Communications and public relations for the city's popular Tulip Festival will be done by an out-of-town company this year, the Rotorua Lakes Council has confirmed.
The contract has been awarded to Tauranga-based public relations company Metro Marketing - who will promote the October event being run by the council.
But the decision has been met with some public backlash with one local woman taking to social media to say this is not the first time out-of-town contractors have been used in favour of locals.
"Why do they feel that Auckland or Tauranga companies can do a better job? There are a lot of passionate people in Rotorua who care about our city and want it to grow and put in huge hours of work to try and make this happen."
The annual festival is held in the height of spring, with more than 40,000 tulips in bloom. A range of events and activities are held as part of the festival.