New Rotorua Lakes Strategy

The Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua District provides an overall management strategy for the Rotorua Lakes. It is an overarching policy document that gives a vision for the future, with some practical steps to achieve that vision. It covers issues and goals relating to the protection, use, enjoyment and management of the Rotorua Lakes.

The vision for the Strategy is to ensure:

The lakes of the Rotorua district and their catchments are preserved and protected for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations, while recognising and providing for the traditional relationship of Te Arawa with their ancestral lakes.

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group* is charged with overseeing the Strategy and providing policy guidance for its implementation. In 2010 the Group considered an independent review on the Strategy.

It was agreed that a new Strategy be developed while retaining the current vision and overriding intent of co-management of the existing Strategy. Staff from the partner organisations have kicked off the development of the new strategy.

* Comprised of the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua District Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council decision makers.

Some ways to get involved and have your say

A public workshop was held on 1 December 2011 to hear from the wider community, with a series of speakers and workshop exercises. The Workshop Programme included speakers and activities for groups to work together on their ideas.

Here are the notes from the public workshop. We received some excellent input on the day that gives us clear strategic direction for the next strategy. If you would like to provide feedback please email lisa.power@boprc.govt.nz

Feedback from the workshop:

"This looks like a great reflection of the discussion and the work done on the day. Seems there is a lot of synergy there." - Nicki Douglas, Area Manager, Rotorua Lakes Area, Department of Conservation

See the speakers' presentations:

John Green, Lakes Water Quality Society Chairman

Michael Field, Sustainable Development Manager, BNZ

Roku Mihinui, Chief Executive, Te Arawa Lakes Trust

Prof David Hamilton, Chair in Lakes Management and Restoration

Sharon Morrell, DairyNZ Regional Leader Bay of Plenty

Join the 'Think Team'

The Rotorua Lakes Strategy workshop held in December 2011 was a great way to hear from the community about their aspirations for the lakes and how they think they should be managed.

From the workshop we have distilled three themes to focus the strategic direction for the lakes and their catchments:

• Connected

• Iconic lakes environment enjoyed by all

• Prosperous

As we progress the Rotorua Lakes Strategy we want to keep talking with the community to ensure the Strategy reflects what everyone wants.

We have set up a 'Think Team' to give further thought to what these themes mean, and how we can turn them into realities. The 'Think Team' is going to meet for the first time on Monday 2 April. If you would like to be part of this team to share your perspective, please contact Lisa Power at lisa.power@boprc.govt.nz

Winners announced for the Youth Art and short story competition

We wanted to hear from our younger generation on why they think the Rotorua lakes are important.

Our Short Story and Art competition allowed young people to tell us what they thought and win some great prizes. Our youth are the lakes' future guardians so it is important we give them a chance to tell us their views.

The winners were:

Name	Age	Category
Morgan MacCormack	Under 5s	Drawing	Winner
Grace Kilkelly	5 - 12 years	Drawing	Winner
Kayla Sargison	5-12 years	Drawing	Highly Commended
Quinn McCarthy	5-12 years	Drawing	Highly Commended
Hannah Everitt	5 - 12 years	Writing	Winner
Gisele Howard	5-12 years	Writing	Highly Commended
Faye Fisher	13 - 18 years	Drawing	Winner
Katie-Jane Boardman	13 - 18 years	Writing	Winner

Winning entries (or parts of) may also be used in the final publication of the Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua district.

Why are Rotorua's lakes important to you?

Young people also told us the many reasons why the lakes are important to them.

Reason	Number
Swimming	43
Kaimoana/fishing	36
Beautiful/stunning scenery	24
Fun/enjoyment/play/happiness	16
Water/blue/cold	12
Water sports	12
Time with family and friends	11
Wildlife/habitats	12
Heritage/culture	9
No rubbish/pollution	8
Have to look after them/protect lakes	8
Feed/play with birds	8
Important/good part of nature	7
Hot/bored without them	7
Picnics	6
Peaceful/calm	5
Lakes have life in them	5
Boats	5
Special/taonga/treasure	4
Live near them	4
Grown up with them/part of life	4
Camping	3
Walking/hiking	2
Memories	1

Contacts for more information

Lisa Power - Planner, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, lisa.power@boprc.govt.nz, 0800 884 881 Ext 9322

Toni Briggs - Planner, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, toni.briggs@boprc.govt.nz 0800 884 881 Ext 9353