Letters: Why everyone's upset about the Airbnb issue

Bookabach owner Cyndi Signall has a $10,000 rates bill because she lets her property out more than 100 nights a year. Photo/Stephen Parker

Alanah Eriksen's excellent articles (September 1 and 2) on short-term accommodation problems uncovered policy dilemmas the council should revisit. The council recently affirmed the 100-day threshold (when residential become commercial rates) and to strengthen monitoring and compliance.

There is confusion over purposes to be served. Was it fairness, ensuring Rotorua's competitive advantage, protecting the motel business model against ICT-enabled innovations, targeting "user pays" rates for tourism infrastructure, or some or all of these purposes that drove the decisions, or just "pretend action" as free market choices actually determine a fresh equilibrium?

In my view, council policy making simply stalled. The decision was disconnected from earlier discussions about fair rates. It is very different from the IRD's threshold of 60 days p/a for allowing business-related expenses, and even more so from Queenstown's boundary of 30 days p/a.

Moteliers resent unfair competition turning Rotorua into a "discount town". Residents resent the nuisance noise and parking associated with commercial accommodation in residential areas, aggravated by uneven compliance.

The online booking agencies resent impediments to choice and are cautious about suggesting ethical business practices. Social services resent how the decision encourages owners to switch out of longer-term rentals and add to homelessness.

Faced with this complex array of interests, it appears the council decided not to decide. And not to resign, even though it has abrogated its responsibility to make policy in the public interest.

Nevertheless, they remain accountable for the muddle. Funny how everything they touch turns to mud!

REYNOLD MACPHERSON
Rotorua

Jim Adams (Letters, August 28) is completely wrong when he describes the Treaty of Waitangi as confused and not worth the paper it was written on, no matter what his UK barrister friend may say.

By far the best book on the Treaty was written by prominent Maori scholar and political leader Apirana Ngata in 1922 - The Treaty of Waitangi, An Explanation.

There you will find an accurate and clear translation from the Maori.

The Treaty was well understood until the recent spread of misinformation.

It made New Zealand a British colony and gave Maori all the privileges of British citizenship.

As for rewriting a 177-year-old treaty, what does that mean? Those who were here in 1840 are long gone.

JOHN ROBINSON
Waikanae