In 2003 the Global Compact Cities Programme was launched encouraging cities to adopt the same principles.
Rotorua will join 87 other cities such as Haifa in Israel, Dubai in the UAE, Cape Town in South Africa, Bogota in Colombia, and Berlin, Germany, as a signatories .
The programme offers three levels of engagement - signatory, leading city and innovating city. Each requires a higher level of commitment.
In her report to councillors, the council's Sustainable Living Portfolio senior policy advisor Rosemary Viskovic said there were some "positive opportunities" for Rotorua.
"As New Zealand's first signatory it will enable Rotorua to secure worldwide city branding ... encourage us to think systematically about sustainability ... and then collaborating across sectors to make progress.
"Joining will mean Rotorua becomes part of a worldwide network of multi-sector experts sharing ideas, strategies and initiatives ... access new tools, practices and applied technologies for tackling sustainability issues in an urban environment," she said.
It would cost nothing for the city to sign up. Mayor Steve Chadwick said she would like Rotorua to progress to becoming a leading city, and in time an innovating city.
"This builds on our commitment to our 2030 vision and is the beginning of a journey which ends up promulgating our own city and district plan. It also fits perfectly with our portfolios and is a symbol to the rest of the country as well - there's only one city in New Zealand working through portfolios to connect with their communities.
"At this stage it is symbolic, but it's incredibly exciting."
Councillor Karen Hunt said joining the programme would put Rotorua under more scrutiny, which was a good thing.
"It will give the community even more confidence that we are walking the talk," she said.
For more information visit www.citiesprogramme.com.
