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Download AudioA Rotorua Lakes District councillor says a petition may be a way for residents to let the Government know their opposition to having more hotels in the sulphur city turned into managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
The petition was launched yesterday by Waiariki, MP Rawiri Waititi, who says Covid Response Minsiter Chris Hipkins is unfairly targeting the city.
Merepeka Raukawa Tait says there has been no consultation with the council nor with Te Arawa.
She says Government sees Rotorua’s large number of hotels and motels as a solution to any crisis, to the detriment of its historic tourism focus.
"You just have to drive down or walk down our tourism mile, Fenton St, coming into the city, and it really does look as if we have been taken over by the Martians. it's not a good look. We have these canvas-covered fences that surround the big MIQ facilities. We've got so many motels taken by MSD for temporary accommodation, emergency accommodation. No tourist really wants to come and spend time in a city that looks as if it has become the social welfare centre for New Zealand," Ms Raukawa Tait says.
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