into keeping our spaces that we love to work in,
to play and actually pristine at the world class level
that we deserve here and also do is.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
That council staff being given that directive or is that
coming from the people, you know, the retailers themselves and
the restauranteurs and the like.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You know, you know what the wake up call was
Actually we had many complaints coming in because the lawns
weren't giving mode and reserves, and it really highlighted that
our community looks at our public spaces and expects it
to be of a high quality here in Altada. And
it also made us take a moment to look inside
internally and think, Okay, are we making sure that we're
(03:12):
delivering excellence that we should be are services of great quality,
and so we did make some changes internally. We have
been working hard to change the culture around. We have
great passionate people here in Latude but also in counsel
and so it was actually empowering them to be able
to do a good job. But also, hey, we know
we can't do everything with the limited resources that we can.
(03:35):
Here are our priority areas, let's go deliver it.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Like you've even got new business that the Wyadiki Hot
Springs and spa. Where how hard was it to get
people to commit to invest in rot tod Or given
the previous bad press.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, and you know the lockdowns of the borders were
massively damaging for us. Is a truth and destination as well.
So overnight we lost we lost, we lost not even business,
we lost jobs. It was really hard for us. So yes,
I agree it has been a real challenge for people
to look to invest. But as we've seen that way
(04:12):
to he spar is one year old. Now it's been
open for one year and they have hosted all sorts
of stars but also many visitors who love it, so
that was a significant investment. Actually, it's up for an
international reward very soon. They're going to Singapore to hopefully
receive that, but we invested in our front there. It
is stunning. That is beautiful. Thank you to the people
(04:32):
for the great feedback. But again it was well, you know,
we know things are tough now, but we do have
a future and we're not going to get to a
better future if we're just going to sit around complaining
about how bad it is, except you get off our backsides,
make a plan and activate it.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Stunning old fashioned, stunning kind of way of getting things done.
But it's just so interesting that you've that you've managed
to get that turnaround so quickly. Because we have talked
about Rosadoa before, We've had different lobby groups on before
as saying look this is and it's got such a
proud history pre dating European but also European history as well,
(05:09):
and to see it, to see it suffers so was awful.
But it's just such good news and I'm just really
inspired that you as as mayor can lead a council
and a community to affect change so quickly. It gives
me hope for the whole country.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I thank you very much, and I think it's you know,
there's it's what she choose to focus on. It's very
easy to focus on all the things that are going wrong,
but actually the harder, bit, more worth while thing is
to focus on what can we fix, what can we
fix now, and actually partner with other people to do that. So,
you know, this is a result of our entire community
with our social issues. We partnered with police, we opened
(05:49):
up a community safety hub, we brought in Maori wardens
and other community safety providers. And you know, with emergency housing,
we partnered with the government and also our local erewe
because eighty percent of people in there were Maori and
we've managed to address that by over sixty percent now
those emergency housing motiles. So everything that we're doing it
or to do, we're doing because we care about this place,
we love this place, we see a future, but we're
(06:11):
actually working together. So I hope that other people can
see what we're doing. And they replicated across the country
because all cities in New Zealand should be feeling just
as proud as we do here and or to do so.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Where did the people go those that were in the
emergency housing that are no longer there.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yes, you do have to build your way out of us.
So we needed to make sure that we were building
social housing but also supporting those who are only in
there because you know, they might have had a breakup,
they've had a loss of job, they were living week
to week and whoops, we actually ended up in a
really difficult situation. So that's what emergency housing should be,
for giving people a hand up, not a handout. And
(06:50):
so for getting people back on their feet. We've made
sure that again there's actually a plan there, get them
back into work, get them back into their own home.
And yeah, we've been able to do that fortunately here
and or.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
To do I want to sob and hunt you. I
feel so pleased, thank you. So that kind of your
positivity can breed positivity and you know it generates it.
It's fantastic, it's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yeah, and I do. Look, it doesn't matter how bad
things get in life. Sometimes they get horrendously bad, they
get as bad as we had, but there's always a
way out. You just need to remember to flick that
hope back on, make a plan, surround yourself with people
that are going to talk positivity and help you get
to that direction as well. Kind of give the little polite. Okay,
you're not being out for anymore to the one that
(07:37):
holding you back by complaining still and think she just
get on and do it, like you said, back to
the basics, back to the old school mentality. We'll just
get on and do it.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Love you, Thank you very much for your time. Tanya
Tapsil Rotto to a mayor, what our breath of fresh air? Yes, exactly,
Tanya Tapsil is like a breath of fresh air. Awesome, Garrie,
the mayor of Rotter do Ust. It's a huge hope
to all of New Zealand that we could all have
mayors like her. Wife and I went to Wayatiki last week. Unbelievable,
truly world class in our opinion, great value for the
(08:07):
one hundred and fifty five dollars. My wife wants to
go back every quarter. It's definitely improved under Tarnia's watch.
Fantastic job to her and her team. I think Tania
Tips is a rockstar Carry Future PM in my opinion,
she makes it sound so easy. Fantastic.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
For more from Carry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news
Talks at b from nine am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Kerry Wood and Morning's podcast from
News Talks. He'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
In the first hour. We were talking Rotterdur and here's why, Kerrie.
We're in Rotterdoa on the weekend. Stayed at the newly
developed Freedom camping spot on the lake front. Wow, it
was great. It felt so safe and clean. The whole
town looks amazing, lovely, clean, well maintained, massive improvement on
a year ago. Another text Morning Carrey. In late June,
I went to Rotada with my daughter. Brilliant time. City
(00:34):
area was great, clean and cluttered, no road cones, vibrant.
On a Thursday night, we had an amazing dinner and
great service. We did five or six different activities, had
nothing but great hospitality and service from the providers. Rotterdua
is an absolute gem. The locals were very friendly. In
my opinion, Rotterduur should rival Queenstown and Wonica on the
(00:55):
for the tourism Dollar. Morning Kerry group of nine of
us says Robin went to Rotterdua for three days recently.
We were mindful of past difficulties in that town. Could
not have enjoyed ourselves more. We saw no problems the
city was so clean and attractive, and the number of
exciting activities was more than we could fit into our schedule.
I wouldn't hesitate about going back. It's a credit to
(01:17):
our country that we can offer these experiences to our
international tourists. Rosald or Ameertania Tapsil joins me. Now morning
to you.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Cure to carry. I think I just became the happiest
men in the country.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
And that's only some of it. We had an hour
of there were maybe two texts, but amazingly overwhelmingly positive
in this from people who've been able to compare and
contrast what have you done?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Oh look, we are incredibly proud here and to be
able to hear that feedback. You know, we went really
hard at a council, but we went really hard as
a community because, as you know, we were getting a
bad reputation around the country for emergency housing motiles, social issues,
and we knew that actually that's not the auto doo
that we live and we're so lucky to live in
this great place to a world class destination, and let's
(02:07):
make sure that people know that. So there has been
a lot of effort from our council, from our businesses,
from our community to clean up the place. I mean,
we went really hard on emergency housing. So I suppose
the main thing behind all of this progress is just
being really real when things are going wrong. If things
are bad or there's an issue you need to fix,
just point it out and deal with it. And that's
(02:28):
what we managed to do with emergency housing, and so
that was the biggest one. But actually as a council,
we've made sure we've put in a lot of effort
into keeping our spaces that we love to work in,
to play and actually pristine at the world class level
that we deserve here and also do is.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
That council staff being given that directive or is that
coming from the people, you know, the retailers themselves and
the restauranteurs and the like.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
You know, you know what the wake up call was
Actually we had many complaints coming in because the lawns
weren't giving mode and reserves, and it really highlighted that
our community looks at our public spaces and expects it
to be of a high quality here in Altada. And
it also made us take a moment to look inside
internally and think, Okay, are we making sure that we're
(03:12):
delivering excellence that we should be are services of great quality,
and so we did make some changes internally. We have
been working hard to change the culture around. We have
great passionate people here in Latude but also in counsel
and so it was actually empowering them to be able
to do a good job. But also, hey, we know
we can't do everything with the limited resources that we can.
(03:35):
Here are our priority areas, let's go deliver it.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Like you've even got new business that the Wyadiki Hot
Springs and spa. Where how hard was it to get
people to commit to invest in rot tod Or given
the previous bad press.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, and you know the lockdowns of the borders were
massively damaging for us. Is a truth and destination as well.
So overnight we lost we lost, we lost not even business,
we lost jobs. It was really hard for us. So yes,
I agree it has been a real challenge for people
to look to invest. But as we've seen that way
(04:12):
to he spar is one year old. Now it's been
open for one year and they have hosted all sorts
of stars but also many visitors who love it, so
that was a significant investment. Actually, it's up for an
international reward very soon. They're going to Singapore to hopefully
receive that, but we invested in our front there. It
is stunning. That is beautiful. Thank you to the people
(04:32):
for the great feedback. But again it was well, you know,
we know things are tough now, but we do have
a future and we're not going to get to a
better future if we're just going to sit around complaining
about how bad it is, except you get off our backsides,
make a plan and activate it.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Stunning old fashioned, stunning kind of way of getting things done.
But it's just so interesting that you've that you've managed
to get that turnaround so quickly. Because we have talked
about Rosadoa before, We've had different lobby groups on before
as saying look this is and it's got such a
proud history pre dating European but also European history as well,
(05:09):
and to see it, to see it suffers so was awful.
But it's just such good news and I'm just really
inspired that you as as mayor can lead a council
and a community to affect change so quickly. It gives
me hope for the whole country.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I thank you very much, and I think it's you know,
there's it's what she choose to focus on. It's very
easy to focus on all the things that are going wrong,
but actually the harder, bit, more worth while thing is
to focus on what can we fix, what can we
fix now, and actually partner with other people to do that. So,
you know, this is a result of our entire community
with our social issues. We partnered with police, we opened
(05:49):
up a community safety hub, we brought in Maori wardens
and other community safety providers. And you know, with emergency housing,
we partnered with the government and also our local erewe
because eighty percent of people in there were Maori and
we've managed to address that by over sixty percent now
those emergency housing motiles. So everything that we're doing it
or to do, we're doing because we care about this place,
we love this place, we see a future, but we're
(06:11):
actually working together. So I hope that other people can
see what we're doing. And they replicated across the country
because all cities in New Zealand should be feeling just
as proud as we do here and or to do so.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Where did the people go those that were in the
emergency housing that are no longer there.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yes, you do have to build your way out of us.
So we needed to make sure that we were building
social housing but also supporting those who are only in
there because you know, they might have had a breakup,
they've had a loss of job, they were living week
to week and whoops, we actually ended up in a
really difficult situation. So that's what emergency housing should be,
for giving people a hand up, not a handout. And
(06:50):
so for getting people back on their feet. We've made
sure that again there's actually a plan there, get them
back into work, get them back into their own home.
And yeah, we've been able to do that fortunately here
and or.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
To do I want to sob and hunt you. I
feel so pleased, thank you. So that kind of your
positivity can breed positivity and you know it generates it.
It's fantastic, it's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yeah, and I do. Look, it doesn't matter how bad
things get in life. Sometimes they get horrendously bad, they
get as bad as we had, but there's always a
way out. You just need to remember to flick that
hope back on, make a plan, surround yourself with people
that are going to talk positivity and help you get
to that direction as well. Kind of give the little polite. Okay,
you're not being out for anymore to the one that
(07:37):
holding you back by complaining still and think she just
get on and do it, like you said, back to
the basics, back to the old school mentality. We'll just
get on and do it.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Love you, Thank you very much for your time. Tanya
Tapsil Rotto to a mayor, what our breath of fresh air? Yes, exactly,
Tanya Tapsil is like a breath of fresh air. Awesome, Garrie,
the mayor of Rotter do Ust. It's a huge hope
to all of New Zealand that we could all have
mayors like her. Wife and I went to Wayatiki last week. Unbelievable,
truly world class in our opinion, great value for the
(08:07):
one hundred and fifty five dollars. My wife wants to
go back every quarter. It's definitely improved under Tarnia's watch.
Fantastic job to her and her team. I think Tania
Tips is a rockstar Carry Future PM in my opinion,
she makes it sound so easy. Fantastic.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
For more from Carry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news
Talks at b from nine am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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