Tihi Road Reserve

Consultation has concluded

Tihi Road Reserve is unique in Rotorua as it is planted as an urban woodlot using a planting plan developed in 1990. Council would like to review this Plan to ensure that future works and management reflects the values of the surrounding community and how people want to use the reserve.

During the last few months, you may have noticed that Council undertook some urgent work on the reserve following discussion with residents, concerned over the height and shading of their properties by trees. This involved topping and removing some of the larger trees impacting on residents of Day Place at the southern end of the reserve. To more effectively resolve this issue trees will need to be removed and replanting will need to take place. To minimize the ongoing impacts of this work Council need to ensure a comprehensive plan is in place.


Thanks for all your responses and ideas. We have had a fantastic response. A collation of all the community feedback is available here!


Some interim feedback is available here

Tihi Road Reserve is unique in Rotorua as it is planted as an urban woodlot using a planting plan developed in 1990. Council would like to review this Plan to ensure that future works and management reflects the values of the surrounding community and how people want to use the reserve.

During the last few months, you may have noticed that Council undertook some urgent work on the reserve following discussion with residents, concerned over the height and shading of their properties by trees. This involved topping and removing some of the larger trees impacting on residents of Day Place at the southern end of the reserve. To more effectively resolve this issue trees will need to be removed and replanting will need to take place. To minimize the ongoing impacts of this work Council need to ensure a comprehensive plan is in place.


Thanks for all your responses and ideas. We have had a fantastic response. A collation of all the community feedback is available here!


Some interim feedback is available here

Consultation has concluded

  • Interim Feedback

    We thought it might be interesting to provide a little interim feedback.

    The facts:

    • 254 letters were posted out to the local community

    • The survey was also put on this website - Korero Mai

    • Posters were put up in an attempt to reach a bit further

    • All responses came from the local community

    • Roughly 50% via paper and 50% through the website.

    • We got a 38% response rate which tells us you are a very engaged community. THANK YOU

    A sample of the results

    On being asked how you use Tihi Road Reserve?

    • Over 50% of respondents enjoy looking out onto the reserve, enjoy active family time in the reserve, exercising and walking the dog

    • Another 50% enjoy bird watching, sending the kids out for free play

    • 87% enjoy walking through the reserve

    • Use varied from the expected to collecting pine cones, flying kites through to meditation

    • Nearly 70% of you use the reserve at least weekly while 30% use it daily for a variety of reasons

    The large majority of the respondents were long term residents with a few ‘lifers’ proudly identifying themselves. 40 to 50 years was noted by a few residents.

    The benefits of the reserve were many. Most people loving green spaces, the natural environment, feeling of wilderness, kid and dog friendly. However shading of some properties was the downside and some felt the reserve needed some love and a tidy up as parts of the reserve were a bit of a mess.

    Asked what would help you use the reserve more; the larger trees were identified as needing management, replanting was popular as was keeping the reserve in a natural state.

    And to finish with today, nearly 50% of you were happy to be put in touch with each other with the end goal of forming a community based “ Friends of Tihi Road Reserve”. I will be in contact with those interested by email and let’s see where this goes.


  • Where is Tihi Road Reserve?

    Tihi Road Reserve is on the southern outskirts of Rotorua, near Otonga Road Primary School.

    A long skinny reserve running north/south, it is surrounded by residential properties with the exception of the 160m southernmost boundary which juts up to farmland belonging to Ngati Whakaue.

    Access is by various points around the reserve.


  • What happens in the reserve?

    The reserve was developed as an urban woodlot, and now caters for predominately passive recreation.

    The reserve remains a popular off leash dog walking area and is also part of the Rotorua Walkway network. The reserve offers plenty of safe “free play” areas for children and their families, absorbing minor community development like bike jumps with ease.

    There are internal paths for pedestrians and horses (the latter rarely if ever seen), with limited emergency access for vehicles. The gully acts as a storm water drain in major wet weather events, with a debris trap at the northern end.

    People really do use this reserve in a variety of ways. To help us understand more fully how it is used and the values you hold for Tihi Rd Reserve please take 3 minutes and complete the survey,

  • Back story to Tihi Reserve

    Tihi Road Reserve is a wonderful place to explore with family. Developed as an urban woodlot many years ago, many of the trees are now nearing full size.

    The reserve caters for the predominately passive recreation that occurs there. There are internal paths for pedestrians and horses (the latter rarely if ever seen), with limited emergency access for vehicles. The gully acts as a storm water drain in major wet weather events, with a debris trap at the northern end.

    The reserve remains a popular off leash dog walking area and is also part of the Rotorua Walkway network. The reserve offers plenty of safe “free play” areas for children and their families, absorbing minor community development like bike jumps with ease.

    With this in mind, we would love to hear what is important to you and the values you place on the reserve. You can do this by filling in a short 3 minute survey.

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