Heart of the City NEWSRotorua, NZ’s coolest hot spot

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March/April 2015 - Issue 12

Inside this issue

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Insert - What’s on calendar

Kia ora Welcome to the 12th edition of the Heart of the City News.

I am sure that many of you are aware that 25 April 2015 marks the 100th Anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. Over the last year the Rotorua District WW100 Commemorations Committee, chaired by our Mayor, has been planning a Field of Remembrance with personalised White Crosses to honour those in the Rotorua District who served and died during World War One.

The field will be laid in Government Gardens on 23 April just prior to Anzac Day and will remain in place until 28 April so that citizens and visitors to our city can walk in the field and place personal tributes. There will be a ceremony to consecrate the field on 23 April and, closer to the time, an invitation to attend the ceremony will be issued to our community via local papers.

There are a number of businesses and organisations which have contributed to the development of the field. These include The Fields of Remembrance Trust, Resene, Rotorua Menz Shed, Mamaku Sawmilling, Ulrich Aluminium, Rotorua Boys’ High School & the Rotorua Daily Post.

John Treanor President Rotorua RSA

Cranking it upAny observant person driving past Skyline Rotorua would have noticed the arrival of the world’s biggest mountain bike festival is imminent.

Crankworx Rotorua will run from 25 – 29 March and feature the greatest gathering of mountain biking stars seen in one place in the world to date. This group includes a raft of current and former world champions, particularly associated with the downhill and freeride disciplines.

Crankworx Rotorua festival is Round 1 of the newly created Crankworx world tour, with subsequent rounds being staged in Les Deux Alpes (France) and Whistler (British Columbia).

The festival also brings Crankworx officials from British Columbia and a live production crew from the USA, ensuring the competitions are seamlessly delivered live to a worldwide audience online via www.pinkbike.com and www.redbull.com, as well as Sky TV and Foxtel (Australia).

It will be the most significant profiling of Rotorua as the world’s premiere year-round mountain biking resort to date. And the good news is the festival will be repeated in 2016 and 2017.

With many of the international competitors already populating our cafes, bike stores and our trails, Rotorua locals can expect to see a groundswell of mountain bikers around the inner city, so please make them welcome.

While there is live screening of some of the elite competition, there will be no substitute for being at the venue and experiencing the special atmosphere that is Crankworx.

My final piece of advice if you are attending the events of Crankworx is, buy your tickets ahead of the event to avoid queues, and arrive early – preferably by bike. Secure bike parking will be available at the venue.

Thanks to all the volunteers who have stepped up to help our management team with the delivery of this exciting festival.

Councillor Dave DonaldsonRotorua Lakes Council Sustainable Economic Growth portfolio lead

Strong support for inner city initiatives

Partnerships powering inner city revitalisation

Work underway on first stage of Green Corridor

Crankworx update

New developments

50 years service

Night market turns 5

Celebrate 75 – community concert for Civic Theatre

Spare bikes and parts to make Rotorua’s giant bike tree

Popular duo to dazzle

Art installation being relocated to another scenic landscape

Heart of the City NEWS - November 2013 General updates 2rotoruanz.com

Heart of the City NEWS - March/April 2015

A raft of potential initiatives for Rotorua’s inner city revitalisation has overwhelming support according to feedback received by Rotorua Lakes Council.

The council has now completed collation of feedback from local business operators on a number of possible projects identified in its draft Inner City Revitalisation Strategy.

Once adopted, the strategy will set out the future direction for inner city revitalisation action in the city, one of the key priority goals of the Rotorua 2030 vision developed by the council in partnership with the community.

A number of ‘meet and greet’ sessions had been held with businesses as well as workshops and meetings between elected members and key stakeholders.

She said feedback had also come in through a number of channels, including an online survey, emails and written comment.

The council’s Inner City Revitalisation Portfolio lead, Councillor Karen Hunt, said “Council was certainly very encouraged by the responses we received”. They indicate that we’re on the right track and that our inner city business community is largely supportive of where the council and its partners are going with our strategy to reinvigorate the inner city.

Our team made direct contact with inner city businesses and invited them to complete our survey on the draft Inner City Revitalisation Strategy. More than 80 per cent of those surveyed were satisfied overall with projects implemented over the last 12 months or so, and that’s a very pleasing endorsement.

“We’re really grateful for all the feedback and comments received as they’ve been very helpful for drafting our final strategy document,” said Karen.

The feedback is to be reviewed by the Inner City Steering Group and the draft strategy amended where necessary. It will then go before the council’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee meeting on 1 April where the final Inner City Revitalisation Strategy is expected to be adopted.

Strong support for inner city initiativesThe council’s online survey (see results below) of possible inner city revitalisation actions revealed support for most proposals.

The only issues not to receive more than 50 per cent support were an upgrade of the Haupapa/Tutanekai streets intersection (49% support), replacing the Pukuatua Street public toilets (48% support), and changing vehicle give way provisions on Tutanekai Street (39% support).

Karen pointed out that only a relatively small number of people surveyed opposed changing current give way traffic arrangements on Tutanekai Street but many more were unsure. She said it indicated more work and consultation was needed to improve awareness and understanding of the options, something the Inner City Revitalisation team would address.

Support Unsure Against

Framework for Discussion

Rotorua 2030

A COMMUNITY VIEWTATAU TATAU - WE TOGETHER

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30 October 2014

Inner City Revitalisation Strategy

Heart of the City NEWS - November 2013 Heart of the City NEWS - November 2013 General updates 3rotoruanz.com

Heart of the City NEWS - March/April 2015

The power of partnerships is proving to be a successful factor in reinvigorating Rotorua’s inner city.

One excellent example has been the installation of new public seating along Tutanekai Street.

Inner City Revitalisation Portfolio lead, Councillor Karen Hunt, says old seating bays have been progressively replaced by new polished wooden seats designed in a silver fern shape by young local designer Jake Krebs.

“A funding partnership with a number of local businesses has meant we’ve been able to construct and install 16 of the new seats in the inner city - and they’ve been very well received by people coming into town,” says Karen.

“Many visitors have been quite taken by the unique design of these artistic pieces of street furniture.”

Nine of the seats have been sponsored by Te Arawa’s business arm, Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings, owners of 95 Rotorua properties including Rotorua Central mall.

Pukeroa Oruawhata chairman Malcolm Short says his organisation sees itself as very much a part of the central city.

“We’re pleased to be in partnership with the council to help beautify the inner city and to assist with its development. “

Other seats have been sponsored by Homes Group (2), TBP Ltd (1), Neighbourly website (1) and the council (3).

Partnerships powering inner city revitalisation

Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings chairman Malcolm Short (right) with

local ‘Jake Seat’ designer Jake Krebs, in Tutanekai Street.

Work on the first stage of Rotorua’s new Green Corridor pathway is making good progress.

The Kuirau Park section of the project sees existing pathways extended and widened to provide a compressed lime-chip ‘shared path’ for pedestrians, cyclists and others on wheels to use.

The pathway will initially connect up with the existing cycleway to Ngongotaha at the northern Lake Road side of Kuirau Park. It will wind its way through the park to the southern side, connecting with the Saturday market site.

Depending on weather conditions, this phase of the Green Corridor project should be ready for use before the Crankworx Rotorua mountain bike festival gets underway in later this month.

Work underway on first stage of Green Corridor

4Heart of the City NEWS - November 2013 rotoruanz.com

Heart of the City NEWS - March/April 2015

Mountain bikes and mad muso beats are coming together for the world’s largest mountain biking festival, Crankworx Rotorua, with a top New Zealand music line-up announced for 27 and 28 March at the Lakefront Village Green.

There will be a number of road closures to allow for the event, including Whakaue Street, Memorial Drive and Tutanekai Street (in front of the Novotel). Friday will see the roads closed from 4pm – 11pm, while Saturday closures are from 5pm – 11pm.

Headline acts for the Crankworx Rotorua Bikes and Beats music festival include The Black Seeds, P-Money, Savage, and Jamie McDell. Also included in the line-up are The Peacekeepers, featuring Shapeshifter frontman P Digsss, and Auckland soul powered funk band Hipstamatics, plus local up-and-comers Strangely Arousing and Open Arms.

The free Bikes and Beats festival also features live-screen action of the Crankworx events, prizegivings, food stalls, carnival rides and much more. Entertainment kicks off from 3pm on Friday and from 4pm on Saturday.

This will be an exceptionally busy weekend for the lakefront and inner city, as the final two days of Crankworx Rotorua culminate in excitement, celebration and fun for the whole family.

It’s also a good idea to prepare earlier in the week for the Crankworx Rotorua competitive events, Kidsworx and the Expo which will be held at Skyline Rotorua from 25 – 29 March, which are expected to attract at least 10,000 people to the city.

Let’s show the world’s best riders and all the international and domestic visitors our spirit of manaakitanga hospitality over this time.

Crankworx Bikes and Beats festival at Village Green

General updates

Wednesday 25 March

Official Welcoming and Opening

Oceania Whip-Off Champs

Crankworx Expo

Thursday 26 March

Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by RockShox

Mons Royale Dual Speed and Style

Kidsworx – Pimp My Bike and Scavenger Hunt

Crankworx Expo

Friday 27 March

Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS

Kidsworx – Pimp My Bike, Scavenger Hunt & Pump Track Skills Session

Crankworx Expo

Bikes and Beats Music Festival (Rotorua Village Green)

Saturday 28 March

GIANT Toa Enduro Rotorua

Kidsworx – Pimp My Bike, Scavenger Hunt & Hipster Downhill Race

Crankworx Expo

Bikes and Beats Music Festival (Rotorua Village Green)

Sunday 29 March

Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle Champs

Kidsworx – Pimp My Bike, Scavenger Hunt, Pump Track Skills Session & Race

Crankworx Expo

Spectators can lock in tickets to see Crankworx Rotorua events through Ticketmaster.co.nz/rotorua. A five day pass is: Adult $69 and child (14 years and under) $49. A one-day pass is: Adult $35 and Child $25. All passes include Skyline Rotorua gondola access. Booking/payment processing fees apply

If you would like to help support and spread the two-wheeled word, Crankworx posters can be collected from the Rotorua i-SITE.

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Crankworx Rotorua Schedule

Inner city success 5rotoruanz.com

Map Key:P120 ZONE. Free parking, maximum two hours*.

MIXED PARKING. Longer term paid and free parking*.

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New businessesThe inner city welcomes the following new developments

Heart of the City NEWS - March/April 2015

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Coconut Café1240 Fenton Street

Pharmacy 441135 Pukaki Street

Tour coach drop-offPukuatua Street

Pharmacy 44Ian Edward MPS QSM opened his second Pharmacy 44 in the inner city in January.

The new Pukaki Street pharmacy is in the very same place his father, Dr Bob Edward, began his medical practice in the late 50s.

Indeed it’s a family affair, as his brother Stewart not only owns the building but is the neighbouring dentist. So, says Ian, it seemed logical to set-up a second pharmacy in this location to service the northern end of the inner city.

Doctors Katie Snyman, Cate Mills and Annie Walden also operate from the new Three Lakes Clinic next door.

Ian says the area will serve the pharmaceutical needs of people working in the many offices that exist in that part of town.

“I’ve confidence in the city and working in ‘health teams’ is the way of the future,” he said.

The special tour coach drop-off, set up recently alongside McLeods Booksellers and the public restrooms on Pukuatua Street, is already proving very successful, bringing more shoppers into the inner city.

The new stand was established in response to requests from coach companies, particularly those bringing passengers from cruise ships berthing at Port Tauranga.

Julianne Low, owner of boutique store La Porta Verde, opposite the drop-off, was instrumental in getting the new stand established. She was a tour guide for 15 years so realises the potential of having a central drop-off point for the almost 200 coaches, each with more than 40 passengers, that come to the city between September and April every year.

“They want to see a real town and they want to eat local food, go shopping and to the bank. We’ve got all that right here.”

Coach driver, Kevin Watt, said the new drop-off point was ideally located near clean restrooms with plenty of cover, especially over the colder months.

“The more bus stops the better,” he said.

Tour coach drop-off proving successful

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Ian Edward MPS QSM

Julianne Low & Kevin Watt

Coconut Cafē

Inner city success 6rotoruanz.com

Heart of the City NEWS - March/April 2015

All of Rotorua Lakes Council’s acclaimed gardens – including those in the inner city - and sports fields, have benefitted from Wally Jacobs’ Midas touch over the years.

And it’s not surprising he knows his stuff as this month the reserves labourer reached his 50 year milestone working for the council.

While 50 years working for one organisation is an impressive number to rack up, Wally sees himself as fortunate to have been able to contribute to beautifying the city he loves.

“Rotorua is beautiful. I work all over the place and I love the scenery and lakes. It’s a job I’d do for nothing,” he said. “Fifty years have gone by fast - the harder you work, the quicker the day goes.”

His jobs have included planting street trees and operating heavy machinery such as tractors with bucket and truck unit, and a Bobcat.

Just a couple of years shy of his 70th birthday, Wally is not ready to hand over the keys to his Bobcat just yet.

“It’s a good job and the people I work with are brilliant. I’ll try and work here for another 50 years,” he joked.

Council garden worker reaches 50 years’ service … and still going strong

It was a fusion of flavour when Rotorua Night Market celebrated its fifth birthday on 5 March. The Latino theme inspired colourful costumes from both stall holders and visitors, with live entertainment from Cuban dancers and an Argentinian singer, Caribbean music and Latin cuisine adding to the mix. Rotorua Night Market continues to grow, with the successful birthday celebrations reinforcing its popularity as a must-do Thursday evening outing for locals and visitors to our inner city.

Night market turns 5

Wally Jacobs

Rotorua Night Market turns 5

7Get involved rotoruanz.comHeart of the City NEWS - March/April 2015

Local performing artists are being invited to showcase their talent at the Civic Theatre’s 75th birthday celebrations in July.

Rotorua Lakes Council is seeking expressions of interest from community members and groups wanting to be part of the ‘Celebrate 75’ variety concert.

The concert will be a celebration of the performing arts over the past 75 years - from the 1940s through to today - with each era highlighted in 10 minute performance sections.

Council Creative Communities portfolio lead, Councillor Glenys Searancke, said the Civic Theatre is a much-loved community facility and this celebration will be a genuine partnership between the council and local residents.

“Over the generations we’ve watched our kids growing up on the Civic Theatre stage so it holds a special place in the hearts of Rotorua people. We’ve also watched some of the country’s and the world’s stars – like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Paul Potts and the late Rob Guest, and of course our own Sir Howard Morrison for whom the wider complex is now named.

“‘Celebrate 75’ will provide an exciting opportunity for local singers, dancers and other entertainers to showcase their talents to the community while celebrating the big birthday.”

Those wishing to be involved need to complete an expression-of-interest form available from the council Customer Centre or by contacting Richard Marshall by email on richard.marshall@rdc.govt.nz or by phone on 07 348 4199.

Forms need to be submitted to the council by 31 March 2015.

Celebrate 75 – community concert for Civic Theatre

Rotorua Lakes Council is planning to construct a giant ‘bike tree’ from old bikes and bike pieces donated by the community. The temporary art installation will be set up on the Village Green to coincide with Crankworx Rotorua.

The council procured the seven metre high galvanised steel framework for the tree from ChildFund New Zealand. Last year ChildFund NZ set up its ‘Christmas Tree of Bikes’ on Queens Wharf in downtown Auckland to help highlight the vital role bicycles play in getting children who live in extreme poverty, to school.

Rotorua Lakes Council project coordinator Brigitte Nelson said Rotorua’s bike tree would be assembled and installed at the Village Green near the lakefront and spot-lit at night for the duration of Crankworx.

“This is an innovative concept with a touch of the ‘wow factor,’ and it’s certain to become a real talking point during Crankworx. Hopefully we can use it again for other events in the future – like next year’s Rotorua Bike Festival, for example.

“It will help reinforce Rotorua’s growing reputation as the southern hemisphere’s mountain biking capital and as a great New Zealand destination for cycling of all types.”

If you’ve got unwanted bikes you can donate contact Richard Horn at the council (City Focus) or Brigitte Nelson at the council Civic Centre. Any workable parts will be donated back to the community.

Spare bikes and parts to make Rotorua’s giant bike tree

Civic Theatre in 1964.

Brigitte NelsonRotorua Night Market P: 07 351 7057E: brigitte.nelson@rdc.govt.nz

Cr Karen HuntRotorua Lakes CouncilP: 07 348 4199E: karen.hunt@rdc.govt.nz

Harm ZuidmeerRotorua Cycle Action Group E: rotoruacycleaction@gmail.com

Did you know? rotoruanz.com

Thought for the month

“A man, to carry on a successful business, must have imagination.He must see things as in a vision, a dream of the whole thing.” Charles M. Schwab 1862-1939

Mike SteinerInner City Focus GroupE: mike@steiners.co.nz

Peter RiordanRotorua PoliceE: peter.riordan@police.govt.nz

Denton GrimesRotorua PoliceE: denton.grimes@police.govt.nz

Heinz FettRaising the Bar GroupE: heinzf@abcbusiness.co.nz

Richard HornInner City SupervisorP: 07 348 4199E: richard.horn@rdc.govt.nz

Key contacts for Heart of the City:

Heart of the City NEWS - March/April 2015

The Rotorua Music Federation is presenting Andrew Beer & Sarah Watkins on 23 March at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre. Recently appointed concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Canadian violinist Andrew Beer joins favourite New Zealand pianist Sarah Watkins from NZTrio.

They will dazzle in a programme including Beethoven, Bartok, De Falla and Ravel. As a salute to their individual heritages and to the Lilburn 2015 centenary, they will perform Lilburn's Sonata No 1 (1950) and a Canadian work, Good: And Dreams Rush Forth To Greet the Distance. Tickets for this concert are $30 and are available at the door on the night.

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New scenic landscape for temporary art installationThe popular new temporary art installation at Rotorua Lakefront is being relocated to Government Gardens on 20 April.

The unique installation, called ‘IMAG_NE’ features giant Scrabble letters assembled to spell out the word IMAGINE - but with the second ‘i’ missing. People are encouraged to become part of the artwork by being photographed standing in the gap to recreate the missing ‘i’ with their body.

The current backdrop of Lake Rotorua and Mokoia Island has proven popular with locals and visitors alike, with hundreds being photographed at the lakefront location.

Rotorua Museum and the bowling greens will provide the next scenic backdrop to photographs when the artwork is relocated on 20 April where it will remain until 20 May 2015.

Popular duo to dazzle