Rotorua council publicly notifies Pūwhakamua consent application amid investigation
Photo:
Supplied / LDR
The public will have a say on a controversial plan to move a prisoner reintegration facility to a rural Rotorua valley.
Rotorua Lakes Council has publicly notified a resource consent application for Pūwhakamua to operate in Waikite.
A notice in the Rotorua Daily Post said submissions would close at 5pm on 25 June.
It comes as the council investigates the existing Pūwhakamua facility, based near Rotorua Airport, after issuing, then cancelling, a notice ordering it to cease operations because of consent matters.
Pūwhakamua is a tikanga Māori live-in reintegration service supporting men on parole to return and readapt into the community.
It was the brainchild of reformed drug lord Billy Macfarlane, who works as general manager, and is run by Tikanga Aroro Charitable Trust, with a contract from the Department of Corrections.
Pūwhakamua has been operating on the leased site since 2018 and Corrections has funded it at least $4.6 million since November 2022.
The trust aimed to develop a new site on nearby Māori land behind Rotokawa Baths, but landowners successfully sought an injunction through the Māori Land Court, meaning it had to find another new home.
The trust applied for resource consent in October to relocate to Waikite, about 40km south of Rotorua.
It had requested limited notification be carried out for immediate neighbours and that submissions be invited through a formal process.
Community members told councillors last year they opposed the facility relocation, fearing the rural setting increased safety and security risks. They called for full public notification, allowing wider submissions.
The Rotorua Rural Community Board was advised in a meeting on Tuesday the application would be publicly notified.
About 80 people attended a Rotorua Lakes Council meeting in November, most of them for a petition opposing a resource consent application.
Photo:
LDR / Laura Smith
The trust's application said the rural environment meant a "focus on cultural values can be fostered away from the distractions of an urban environment".
"Full support and care are provided through the programme via on-site resident staff and external agencies. Residents commit to pursuing lasting change through support with daily life tasks, upskilling programmes, vocational education, personal development and employment."
The trust hit consent issues at its current site this year.
On 5 March, the council sent an abatement notice ordering the "unconsented" facility to cease operations and take steps to gain consent.
Rehabilitation centres could be considered community housing under the District Plan, but must only have up to eight residents, whose movements could not be legally restricted - including by parole conditions.
Pūwhakamua was hosting 14 parolees in February when the council inspected after neighbours raised concerns.
The abatement notice was cancelled on 24 March.
Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston told Local Democracy Reporting an investigation into activities on the site was ongoing.
He declined to comment further, saying the council did not intend to conduct the investigation through the media.
Billy Macfarlane, founder of Rotorua based organisation Pūwhakamua.
Photo:
LDR / Aleyna Martinez
Trust chairman Doug Macredie said the abatement notice was a "non-event based on incorrect information" and was quickly cancelled.
"That said, we've taken the opportunity to review our land use in accordance with tikanga, and will continue in humility and thankfulness."
Macredie said the Waikite Valley consent notification was for the council to decide.
"We are progressing with the full support of our network and observing improved accuracy of information resulting in greater public support."
He previously said no one who could not be safely managed in the community could live at Pūwhakamua and everyone referred was assessed while still in custody.
Active gang members were not considered, community safety was the "No 1 priority" and Pūwhakamua staff were on-site at all times.
A Corrections spokesperson said finding safe accommodation for people lawfully required to be released from prison was one of its "most significant challenges".
"Without supported accommodation, they could be homeless and living on the streets or in cars. This would present an unacceptable safety risk to communities."
According to Corrections statements, the number of men living on site at Pūwhakamua had fluctuated from eight when the notice was cancelled to nine about two weeks ago and six as of Wednesday.
Eight other participants in the programme lived off-site.
Corrections' communities, partnerships and pathways deputy chief executive Sean Mason told Local Democracy Reporting last month that it met with trust and council after the abatement notice.
He understood the trust sought independent advice to ensure Pūwhakamua was compliant and was keeping Corrections informed.
The department had developed a contingency plan in place to safely house the residents if they had needed to leave Pūwhakamua.
Mason said reintegration services were important in reducing the risk of reoffending.
A communication from the council to the trust, sent to Local Democracy Reporting by Corrections, said the abatement notice was cancelled to allow time for an independent planning consultant to consider an assessment undertaken on behalf of the trust.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
New insights into the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior
history media 35 minutes ago In July 1985, French secret service agents planted two bombs on Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior resulting in one man's death and the sinking the ship, It's a pivotal moment in New Zealand's history. A new podcast from Bird of Paradise Productions offers new insights into how high up the conspiracy went in France and talks to one of the bombers about how the operation unfolded. Co-creator Noelle McCarthy talks to Jesse.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Lindis Pass left without coverage for days as cell tower vandalised
Photo: An act of vandalism has left a stretch of remote alpine pass without cell phone coverage for days. Police have appealed to anyone who saw anything suspicious or has dashcam footage from State Highway 8 Lindis Pass - Tarras Road between 7am and 1pm Sunday, when the tower was significantly damaged . Ian Hooker, chief executive of the Rural Connectivity Group, which owns the towers on behalf of the major network providers, said the vandalised tower serves as a linking site for another, meaning two of the Pass's five towers were out of service. He said the outage was a safety risk, especially at this time of year.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Nelson-founded Charity Screening Movie To Raise Awareness Of Child Exploitation
The Saint Nicholas Children's Trust, a New Zealand-based charity, is hosting a special screening of the film Sound of Freedom to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation. On Thursday July 10, the Saint Nicholas Children's Trust, in partnership with Whakatū Rotary, will host the screening at the Suter Theatre in Nelson. In Sound of Freedom, a former US government agent embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia. The movie was made as a call to action against human trafficking and was loosely based on a true story. "At the Saint Nicholas Children's Trust we work tirelessly in our pursuit of raising awareness of child sexual exploitation," says Angela Francis, the charity's founder and chair. "The Sound of Freedom is a confronting film which makes us consider the reality of what is happening every day around the world - thousands of children are being exploited." Proceeds from the screening will support the Trust's ongoing efforts to educate and advocate for change - locally and globally. Francis says the Trust is thrilled to welcome Nelson City Councillor Trudie Brand and Nelson MP Rachel Boyack, who will attend the event. Brand says: "Alongside the Nelson City Council's Mayor's office, I proudly support Saint Nicholas Children's Trust in their vital work to raise awareness and take positive steps to protect our tamariki from child sexual exploitation". "Together we are building a safer future for every child in our community." Boyack notes: "Distressingly, child sexual exploitation happens in New Zealand too". "We should do all we can, as a community and as a nation, to shine a light on this abhorrent practice, and to put the resources in to end child sexual exploitation, here in New Zealand and across the globe." The screening follows the charity's launch earlier this year, which drew support from other local leaders including Nelson Mayor Nick Smith and Maungakiekie MP Greg Fleming. Supporters wore masks to symbolise the children who are sexually exploited without the ability to speak up for themselves and conducted a silent march through Nelson's town centre. More information on the Saint Nicholas Children's Trust can be found on our website:
