Corrections Minister accepts mayor’s plea to reinstate community clean-ups for Rotorua

Rotorua 24.05.13: Intervention by Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters has resulted in the Corrections Department agreeing to help with Rotorua roadside clean-up projects and reinstatement of a programme of labour provided by offenders serving community work sentences.

Mr Winters said he had earlier been informed by the council’s Keep Rotorua Beautiful coordinator that the Community Probation Service had decided to cease assistance with roadside clean-up ‘wombles’ in Rotorua because they viewed them as “too dangerous and not meaningful.”

“But they were certainly meaningful to our Keep Rotorua Beautiful organisation, to the council and to our community, and I made that very clear to the Corrections Minister, Anne Tolley. I also thought that any issues around safety could easily be sorted out,” he said.

Mr Winters contacted the minister putting forward a case for the programme to continue, explaining how in the past it had contributed to Rotorua’s unmatched success in the national ‘Most Beautiful City’ awards over recent years. 

“So I was pleased to receive a letter from Minister Tolley this week saying that she had raised the matter directly with her officials, and they had agreed that Community Probation in Rotorua would reinstate the service for our community.”

In her letter to Mr Winters Ms Tolley said she appreciated the pride the mayor had in his city and noted his desire for a continuation of the roadside cleaning service carried out by community work offenders.

“In addition, to maintain support for this valuable council programme, Community Probation would like to work with your staff to develop other initiatives where offenders on community work can make a positive contribution to their communities, and at the same time learn new skills,” Ms Tolley told the mayor.

She concluded by thanking Mr Winters for bringing the matter to her attention and wished Rotorua “all the best for the next Most Beautiful City in New Zealand awards.”

Mr Winters said it was a very good outcome for the Rotorua community and he appreciated the role the minister had played in ensuring the service could continue.

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