Momentous day as designation lifted (+ video)

Celebrations as the designation is lifted. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

The final nail has been hammered in the coffin of the controversial Rotorua Eastern Arterial roading project.

In what some have called a momentous occasion for all of Rotorua and Te Arawa, Rotorua district councillors today voted 9-3 to remove the road's designation from the district plan after the New Zealand Transport Agency last month confirmed the road would not be constructed and the designation over the land was no longer be required.

Instead, the agency will go ahead with an upgrade of Te Ngae Rd, with the first stage of the upgrade being partial four-laning of the road and a new roundabout at the Tarawera Rd intersection, costing approximately $24 million.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Rotorua Lakes Council's strategy, policy and finance committee.

Also joining the meeting, with full voting rights, were two members of the Te Tatau o Te Arawa Board, Ana Morrison and Eugene Berryman-Kamp, who both voted to lift the designation.

The decision was met with polite applause from about 20 iwi members sitting in the public gallery.

The road would have run through sensitive Maori land belonging to three Te Arawa hapu - Te Roro o te Rangi, Ngati Uenukukopako and Hurunga te Rangi - almost parallel to Te Ngae Rd closer to Lake Rotorua and had been on the books since 1964.

Hurunga te Rangi representative Peter Staite said he was overcome with emotion and the decision would take time to sink in.

"The colonial government rendered our land useless, putting this designation over our land was second to theft."

Mr Staite said discussions would now have to occur with the various hapu involved as to what they would do with their land in the future.

"We will savour this moment of victory, but we will need to take time to appreciate years and years of oppression, deprivation, struggle and progress. I appreciate those councillors who voted to support the NZTA decision to lift the designation," he said.

Ngati Pikiao representative and Te Arawa kaumatua Fred Whata said his hapu would celebrate with the rest of the iwi and would now like to contribute to talks about the future of Te Ngae Rd and push for more work to be done on Te Ngae Rd past the airport.

"It's about time this matter was sorted out and the result was a good one.

"How this has been dealt with was disappointing for our elders way back in 1964. I hope now we will also be included in consultation for the work they want to do on Te Ngae. We all use that road so that's important," Mr Whata said.

Mark Gould, Mike McVicker and Glenys Searancke voted against lifting the designation.

Mrs Searancke said the decision was premature and would have a profound effect on residents of Lynmore and Owhata.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said it was a significant day.

"We needed to sort the roading corridor issues and we needed to do it in partnership with the community and the hapu.

"I'm glad we are not going to be talking about the REA any longer."