Huge shake-up for Rotorua Chamber

Jonathan Temm

Rotorua's Chamber of Commerce looks set for its biggest shake-up in a decade.

Its executive committee is conducting a wide-ranging review of the organisation which has hundreds of Rotorua businesses as members.

Executive member Jonathan Temm said the review included the chamber's personnel, roles, structure and aims. It was inevitable there would be a restructure as a result, he said.

"You can expect change. We haven't done it for 10 years," he said. "A big refresh is needed."

He said after last year's election of a new mayor and the appointment of a new Rotorua District Council chief executive, it seemed the right time to look at where the chamber was going.

"It's an opportunity for the chamber, it's the start of a new year, a new era," he said. "The chamber is trying to make sure it's properly aligned."

Mr Temm said the executive was working on the restructure this week and hoped to have "something in place" by the middle of next week.

He said in recent years the chamber had not been as effective as it would have liked on some key issues for Rotorua businesses.

"It really hasn't achieved some of the success it was hoping for," Mr Temm said. "[For example] CBD revitalisation, it's been trying to promote that without much success for years ... our message hasn't been heard."

Mr Temm said long-time chief executive Roger Gordon was on annual leave until January 20 but would be a part of the review process.

"Roger has been there 10 years, done a tremendous job ... I will be the first person to say he's done a superb job in a number of areas. His views will be important."

Mr Temm stressed no decisions had yet been made.

He said a strategic meeting was held in October and chamber members were surveyed at the end of last year, asking them for their feedback.

"We're trying to make sure we're creating opportunities for Rotorua business.

"There's an opportunity in front of us. The question is whether we can grasp it. That's the issue."

Mr Gordon couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.