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From the Mayor
We are experiencing significant change, progress and population growth in the Rotorua district. People and businesses are choosing in greater numbers to come and live here and we need to provide for on going growth for the future prosperity and wellbeing of Rotorua.
The challenge is to ensure the way development happens will protect what makes our home special, while at the same time propelling the district forward.
An essential part of the process is hearing from the community about what it sees as the important issues, what type of development we want, how much and where it should go. To stimulate discussion Council has prepared this document with some initial ideas and what we see as priorities that we should be focusing on.
There is incredible potential in our district and we want to unlock that. However, we need to think carefully about how that should and this is an opportunity for you to help us continue to shape our district across the next 30 years.
I look forward to your input and ideas
Tatau tatau.
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History - Our first Spatial Plan
More than a hundred years ago, on 25 November 1880 the Fenton Agreement was signed between the Crown and Ngati Whakaue, gifting the lands on which Rotorua city was built.
Streets, parks and sites for hospitals and schools were laid out and key streets were named after the important chiefs and leaders of Te Arawa.
In essence, this was the first spatial plan for the city.
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How do we want Rotorua to look in the future?
This discussion document is intended to start a discussion about how as a community we want to respond to population changes and the global and national trends that will influence our growth and development.
This is an exciting time for the district.
The last 3 years have seen sustained growth and development in the district and a steady increase in population.
Population gains over the last 3 years have reversed the small population decline across the proceeding 10 years.
However, growth creates other challenges - most obviously, for our roads and infrastructure - but also in the cost and demand for housing.
We therefore need to think carefully about the longer term direction of the district and how we look to manage change and provide for future growth to achieve the social, environmental and economic sustainability of the district.
We have an important role as stewards for the district – Kaitiakitanga.
Feedback on this document will help us develop a spatial plan which reflects the community’s aspirations for the future of the city, district and its setting.
The purpose of the spatial plan will be to provide clear strategic directions for the development of Rotorua and the district over the next 30 plus years and beyond, but with the flexibility required to respond to unforeseen change.
With its focus on how we use land and manage competing demands for space, it will ensure that the district can achieve a more sustainable, prosperous and equitable future.