Ngā pātai kārangaranga | FAQs
- Complete an Online Survey Form: Visit our website and fill out the submission form provided.
- Write to Us: Send your submission to Rotorua Lakes Council, 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua 3010.
- Email Us: Share your thoughts via email at letstalk@rotorualc.nz.
- Connect on Facebook: Engage with us on Facebook @rotorualakescouncil and leave your feedback.
- Phone Us: Call us at 07 348 4199 between 8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, and speak with our team.
- Meet Us at Events: Attend our events where our staff can assist you in recording your submission.
- Visit Us in Person: Fill out a hard copy form available at the library or Council customer centre.
What is a Long-Term Plan (LTP)?
He aha tēnei mea te Mahere Pae Tawhiti?
The 2024-2034 Long-term Plan (LTP) will set out what Council proposes to deliver during the next 10 years and how that will be funded.
It will affect everyone in Rotorua which is why your views are important.
Long-term plans are reviewed every three years to ensure they remain relevant and reflect the direction of Council and of the Rotorua district.
The community is consulted before a long-term plan is finalised and adopted by Council with feedback and submissions taken into consideration in decision-making.
A consultation document is produced to outline key aspects of what is being proposed and seek community feedback and submissions.
What is the ‘Consultation Document’?
He aha te Tuhinga Toronga Whakaaro?
The consultation document outlines key challenges the council and district face, includes options that were considered and the Council’s preferred options and provides information about key strategies and policies that provide the foundations for the LTP, including the financial strategy.
How often do councils prepare a new Long-Term Plan?
E hia ngā wā e whakarite ana e te Kaunihera i te Mahere Pae Tawhiti hōu?
Under current legislation councils are required to produce a new (or revised) 10-year LTP every three years. The last LTP produced by Rotorua Lakes Council was for the period 2021 to 2031.
Will there be a draft Long-Term Plan prepared for public consultation?
Ka whakawāteahia tētahi tuhinga Mahere Pae Tawhiti ka toro whakaaro e te hāpori i mua i te whakataunga?
Legislation no longer requires a draft LTP. Public consultation is based on an LTP consultation document. Council will prepare its finalised full Long-term Plan after public consultation and the community’s views have been considered.
After the consultation period has closed, the council will deliberate on all the feedback and submissions it has received and make final decisions about what will be included in the Long-term Plan.
The finalised plan will be adopted in late June and will take effect on 1 July, the start of the 2024-2034 financial year.
What is the process for giving feedback to Council on its Long-term Plan?
He aha te huarahi kia toro whakaaro atu ki te Kaunihera mo te Mahere Pae Tawhiti?
Rotorua Lakes Council wants to hear from people across the district and there are several ways to provide feedback. Consultation is open from 4 April 2024 until 3rd May 2024.
Ways to give feedback:
How to Make Your Submission:
You can submit your feedback in English, Te Reo Māori, and NZ Sign Language. A submission can be captured verbally, visually (video) or scribed. Please note that all submissions must include your name and at least one form of contact detail, such as email, phone, or address.
How will we know if the council has achieved what it set out to do in the Long-term Plan?
Ka pēhea tātou e mōhio ai kua tūtuki e te Kaunihera ngā wawata o te Mahere Pae Tawhiti?
At the end of each financial year, councils are required to prepare detailed annual reports covering their financial and operational performance for the previous 12 months. These are subject to independent audit by the Office of the Auditor-General. They are public documents adopted at open council meetings and are published on council websites.
What are some of the criteria for the Short Term Rental Accomodation proposal?
Approximately 1000 properties in the Rotorua District are being used for short-term accommodations and are being advertised. Proposal 11A – Rating Policy (Short-term rentals) of the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan, raises the question whether owners of these properties are paying their fair share of rates compared to traditional accommodation like motels, hotels and campgrounds which are charged commercial rates
Council have analysed the effects of advertising short-term rentals for 30, 60, and 90 days. Council have also looked at what other councils are doing. For instance, Queenstown has a voluntary registration system and applies different rates based on how properties are used. Auckland has a different approach than our 100-day model for short-term rentals.
Council aims to find a fair approach that distinguishes between homes used for family living but occasionally advertised for short stays, and those solely used for commercial purposes. The proposal is to classify short-term rentals as commercial if advertised for more than 60 days. This way those using properties solely for short-term rentals would be treated as commercial and pay their fair share.
The proposal specifically focuses on entire houses (estimated to be about 500 homes in the Rotorua District) used solely for short-term accommodation, rather than instances where homeowners reside in the property and occasionally rent out a room.