ourROTORUANEWS FROM ROTORUA DISTRICT COUNCIL 23 August 2013

Local artist Kylie Tiuka has won the $10,000 Rotorua Museum Supreme Art Award with her artwork Te Korihi (birdsong).

The $4,000 Waimangu Volcanic Valley Sustainable Art Award went to Jane Johnson-Matua for her work Material Culture Artefacts and Sarah Ziessen was the Rotorua Museum Emerging Artist for her work Positive Atrophy.

The winners were chosen

SUCCESS FOR COUNCIL’S MUSEUM ART AWARDS

Winner of Rotorua Museum’s Supreme Art Award Kylie Tiuka with her winning artwork.

CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Nominations for council elections closed last Friday.

There are five candidates for the mayoralty. They are Janine RangiMarie Bosma, Steve Chadwick, Helen Hindmarsh, Rob Kent, and Kevin Winters.

There are 31 candidates for council. They are Hemi Bennett, Peter Bentley, Yvonne Bidois, Leandra Bowen, Julie Calnan, Nick Chater, Dave Donaldson, Mark Gould, Bill Hedges, Helen Hindmarsh, Karen Hunt, Rob Kent, Alexis LewGor, Reynold Macpherson, Mike McVicker, Trevor Maxwell, Fraser Newman, June Parata, Dave Patterson, Debs Rahurahu, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait,

from 130 works entered by 98 artists from across the Bay of Plenty, and announced at a special awards night at the museum earlier this month.

Rotorua Museum director Stewart Brown, who was instrumental in re-instigating the art awards after a 10-year absence, said he was thrilled with the number and calibre of the entries.

“The awards have been a

great way to re-engage with the arts community and we have had overwhelmingly positive feedback since re-launching them earlier this year. We have some very talented artists in the region, and the awards give us a wonderful opportunity to showcase their work.”

Winners and 30 selected finalists are on display at the museum until 28 October. Entry is free for local residents.

RDC is encouraging residents who witness anyone stealing a householders’ bundle of rubbish bags to report the theft to the council or Rotorua Police.

Council regulation rubbish bags are delivered in bundles of 26 twice a year to every house in Rotorua’s urban area, and once a year in rural areas, providing one bag per household per week.

RDC solid waste manager, Tim Senington, said there had been an increase in people calling the council to request a bundle of rubbish bags as a result of their council allocation being stolen.

“Each bundle costs the council around $26 so these thieves are costing ratepayers hundreds - possibly even thousands - of dollars in replacement, staff and travel costs.

“We’ve also been made aware of people selling Rotorua rubbish bags online at less than what people pay in shops and supermarkets. While some of these may have been acquired legitimately, the council is investigating to ensure they aren’t stolen bags and action will be taken if it becomes apparent they’ve been obtained illegally.

“We’ve had discussions with local police and they’re also keen to put an end to this illegal behaviour to ensure everyone in our community can get their expected supply of rubbish bags.”

If anyone witnesses rubbish bag bundles being stolen from properties, please note the car registration and description of offenders and contact Rotorua Police on 07 349 9400 or the council on 07 348 4199.

Dave Foster

Dave Foster has been appointed as the council’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Dave is currently CFO for Auckland Transport, the Auckland Council-owned

organisation responsible for developing and maintaining public transport services and roading networks across the city. He currently manages Auckland Transport’s $1.4 billion annual budget and leads a team of 75 staff.

RDC chief executive Geoff Williams said he was delighted to have attracted Dave to RDC as he will bring sound business acumen, strong financial and strategic leadership credentials, and senior level local government experience.

“His appointment significantly strengthens our organisation’s capacity to strategically plan our

future direction and to efficiently manage our financial operations and legislative obligations.

“Dave’s experience with Auckland Transport, and his previous roles as CFO for Manukau City Council, Local Government Sector Manager for the Office of the Auditor-General and CFO for Wanganui District Council, will be immensely valuable in helping to chart our council’s and our district’s next phases of development.”

He starts his new role as chief financial officer at Rotorua District Council in mid-October.

Kingsley Ridings, Carolyn Santiago, Glenys Searancke, Victor Storey, Charles Sturt, Tania Tapsell, Ratu Tibble, Mericia Waqanimaravu, Janet Wepa and Waitsu Wu.

There are six candidates for Rotorua Lakes Community Board. They are Harry Dixon, John Dyer, Davey Gardiner, Leo Meharry, Geoff Palmer and Phill Thomass.

Voting papers for the postal vote will start being dispatched by mail to enrolled voters from 20 September and completed voting papers need to be returned by noon on 12 October. Preliminary results are expected to be announced that afternoon.

COUNCIL HELPS SECURE TOP FOOTBALL MATCH

Local football fans will get to see New Zealand’s top professional footballers in action when a Wellington Phoenix selection takes on New Zealand-based All Whites players in Rotorua on 22 September.

The Phoenix were scheduled to play a pre-season friendly against Central Coast Mariners the same day but the Australians pulled out.

Council’s events unit Events & Venues, the Phoenix club, and New Zealand Football then joined forces to secure the alternative fixture at Rotorua International Stadium.

The teams will be managed by two experienced A-League coaches in Phoenix’s

Ernie Merrick and New Zealand’s Ricki Herbert.

Events & Venues operations manager Crispian Stewart said while organisers were disappointed when the Mariners pulled out, they were delighted to have been able to pull together such an attractive replacement.

Phoenix internationals Glen Moss, Andrew Durante, Ben Sigmund, Leo Bertos and Jeremy Brockie will play for New Zealand A, while Michael Boxall and under-20 internationals Luke Adams, Louis Fenton and Tyler Boyd will be with the club side.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster outlets and the Ticketmaster website.

RESIDENTS URGED TO REPORT RUBBISH BAG THIEVES

NEW FINANCE CHIEF FOR COUNCIL

BRIEFLYNEW WELCOME GUIDE FOR ROTORUA NEWCOMERS

Did You Know?• RDC is on Facebook -

Search Rotorua District Council

• You can text the council on 4343 – Put RDC [space] before your message

• You can pay parking fines online at rdc.govt.nz

• Council news is updated daily on the council website rdc.govt.nz

• You can search cemetery records on the council website

• You can also book a meeting with a council planner online.

CONTACT THE COUNCIL

Rotorua District Council, Private Bag 3029

Rotorua Mail Centre, Rotorua 3046

Phone: 07 348 4199

Email: mail@rdc.govt.nz

Hours: 8am - 5pm Mon - Fri

Web: www.rdc.govt.nz

The Edge breakfast show hosts with the two wedding couples.

RDC’s Settlement Support unit has launched an updated Welcome Guide to help newcomers settle into the local community.

The new guide is more polished than previous editions and the information is easier to find. It contains information to help people who have recently arrived in Rotorua to settle into the community.

The updated Welcome Guide is available from RDC’s Customer Centre and Rotorua District Library. The online version can be viewed at rotoruanz.com/set t lement.

The Redwoods’ new public toilet facilities and art installations have been unveiled with a conservation education theme.

Rotorua District Council hosted an official opening ceremony for the $390,000 project at the Redwoods Visitor Centre this month.

RDC Redwoods Forest & Visitor Centre manager Julianne Wilkinson said the toilets look amazing and people’s reactions to them have been really positive.

“I’ve been fortunate to watch

the whole process evolve, from the original draft concept on paper through to completion. While I was impressed with the design throughout the project, the corton steel shrouds wrapped around individual cubicles have turned out even better than I expected.

“They have a lot of character and look really awesome. They not only fit with our forest environment but obviously serve an important purpose.

“I hope visitors take the

NEW REDWOODS TOILETS SHOWCASE ART AND CONSERVATION

CREATIVE COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME TO OPENThe second round of funding from Rotorua District Council’s Creative Communities grants scheme opens on 26 August.

Groups planning arts, crafts or cultural projects are invited to apply for funding. Approximately $28,000 is available for this round and applications close on 27 September.

More information is on the RDC website rdc.govt.nz.

ONLINE POLL ON SMOKEFREE BUS STOPS CLOSES NEXT WEEKRDC’s online poll to gauge locals’ views on whether bus stops should become smokefree closes next week.

RDC introduced a Smokefree Open Spaces Policy for playgrounds and outdoor sports facilities in 2008 which has been very successful and popular with the local community.

RDC is now looking at whether there is community support for smokefree initiatives to be extended to local bus shelters and bus stops.

The poll is available on the RDC website homepage until 31 August.

Julianne Wilkinson outside The Redwoods’ new toilets.

MUSEUM HOSTS HISTORIC SAME SEX WEDDINGS

time to enjoy the art work and appreciate that they’re more than just a toilet. There’s also a strong conservation message reminding people to be mindful of our birdlife and environment in our day-to-day activities.”

Each shroud depicts an extinct or endangered bird from the central North Island area. An interpretation board is attached to each shroud telling the bird’s story and providing information on organisations helping to preserve endangered species.

The council has created a new Neighbourhood Matching Fund totalling $50,000 to help provide resources for one-off self-help projects which support the council’s Community Outcomes goals.

Each grant will need to be matched by neighbourhood or community resources of volunteer labour, donated materials, donated professional services or cash.

RDC community projects officer Carole Parker said projects need to be initiated, planned and implemented by people living in the Rotorua district.

Application forms and information will be available on the RDC website in September, and a workshop will be held next month about the fund, its criteria, and how to apply.

NEW $50,000 FUND TO MATCH

NEIGHBOURHOOD EFFORTS

FIRST PRE-ELECTION

REPORT PUBLISHED

RDC has published its first ever pre-election report.

The 2013 Pre-Election Report is a mandatory requirement of councils under recent local government legislation. Unlike other council reports and strategic plans, preparation of pre-election reports is the responsibility of council chief executives rather than elected members.

RDC chief executive Geoff Williams says the report has a focus on the council’s recent performance, and highlights major projects, issues and significant areas of key spending for the coming three-year council term.

“Pre-election reports are seen as being useful for those standing for office in the coming election and for residents wanting know more about council performance and direction before casting their votes.

“Financial data is summarised from information contained in more detail in the council’s 2012-2022 Long-term Plan and reflects policy and service delivery decisions of the council.”

The 2013 Pre-Election Report is available on the council website rdc.govt.nz.

Two couples tied the knot and enjoyed their wedding breakfast at Rotorua Museum on Monday (19 August) - the first day same sex couples could legally marry in New Zealand.

Rachel Briscoe and Jess Ivess from Bay of Islands and Richard Rawstorn and Richard Andrew from Christchurch won a competition run by The Edge radio station for an all-expenses paid wedding, which was broadcast

live on national TV and radio.The couples were in Rotorua

for over a week prior to their nuptials, planning their weddings, hosting hen and stag parties, and enjoying some of the region’s activities and attractions.

Rotorua Museum sales & marketing manager, Joanna Doherty, said the museum looked “absolutely stunning” for the historic occasion.

“The exterior was lit up in

rainbow colours the night before, and inside the venue were dashes of blue light on the walls and pink on the sculptures to match the colour themes chosen by the couples.

“The atmosphere at the museum was amazing with guests and onlookers giving a rousing cheer as the formal nuptials were completed, and again when the legal documentation arrived for signing.”