We thank those of our community that participated in this process.

On 13 September at the Community and District Development Committee meeting following deliberations, elected members agreed to change the purpose for part of Rotorua Cemetery Reserve from Local Purpose (Cemetery) Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Housing) Reserve, and to grant a ground lease of 30 years to Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust for the purpose of community housing.

Background

Rotorua Lakes Council sought feedback on a proposal to change the purpose of part of the Rotorua Cemetery from Local Purpose (Cemetery) Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Housing) Reserve.

The Rotorua Cemetery was originally gifted to the Crown for cemetery purposes by the people of Ngāti Whakaue under the Rotorua Township (Fenton) Agreement.

Currently only the southern portion of the reserve (approx. 18 hectares) is used for cemetery purposes. The northern part of the reserve (approx. 3.5 hectares) is unsuitable for burials due to the ground conditions. Over the years this part of the reserve has been leased for commercial recreation activities. Today it is maintained as passive open space.

Due to the northern part of the reserve not being used for the purpose it was originally gifted for, it must be returned to Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue as required by the Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol Agreement.

The Ngāti Whakaue Gifted Reserves Protocol Agreement (the Protocol), signed on 30 July 1996, is a mutual agreement between the Council and Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust (POT), on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue, and includes provisions for the ongoing management and decision making for all lands gifted for reserve purposes under the Rotorua Township Agreement. In addition the Protocol requires that where a gifted reserve is not being used for the purpose for which it was originally gifted then it must be returned to POT on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue.

The Rotorua Cemetery Reserve is a 21.5 hectare site, located on the corner of Te Ngae Road and Sala Street.

The process to return the land to Ngāti Whakaue first requires the reserve status to be revoked through a community process under the Reserves Act 1977. This process is lengthy and is expected to take up to five years to complete.

The aspiration of Ngāti Whakaue is to enable housing on this piece of land. Rotorua lakes Council supports this aspiration as part of the recently signed Rotorua Housing Accord.

As an interim solution and to enable this aspiration sooner, while waiting for the land to be returned, Council is proposing to change the purpose of this part of the reserve from Local Purpose (Cemetery) Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Housing) Reserve. This would enable Council to issue a lease to Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust for the development of housing on this land.