Rotorua Lakes Council committee sends Prostitution Bylaw back to staff

Rotorua Lakes Council building.

The council's Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee has voted to refer the city's Prostitution Bylaw back to staff for further consideration.

The committee met today to discuss the bylaw and a reserve management plan for Hannah's Bay.

The Prostitution Bylaw was set to expire next month and needed renewing. It was consulted on between November and January and attracted three submissions.

At today's meeting the committee recommended to the council that the bylaw be referred back to staff and the Resource Management Act Policy Committee to see if what the bylaw covered was already covered within existing legislation.

Councillor Rob Kent said he didn't see any reason for the bylaw to exist given prostitution was not illegal in New Zealand.

Councillor Karen Hunt, who was chairing the meeting, said the bylaw had simply come about because it was due for renewal.

The council's chief executive Geoff Williams said in not approving the updated bylaw, the existing bylaw would stay in place for two years while work was being undertaken.

"In the absence of you making a further decision and potentially going out to further consultation the current bylaw stays in place."

The committee also discussed the draft Hannahs Bay/Waikawau Reserve Management Plan, recommending the council approve it for public consultation.

Hannahs Bay Reserve. Photo / File

In preparing the draft plan the council engaged with the community online, with schools and through a family fun day at the reserve.

The anticipated timeframe for consultation could see a final decision on the plan be made by July.

The draft plan aimed to protect the reserve's cultural, ecological and conservation values and ensure it was a premier recreation destination.

If adopted, the plan would include redeveloping play facilities, preparing a concept plan and do an ecological survey of the existing wetlands among other things.

The committee also appointed five members to hear submissions on the draft plan.