City must put pedal to metal, says mayor

Steve Chadwick draws a winner in the Rotorua X business card draw from Renee Nathan. Photo / Alison King

Rotorua must keep its "pedal to the metal" if it is to grow and help keep businesses in the city, mayor Steve Chadwick has told those at a business event.

Local business networking group Rotorua X meets once a month and Mrs Chadwick was its special guest at the Regent Rotorua on Wednesday.

"Some are saying we're going in leaps and bounds but it might be too fast for some," she said.

"If we don't put our pedal to the metal we will be stuck with 0.1 per cent growth. We have to make decisions and the big decisions are based largely around infrastructure."

She told around 50 members of the business community of innovations the council was working on.

These included the inner city revitalisation, including the green corridor, the lakefront spa with Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings and tourism conference Trenz.

She also talked about Crankworx and the council's woodfirst initiative.

"We are on the move and we have got to believe we're on the move," she said.

"We will become known as the city and district using natural assets to economic advantage to create jobs for people. The rest of New Zealand is looking at us."

It was the sixth anniversary of Rotorua X and it also celebrated 50 Connect events, the monthly meet-ups it organises for people in business.

"It was great to hear more detail behind the [council] initiatives," said Rotorua X chairman Darren McGarvie.

"The pace of change has been so fast we can feel a bit disconnected. It was good to hear there was a plan. There's a lot of things happening, which is exciting; change presents opportunity."