Lakeland Queen is back on Lake Rotorua after four years.
Iconic paddle boat Lakeland Queen is back on Lake Rotorua.
A crowd of about 100 people gathered at Sulphur Point before the launch this morning as the songs Sailing Away and Pokarekare Ana played.
Kaumātua Rawiri Waru and Reverend Tom Poata blessed the Lakeland Queen before it hit thewater, and Rotorua Lakes councillor Trevor Maxwell cut the ribbon.
New owner Damon Hagaman said it felt great seeing everyone there to witness this day.
He said he had spent about $1.5 million getting it ready, including engine work and interior and exterior refurbishments.
The Lakeland Queen has been dry-docked at Sulphur Point since October 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the tourism operation into hibernation.
Under new owners Damon and Arna Hagaman, the paddleboat has been given a major makeover, with the help of several Lake Tarawera volunteers, where the Hagamans are from.
The Lakeland Queen is back on the water. Photo / Annabel Reid
Singer Howie Morrison jnr, who has been employed as a painter for the past few weeks on the boat, will switch the brush for a microphone in his new role of entertainment manager when the boat opens back up to visitors.
The Hagamans had hoped to be up and running by October, but they have run into a consenting glitch that impacts not only them, but other commercial operators on waterways in the Rotorua area.
The Rotorua Daily Postreported this week the council became aware of the issue when Damon Hagaman applied for a liquor licence.
The Lakeland Queen touches water once again. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Rotorua Lakes Council community and district development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said they must check applicants are compliant with the Resource Management Act and the Building Act before issuing a liquor licence.
He said the Lakeland Queen needed a resource consent to operate on the lake, required under legislation that came in following the District Plan review in 2012.
The council could not confirm whether operators were advised of the change during that review. The District Plan became operative in 2016.
Gaston did not confirm how many operators were impacted, and said the issue was under active investigation.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
