ourROTORUANEWS FROM ROTORUA LAKES COUNCIL 19 December 2014

Contact details for the mayor, councillors and community board members are available on www.rdc.govt.nz

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM MAYOR STEVE

Mayor Steve Chadwick

Tena koutou katoaIt’s a real pleasure to extend season’s greetings at the end of my first year in office as mayor of Rotorua. And what a year it has been.

I am particularly proud of what our council and community have been able to achieve

together in the last 12 months. We’ve set a blistering pace for change, and we’ve established a pathway towards a future that is looking increasingly positive. This is our Rotorua 2030 shared vision – a platform for even better things to come.

In no small measure our

ROTORUA TO LIGHT UP OVER NEW YEAR

Local artist Michael Staite with one of his artworks on display in the Whakapapa exhibition.

successes to date are a result of working together in genuine partnerships – partnerships with community groups, with iwi, with business, with non-government organisations, with other councils, with government agencies and, most importantly, with our residents. Your input and support has been an absolutely critical part of the process, and I thank you for that.

This is the way of the future. It is, as our city crest puts it, all about ‘Tatau tatau – we together.’

My colleagues on Rotorua Lakes Council join me in wishing you all the very best for a safe and happy Christmas, and our hopes that 2015 will be a rewarding year for everyone.Nga mihi nui mo te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou.

Hon Steve Chadwick JPRotorua Mayor

The best fireworks display ever to be staged in Rotorua is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the lakefront this New Year’s Eve.

Two massive fireworks displays have been created – one to be held at 9.15pm and the other at midnight – to welcome 2015 in style.

RLC Inner City Revitalisation lead, Cr Karen Hunt, said families will be keen to be part of the atmosphere and celebrate the New Year in a fun, safe environment.

“We don’t want the little ones to miss out on seeing the fireworks – that’s why we’re staging an early display at 9.15pm as well. The whole town will be buzzing over the New Year period.”

Council events manager Martin Croft says two local companies, Audio Visual Techniques and Laser Events, will combine forces to create some magic in the sky above Lake Rotorua.

“We definitely want those ‘wow’ moments. Incorporating lasers to complement the fireworks will add an extra spark to what is already

one of the best displays in the country,” Martin says. “It will give people a different experience and something they haven’t seen before.”

Rotorua’s New Year’s holiday promises four days of entertainment, including the annual GLO Festival, in association with the Rotorua Daily Post.

Martin said GLO will be very family-focussed with amusement park rides and a line-up of local talent to enjoy.

The free festival kicks off at 6pm on 30 December with ‘The Hits Flicks’ – an outdoor movie night under the stars which is expected to attract around 4000 people to Rotorua’s lakefront.

On New Year’s Eve, New Zealand boy band, Titanium, will headline ‘Party in the Park’, followed by the fireworks displays.

On New Year’s Day, the popular ‘1st Big Brunch’ will draw people back to the Village Green for a relaxing picnic from 11am to 2pm, while the Fat Freddy’s Drop concert the following evening will conclude four days of superb New Year’s entertainment in Rotorua.

FAT FREDDY’S DROP TO ROCK LAKEFRONT

FREE INTERNET

FOR LIBRARY CUSTOMERSRotorua Library’s free internet service is proving a hit with customers and visitors.

The system is run on a computerised reservation system, provided in conjunction with Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa, allowing library customers to get a 30 minute slot at any one of the library’s 20 new computers without charge. Library visitors can also utilise free Wi-Fi throughout the library on their own devices.

Library director Jane Gilbert said the development brings a new dimension to the library’s services.

“This service will help level the playing field when it comes to our community’s access to technology.

“Statistics tell us that the number of Rotorua residents with internet access is lower than the national average so this will really benefit our community.”

She said the change is bringing a wider clientele to the library as visitors to Rotorua also take the opportunity to use the free facility.

“Customers from all walks of life are embracing the change with computer usage remaining consistently high since the service has been in operation.”

One of the great success stories of New Zealand music is taking stage at Rotorua’s Village Green in a New Year’s concert extravaganza.

Fat Freddy’s Drop will perform at the Village Green at Rotorua Lakefront on 2 January in a safe, family-friendly event.

The homegrown band recently sold out London’s Alexandra Palace with over 10,000 spellbound fans, while their most recent single, Slings and Arrows, went straight to the top of the New Zealand music chart.

Events & Venues general manager, Peter McLeod, said Kiwi fans can’t get enough of the Fat Freddy’s Drop music style, with local fans and visitors fortunate to be able to see the group on stage for almost two hours.

“No two Fat Freddy’s Drop

shows are ever the same so they will be New Zealand’s must-see concert this summer.

“The concert will also showcase a line-up of exciting support acts, featuring Meta and the Cornerstones, The Hipstamatics, The Boom Cats, Manalion and Rotorua’s very own Strangely Arousing. It’s going to be a fantastic night of entertainment to help kick-off 2015 in style.”

General admission and VIP tickets are available from Eventfinda on www.eventfinda.co.nz or by free phoning 0800 289 849. General admission tickets are also available from the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre’s Ticketmaster outlet.

Gates open at 4pm and a wide variety of food and beverages will be on sale. Under 12s are free if accompanied by an adult.

Fat Freddy’s Drop to perform at Village Green on 2 January in a family-friendly concert.

COUNCIL’S FIRST GALLERIA

EXHIBITION OPEN

The first public art exhibition to be held in Rotorua Lakes Council’s Civic Centre is now open to the public.

Titled Whakapapa, the show features contemporary works by five artists who whakapapa to Te Arawa.

“This is a local place – our place – and we wanted it to be a place that tells our stories,” Mayor Steve Chadwick said of the revamped galleria.

She described the works on show as “both challenging and beautiful.”

Artists exhibiting in Whakapapa are Kereama

Taepa, Christina Hurihia Wirihana, Jane Johnson-Matua, Tawhanga Mary-Legs Nopera, and Michael Staite.

The public can view the Whakapapa exhibition during council opening hours of 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Rotorua artists interested in exhibiting in the council galleria in future are encouraged to add their name to Council’s Creative Communities database via the ‘creative email sign-up’ on the council’s Facebook page. Members of the public who are interested in the arts can also sign up to this database.

BRIEFLY

MUSEUM’S SECOND URBAN RELEASE OF KĀREAREA

DID YOU KNOW?

CONTACT THE COUNCIL

Rotorua Lakes Council, Private Bag 3029

Rotorua Mail Centre, Rotorua 3046

Phone: 07 348 4199

Hours: 8am - 5pm Mon - Fri

mail@rdc.govt.nzwww.rdc.govt.nzwww.facebook.com/RotoruaDistrictCouncil

Two new kārearea (New Zealand falcon) chicks were transferred from Wingspan last week to a nesting box on the roof of Rotorua Museum.

The chicks will be fed daily by museum staff until early January when the nesting box will be opened and the young falcons will be freed.

STUDENTS INVITED TO RESEARCH WWI HEROES

HAVE YOUR SAY ON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

• While Council offices are closed from 12 noon 24 December until 5 January, you can still pay LIMs, dog registrations, rates and parking infringements online.

• Rubbish collections days remain unchanged over the holiday period.

• Recycling Centre closed Christmas Day.

• Rotorua Museum closed Christmas Day.

• i-SITE closed Christmas Day.

• Rotorua Library is closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day and 2 January.

• Aquatic Centre closed Christmas Day. On 26 December and 31 December hours are 8am-9pm.

Great prizes donated by Ngāti Whakaue Education Endowment Trust will be up for grabs for students and their schools in Rotorua Museum’s My WW1 Hero research competition.

The competition is open to all local students who are in Year 7 or Year 8 during 2015.

Throughout February, Rotorua Library’s reference librarian will be available to help with research for pre-booked school groups, and every Thursday after school for individual research support.

Competition entries will be accepted from 1 January until 30 March 2015.

For more information go to wwww.rotoruamuseum.co.nz.

COUNCIL CIVIC CENTRE HOLIDAY HOURSWeekdays 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday except for Wednesday 24 December closed from 12 noon and re-opening again on Monday 5 December. Closed on public holidays.

For hours of other council operations call RLC on 348 4199 or visit rdc.govt.nz.

Cr Glenys Searancke and RLC performing arts director Richard Marshall.

VODAFONE WARRIORS RETURN

TO ROTORUA

Rotorua Lakes Council (RLC) is encouraging local people to have their say on the events and facilities they want to see at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.

Council Creative Communities portfolio lead, Councillor Glenys Searancke, said there was potential for the performing arts centre to be transformed into a very special and unique place for the community to play, learn and perform.

“The Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre is an exceptional facility in a prime location and we’d love to see it developed into a thriving

performance hub, bustling with activity and vitality.

“We want to hear what types of events and activities local people would like to see and be part of, and we want to ensure we have the right facilities to cater for those events - whether they’re arts shows, acrobatics, children’s concerts or whatever.”

RLC performing arts director, Richard Marshall, said the council would like to see an increase in the use of the centre and is keen to engage with both existing and potential users, to get their feedback.

“Rotorua has a huge amount of talent that we’d love to

showcase at our performing arts centre. We want to hear from anyone who has ideas on how this amazing community facility can be used to its full capability and we’re very happy for local people to get involved.”

People can submit their ideas for the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre at the Ideas Store on Tutanekai St, the Ideas Bank online at rdc.govt.nz (under ‘Creative Communities’), or by emailing richard.marshall@rdc.govt.nz.

A ‘Creative Email Sign-Up’ on the council Facebook page will keep people up-to-date with the creative community.

Rotorua Lakes Council is to proceed with a ‘Green Corridor’ project that will include a pathway for cyclists and others on wheels, through the inner city.

The Green Corridor will provide a separated and landscaped pathway between existing footpaths and the roadway on a route through the central city and Kuirau Park. It will link a number of existing cycleways in the district enabling cyclists to travel across the city on a safe dedicated pathway.

The path will also be available for use by skateboard and scooter users, mobility vehicles, families with pushchairs, and walking and running groups.

The Green Corridor concept was developed by Rotorua

GREEN CORRIDOR TO INCLUDE

CYCLEWAY THROUGH INNER CITY

Lakes Council, Rotorua Cycle Action group and the Inner City Focus Group representing CBD retailers and other businesses.

The proposal was subject to a successful funding application to the New Zealand Transport Agency that would see the estimated $397,000 project cost subsidised by 57 per cent.The council’s remaining share of the funding would come from within existing budgets.

Inner City Revitalisation portfolio lead, Councillor Karen Hunt, said the Green Corridor was about telling people that “wheels are welcome.”

“Whether it’s kids on skates or scooters, visitors on cycle tours, people in mobility vehicles, families with children in pushchairs, the Green Corridor will welcome them all.”

NEW TRAIL FOR THE

REDWOODSA dual-use trail for bikers and walkers is currently under construction in The Redwoods forest area, to provide a safe, family-friendly track for families.

The new trail is designed to meet the needs of forest users whose requirements are not currently catered for on the dedicated walking and mountain biking tracks.

It will provide an off-road link to The Redwoods Visitor Centre from the end of Long Mile Rd, and another access point further up Tarawera Rd.

Rotorua Lakes Council Community Engagement & Events lead, Julianne Wilkinson, said the new trail will take children off much of Long Mile Road, a road that has high traffic volumes at times and is used by large tour buses.

“The new loop is separate from the current walking tracks, and will provide a safe, easy trail within the forest for parents with pushchairs and young children on bikes. It will be a gentle, winding trail designed to encourage slower speeds.

“It reduces conflict with mountain bikers using other walking tracks in this area as bikers will now have a separate link they can use to access Nursery Hill and the mountain bike trails.”

Several players from the Kiwis’ champion Four Nations squad will feature in the Vodafone Warriors’ line-up when they take on Penrith in an NRL trial at Rotorua International Stadium on February 14 next year.

Between the two sides, they have nine Four Nations winners in their 2015 squads including Vodafone Warriors’ Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei and Shaun Johnson, plus Penrith’s Dean Whare and ex-Vodafone Warrior Lewis Brown.

The 2015 Valentine’s Day match will be the central focus of a ‘Festival of Rugby League’.

Vodafone Warriors’ head coach Andrew McFadden welcomed the chance to have the team on show in Rotorua.

“It’s always good to get around the country and give members and fans the

chance to see the Vodafone Warriors up close,” he said “It’s a while since the team has been to Rotorua and the players are looking forward to it and so am I.”

The festival will feature community activities across the weekend plus a ‘nines’ tournament, and age group fixtures, to help launch the northern region competition.