As a PR exercise, not the best.
MARJ GRIFFITHS
Rotorua
Our mayor appears to be similar to a small child with a large bucket of paint and a small paint brush.
The idea that changing the name of the council is going to make any difference to a small town on a small lake in a small nation is ridiculous, and it certainly will not be cost-free as there is all kinds of printing to be done to make the new name fit.
What is irritating about the whole thing is the fact that our mayor has totally forgotten her role as leader rather than dictator and I don't remember any great effort to inform the citizens of this city of some of the changes that we are seeing such as the change of name for the Rotorua Convention Centre when in fact that building could have any number of local dignitaries painted on the building.
I am assuming that the building was built with ratepayers' money along with a grant from central government.
I doubt that anyone has been consulted regarding these changes and obviously if our rather inadequate mayor is allowed to continue to drive out of council our skilled officers who actually know how council functioned in relation to central government, the Resource Management Act and any number of changes that could be made to make Rotorua a more attractive and viable tourist town.
Indeed it appears that council has not actually looked at Rotorua ... since the railway land was given back to local Maori who quite legitimately filled that land with big box retailers much to the detriment of local retailers and perhaps considerably less advantage for the bulk of Rotorua citizens.
I was under the impression that local government is required to inform and consult their citizens of major change and at least give those citizens an opportunity to have a voice in what is a democratic nation.
CLIFF LEE
Mamaku
Renaming Rotorua District Council into something else is a waste of our hard-earned money. Do these councillors know how difficult it is to earn $100?
I daresay not.
Why don't these councillors get out into the suburbs and knock on doors, checking out how people are really getting on, rather than sitting on their ample behinds at endless well-catered, bilingual mind-mapping sessions?
Recently I have met people living eight or 10 to a small house. Now there is a hepatitis outbreak waiting to happen. It is the result of the low-paid hospitality jobs so prevalent in Rotorua, which are fanned by the former RDC.
Why doesn't the former RDC create a task-force to visit the suburbs checking out how many dwellers there are at addresses, to help them get into better housing? That would be something of value, at least.
GJ PHILIP
Rotorua
I was very disappointed to read the negative comments by Councillors Searancke and Sturt about the exciting decision to rebrand the council (December 2). I expect more enlightened thinking from our elected representatives. Councillor Sturt said: "Lakes, yes we have them, but we aren't known as a lakes district." The very point of the change is that we should become known as New Zealand's lake district. Shirley Trumper said: "We are not the Lake District in England." No, we are not, but we are something better. England's Lake District attracts millions of visitors each year, yet the combined size of its 20 major lakes is less than that of Lake Rotorua alone.
The lakes and their surroundings are our great unsung asset and they define the Rotorua district's character and lifestyle. It is no coincidence that estate agents extol the virtues of properties on a lakeside or with a lake view and that they attract premium prices. If a brand change can help to promote the idea that our many lakes and their magnificent surroundings are prime places to visit and live, then let's do it.
KEITH GARRATT
Rotorua
Following on from Saturday's (November 29) announcement, that the Rotorua District Council has decided to rebrand. While the initial cost was mooted at $10,000 I would suspect that is not the cost in the long term. Rebranding in a recent fiscal climate of budget over "blows" is a nice thing to do, but not essential. I resent, as may some other ratepayers, seeing my hard-earned dollars being spent on , "a nice thing to do", when there are more important and tangible projects for our ratepayers' money to be spent on, eg upgrading the public toilets, tired recreational facilities etc. In the scheme of things, as we see in today's paper (December 3), there are budget worries. Maybe the council needs to have a real think about its priorities and take some baby steps before running with its visions?
I would have thought the previous concerns about the fiscal budget of the council running over, may have brokered some caution and better financial planning.
MP GRANT
Rotorua
In regards to the name change of the Rotorua District Council to Rotorua Lakes Council, I guess if it generates extra revenue via increased numbers of visitors to Rotorua, an increase in attracting meaningful business/industry to Rotorua (not just nickel and dime chain stores), a decrease in our rates both residential and business, then this is truly a great change for our district.
However, if we are to stay in the status quo with no or very little growth, rate increases every year to pay for previous Rotorua District/Lakes Council's spending, then this is just another touchy feely ego stroking exercise synonymous with all bureaucratic organisations.
MARK BOWIE
Waikite Valley
What is the need for rebranding? Will it generate any more income? I don't think so. What a nonsense committing ratepayers to at least a $10,000 needless spend when only days later they announce "budget worries".
Can the rebrand, if it's not too late.
LYALL BEUTH
Rotorua
I played cricket in college - not very well, but it was part of the curriculum. My sister's husband was a member of Lords and I went there for a few games, and I thought it was a lovely sport to watch.
Back in those days cricket was always considered a gentleman's sport - not because only gentlemen played it, but because it was the ultimate in good sportsmanship. Playing the game, "cricket" was doing the right thing.
When "bodyline bowling" became the norm, I can recall the horror that was felt by many traditionalists - "Not the thing to do, old chap!" Had Phil Hughes been playing then, he would not have died so young - at least, not on the cricket pitch. No one wore head shields in those days.
Even in ice hockey, the sport I played, no one wore any head or face protection. On the rugby field - yes, that was what rugby was all about - a man's game. I don't believe for a second that it was anyone's intention to hurt Phil. Sport today - any sport is dangerous, people are killed in every contact activity - c'est la vie! But somehow, the death of one so young, so vibrant, so "nice" as a person has hit all sportsmen and women, regardless; it is a tragedy and yet again reminds us of our own mortality.
The world of sport in general and cricket in particular shall miss you, Phil - rest in peace - or play among the angels. I am sure you will - many great cricketers have gone before.
JIM ADAMS
Rotorua
As a ratepayer, I am astounded that "Rotorua's district councillors have expressed concerns about "budget blowouts" (December 3) and yet continue to spend ratepayers money on a pointless and unpopular re-branding exercise, a project on democracy (laughable in light of the ongoing disregard for consultancy) and now a "Cross-city Green Route" (Daily Post, Dec 4) with a projected cost of $400k.
This latest project will result in the removal of 65 central city carparks and it is hard to see how this fits with the council's professed goal of revitalising the CBD. While Councillor Donaldson claims that "we've consulted on the inner city to death" (Daily Post, Dec 4), I still want to have an opportunity to state my opinion, especially on this continued waste of ratepayers' funds.
The council can easily consult with ratepayers via an online poll on its website. However, it seems that public opinion may still be ignored.
CATHRYN BJARNESEN
Rotorua
