Laura Smith

2 days ago | nzherald.co.nz | Laura Smith

The office at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre is being monitored daily and the council’s property team is checking gas levels on a “regular basis”. Photo / Andrew WarnerAn office within Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre has closed after “unsafe levels” of a toxic gas were detected. An agenda item for this week’s Rotorua Lakes Council infrastructure and environment committee meeting detailed how levels of hydrogen sulphide “rose significantly” in the sales and finance office recently.

2 days ago | nzherald.co.nz | Laura Smith

Recent damage at caused by trail bike riders at Westbrook Reserve in Rotorua. Photo / SuppliedHundreds of Rotorua kids have been unable to play rugby on their club’s field after vandals broke in to do burnouts almost two weeks ago. Now, one club member is trying to find the “bloody idiots” responsible. It was one of several recent incidents, with Rotorua councillors told this week incidents of sportsfield damage and vandalism are on the rise.

3 days ago | nzherald.co.nz | Laura Smith

Cousins Karl Leonard (left) and Te Ururoa Flavell outside Rotorua Lakes Council chambers holding a decades-old picture of their whānau. Photo / Laura SmithOwnership of a public reserve in Ngongotahā will be gifted back to the whānau who donated it decades ago. Backers of the move included former Te Pāti Māori co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, who said it was once part of the family farm.

4 days ago | nzherald.co.nz | Laura Smith

Rotorua's council has approved discussions with neighbours on unitary authority possibilities after councillor Conan O'Brien raised the matter. Photo / Google Maps, Laura SmithRotorua councillors have asked chief executive Andrew Moraes to begin exploring unitary authority options with neighbours. One unitary authority mayor has applauded the move to investigate efficiencies, while Tauranga’s mayor also backs it, saying it’s time to put egos aside and work for what’s best for the region.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Laura Smith

Rotorua Lakes Council deliberated about what level of funding should be funnelled to the Tarawera sewerage scheme. Photo / NMZEThe price Lake Tarawera homeowners will pay for reticulated sewerage has been reduced - but it’s not the significant cut many hoped for. The most recent estimate had Tarawera households collectively paying about $20 million of the $32.3m cost for the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme. That was equivalent to a lump sum of $49,383 each.