Ngāti Whakaue meet over Lakefront redevelopment

Fog over Rotorua Lakefront and Ohinemutu. Photo/File

Ngāti Whakaue will form a group to contribute to the redevelopment of the Rotorua Lakefront.

This idea was widely supported at a meeting with iwi members at Te Ao Marama hall yesterday afternoon, chaired by kaumātua, and Rotorua Lakes Council kaitiaki Māori, Monty Morrison.

The council's Lakefront plan includes an interactive sculpture park, visitor and coach parking, upgraded public toilets, a waka launching space and viewing platform, and jetty changes.

Ngāti Whakaue kaumatua, and Rotorua Lakes Council kaitiaki Māori, Monty Morrison. Photo/File

It was included in the Long-Term Plan 2018-2028 which was adopted two weeks ago.

Last week $811,625 was allocated from the Government's Provincial Growth Fund to finalise the business cases for the Lakefront project, and for enhancing Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua.

Morrison said the purpose of yesterday's meeting was to "consult Ngāti Whakaue as part of the Lakefront redevelopment".

"Obviously there will be an ongoing effect for Ohinemutu. So we sent out an invite to come together and gather opinion about the Ngāti Whakaue input into the design and discussions".

He said he was grateful for the wider council staff who provided information and answered questions for the attendees.

Morrison said there was a consensus that Ngāti Whakaue would form a group to collect thoughts and opinion from iwi members and submit this to the council and the Lakefront development advisory board.

The group would first meet in the next few weeks, Morrison said.

"They will submit the feedback when they are ready... It is too early to say what the Ngāti Whakaue priorities are, or what role the village would play."