CAB gets grant as new home found

Rotorua Citizens Advice Bureau manager Jane Eynon-Richards at the bureau's new home on ErueraSt. Photo / Stephen Parker

After six months of searching, the Rotorua Citizens Advice Bureau has found a new home and will be moving in early in the New Year.

Last June Rotorua Lakes Council decided to demolish Community House, meaning the bureau, and 19 other organisations housed there needed to find new premises.

The council deemed it too expensive to upgrade the building, which is earmarked for demolition to make way for a proposed children's health hub and library facility.

Community House should be demolished by mid-2016.

"We were told it would be an easy process - there being so many vacant shops in the CBD," bureau manager Jane Eynon-Richards said.

"But that was not the case. We were very much restricted by our budget and also had to meet national membership principles around accessibility and visibility, which meant many of the properties we looked at were not suitable."

The new location is at 1143 Eruera St, a vacant shop in the former Geyser Court Arcade.

"It is the right size, on the ground floor of a busy street, but sadly away from the other health and community organisations that we have networked with and referred clients to for many years.

"We are confident, however, that people will soon get to know where we are and continue using our wonderful service," she said.

"The other positive news is that the Rotorua [Energy Charitable] Trust has approved a grant to assist with renovations, so that the new space can be turned into a welcoming, comfortable working area for both the bureau volunteers and our clients. For this the bureau is extremely grateful."

The bureau is intending to be up and running in the new location by March 1. In the meantime it will remain open in Community House, including over the Christmas and New Year period.

They can be contacted on (07)348 3936.