Rotorua Aquatic Centre proposal presented to council staff in te reo

Aquatic Centre workers have presented a submission to the Rotorua Lakes Council on management of the centre. Photo / File

A written proposal to keep management of the Aquatic Centre with Rotorua Lakes Council was presented to council staff yesterday.

Northern Amalgamated Workers Union organiser Robert Popata said the proposal was handed to a senior management team as part of a presentation made in te reo by Aquatic Centre staff.

The proposal has come on the back of mediation suggested by the Employment Relations Authority after Aquatic Centre staff questioned the council's process in determining an external manager for the centre was the best option.

"Rotorua is New Zealand's first bilingual city and we wanted to support that by making our presentation in full te reo," Popata said.

Popata understands the council will now draft a response to the proposal, including a recommendation, which will be given back to the union by tomorrow for further discussion.

Rotorua Lakes Council acting chief executive Craig Tiriana said the alternative proposal from the union and staff would be tested against the same criteria against which external proposals were considered.

"The union and Aquatic Centre staff now have that opportunity and their proposal will be given due consideration and be put to elected members as additional information relevant to their previous decision," Tiriana said.

The alternative proposal and a report on the matter will go to the council's operations and monitoring committee on February, 1 when the committee will determine whether it should progress to the full council for its consideration.