Cobblestones delay Christmas tree

Works in the City Focus area have delayed the Rotorua Christmas tree erection.

Scheduled cobbling of the City Focus area is the reason there has been a delay in erecting the city's Christmas tree.

Rotorua Lakes Council public relations manager Mary Anne Gill said contractors were still cobbling the area and the site needed to be prepared.

"That is the only reason there has been a slight delay in putting the Christmas tree up."

The City Focus has been a demolition site since last month with the removal of the fibreglass sails, building and apricot pillars.

The first stage of construction in the area is due to be finished by the end of this week.

Ms Gill said she could not confirm when the tree would be put up but said it would "definitely be sometime this week".

About $26,500 has been spent this year on the new Christmas tree and decorations.

The council's Inner City Revitalisation strategy lead adviser, Portia McKenzie, previously told the Rotorua Daily Post the new tree was a replacement for the old one which was damaged in a gust of wind last year. She said the new tree was designed to last 15-plus years and the new design reduced installation and decoration time.

"We thought last year's tree could be recovered but, after the gust of wind and the strengthening of the base, two engineers have inspected the tree and considered it unsafe to put up again or to recover what was there."