Rollerblading fairies can top up parking meters

Rollerblading fairies will be allowed in Rotorua's central city next Christmas after a district council change of heart.

The council's planning and bylaws committee has decided to grant an exemption to allow the Christmas fairies to skate around town topping up people's parking meters.

Last Christmas the two fairies, commissioned by Rotorua business Colour Concepts, had their wheels pulled out from under them after a council crackdown, citing a bylaw.

The Rotorua District Traffic Bylaw of 1990 forbids the use of skateboards or rollerblades within the central business district, unless written permission has been given.

Exemption has been granted from mid-December until Christmas Eve this year.

In his report, regulatory and support services manager Jim Nicklin said the decision would add a novelty aspect to the city over the festive season.

"It is seen as having the ability to add some Christmas ambience to the CBD," he said.

If the council received a flood of applications seeking similar dispensations it would set a limit and manage each application on its merits.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)