FAQ's

He aha ngā whare kua whakatū i tēnei wāhi, ā ko wai ka noho I taua whare? | What type of housing is being proposed for this site and who could live there?

The aspiration of Ngāti Whakaue is to enable housing on this piece of land for Whakaue descendants. The type and number of houses is yet to be determined and further detail would be confirmed during the planning stages of the potential development. Any development would still need to go through the regular consenting process to ensure there are no adverse effects on neighbours and future residents.

He pai kia whakatū whare noho pātata ki te whare tahu tūpāpaku? | Is it safe and appropriate to have housing so close to a crematorium?

The crematorium poses no adverse health effects to people and the significant area of vegetation between the crematorium and the part of the reserve proposed for housing would be retained and remain under council management.

Me whai i te whakaaetanga rawa mo tēnei kaupapa? Will a resource consent be required for the development?

This would depend on the final housing proposal.

He tata rawa tēnei wāhi ki te rori huanui, he hoihoi rawa ki a rātau e noho ana i ngā kainga nei? | Being so close to a state highway, won’t this be really noisy for residents?

Mitigating noise pollution would be considered during the design phase of the potential housing development. Waka Kotahi has also given preliminary approval for a housing development in this space.

Ka taea e te kaunihera kia tū tonu te whenua nei hei wāhi tuwhera mo te hāpori? | Can Council just retain the land as open space for the community?

Council is obligated to give back land to Ngāti Whakaue that is not being used for the specific purpose for which is was gifted for the establishment of the Rotorua township. The land was gifted for cemetery purposes but cannot be used as cemetery due to the ground conditions so should be given back to Ngāti Whakaue. The land could be retained by Council while that process was being undertaken.

He aha te rerekētanga o te whakahokinga o te whenua, tango i te tūranga papa rēhia ki te tētahi atu mo tēnei whenua. | What is the difference between returning the land/removing the current reserve status and changing the purpose of this piece of land?

Changing the purpose of the reserve means the land would stay as a reserve under the Reserves Act with Rotorua Lakes Council as the Reserve Administering Body. Removing or revoking the status of the reserve means the land is no longer held as a reserve under the Reserves Act and would become private land owned by Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust.