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If you like trout, think about catfish
27 September 2018
If you like trout, think about catfish
All it would take to cause irreversible damage to our lakes and tributaries is one person transporting a catfish or its eggs to a new body of water and starting another population.
That’s why with the fly fishing season kicking off on October 1st, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is asking anglers and lake users to be extra vigilant this season and help stop the spread of catfish.
Lake Rotoiti...
Land use fund open for Rotorua landowners
7 September 2018
A $1.5million fund to help landowners in the Lake Rotorua Catchment try alternative land uses is open for expressions of interest.
Anna Grayling, Principle Advisor Rotorua Catchments at Bay of Plenty Regional Council, says they are seeking expressions of interest from all landowners, big or small, who may be interested in trialling possible low nitrogen land uses in the Lake Rotorua catchment.
“The fund will help set-up practical small...
Lake Okareka update
5 September 2018
Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff continues to monitor the water levels at Lake Ōkāreka and the quantity of water flowing down the Waitangi Stream.
As of today, the Lake Ōkāreka water level is still sitting within 185mm of the target range maximum.
Council staff have been able to maintain this level since May through discharging 360L/s water under the emergency consent.
Staff have maintained this moderate flow to ensure...
Dairy sheep for Rotorua
21 August 2018
A focus on dairy sheep and sheep milking will be one of the key topics at the Rotorua Land Use Innovation Series workshop in Rotorua this week.
Spring Sheep Chief Operating Officer Nick Hammond will present on the opportunities in sheep milking and relate some of the issues involved in setting up a sheep milking enterprise.
Spring Sheep Milk Company is a joint venture between Pamu (Landcorp) and the SLC Group aiming to grow New...
Annual Lake Rotoiti drawdown to begin
23 July 2018
The annual drawdown of Lake Rotoiti will commence over the coming few days and will see the lake drop 100mm below its normal operating range.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council lowers the lake by an extra 100mm each year as part of consent guidelines to help facilitate flushing of the Ōhau Channel and reduce flood risk in the channel.
The regional council is planning to hold levels at those lower levels for a few weeks (if the weather...
Lake Rotoehu health warning lifted
8 June 2018
The health warning issued in November 2017 for Lake Rotoehu has now been lifted by the Medical Officer of Health.
Results of water testing by Bay of Plenty Regional Council confirm that the algal bloom has subsided in the lake.
Despite the lifting of the warning, it is important to note that algal blooms can occur quite quickly in the right conditions, so it is always a good idea to check the water yourself before you get...
Emergency works to lower lake level
18 May 2018
Caption: The Lake Ōkāreka water level is already high and exceeds the target range now by more than 200mm after recent weather events. Photo: Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Bay of Plenty Regional Council is about to invoke the emergency works provisions of the Resource Management Act to address rising lake levels around the Rotorua region going into winter.
Council is taking this action before the winter months for two reasons.
The Lake...
First resource consent issued under PC10
8 May 2018
The first resource consent to help improve Lake Rotorua’s water quality under Plan Change 10 has been issued by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
The current load of nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua is calculated at 755 tonnes, contributing to its degrading water quality.
This load needs to be reduced to 435 tonnes by 2032 to ensure that the water quality is improved, with 70 per cent of the catchment target met by 2022.
Under...
Summer students make their mark
6 April 2018
Bay of Plenty Regional Council summer students engaged with over 600 water users around the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes this summer.
Summer students Jemma Hippolite and Te Wakaunua Miki-Te Kurapa were seen across the region from December 2017 to March 2018 reminding lakes users of the importance of cleaning their equipment between waterways to avoid the spread of unwanted freshwater pests such as catfish, hornwort and...
Plea to stop catfish spread
28 March 2018
Media release: Plea to stop catfish spread
Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme partners Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust are urging the public to help stop the spread of the catfish in the districts lakes.
The predatory pest species has spread and increased in numbers in Lake Rotoiti and now pose a real threat to other waterways.
The...
Incentives Scheme gains momentum
9 March 2018
The Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme has secured 10 deals to date which will result in removing 10.7 tonnes of nitrogen from Lake Rotorua.
Negotiations are also near completion with another large landowner, who has opted for land use and management changes, which will remove approximately 8.5 tonnes of nitrogen from the lake.
The $40 million Incentives Scheme has been set up to buy nitrogen from landowners who want to permanently lower their...
Health warning lifted for Lake Okaro
8 March 2018
The health warning issued in November for Lake Okaro has now been lifted by the Medical Officer of Health.
Results of water testing by Bay of Plenty Regional Council confirm that the algal bloom has subsided in the lake.
Despite the lifting of the warning, the public should always be cautious for signs of algal blooms if using lakes.
“Algal blooms can develop rapidly and unpredictably...
Rotorua Rules clarified for 1555 landowners
8 March 2018
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has made contact with more than 1500 rural landowners in the Lake Rotorua catchment this week, to help them understand what the Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management Rules (Plan Change 10) means to them.
Plan Change 10 is part of a range of solutions being delivered through the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme partnership, to protect and restore Lake Rotorua water quality by reducing nutrient levels in...
Possible algal blooms in parts of Tarawera
2 February 2018
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has received a number of reports of possible algal blooms and water discolouration affecting parts of Lake Tarawera, including the Wairua Arm (near Hotwater Beach) and the area around the campsite at the outflow of Lake Tarawera.
Algal blooms can be caused by potentially toxic cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae). Water sampling is underway to determine if cyanobacteria...
Swimming spots tested throughout the summer
9 January 2018
Gemma Kerrisk has been checking the Rotorua Lakes this summer to make sure they are safe to swim in.
While you’ve been enjoying a dip in one of the region’s lakes this summer, Gemma Kerrisk has been checking they’re safe to swim in.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) algal monitoring technician will continue to spend the summer taking samples from lakes Okaro, Rotoehu, Rotorua, Rotoiti and...
Students out and about to fight the spread of aquatic pests
22 December 2017
Bay of Plenty Regional Council summer student Jemma Hippolite and Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa are spending the holidays out and about educating the public about the region's lakes and how to protect them.
Growing up in Rotorua, Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa is used to spending summers on the region’s lakes.
But this time will be slightly different as he and fellow Bay of Plenty Regional Council summer student, Jemma Hippolite, spend...
Father and son duo take hands-on approach to protect Rotorua lakes
20 December 2017
WATCH HERE
Sewing a new weed cordon for Lake Rotomā with a 60-year-old Singer sewing machine and individually attaching 700 floats and over 700m of chain with cable ties is just one of the many things local father and son duo, Geoff Ewert and son Van, do to protect our lakes.
Installed on Tuesday at the main boat ramp for Lake Rotomā, Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) contracted Geoff to make the weed cordon, which helps keep...
New directory launched to help improve lake water quality
5 December 2017
A Rotorua Land Use Directory to help provide farmers with options for improved lake water quality has been launched by Te Arawa Primary Sector (TAPS) and a collective of Māori owned land trusts who own and administer over 30,000 hectares of land utilised within the primary sector (agriculture, horticulture, forestry and geothermal).
The land use directory was written by Bill Young and Tatiana Kiwi-Knight and has been funded through the...
NEWSHUB: Fears of catfish infestation in Bay of Plenty
18 November 2017
Report from Gemma Coombe, Newshub
Click here to view video
A year-and-a-half after catfish were first discovered in Lake Rotoiti in the Bay of Plenty there's evidence to suggest the population is exploding.
If the pest species establishes a stronghold in the region, it could spell the end of the local trout fishing industry.
The discovery of just one baby catfish near Lake Rotoiti 20 years ago sent...
New Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chair in lake and freshwater science
13 November 2017
The University of Waikato has appointed a new Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chair in Lake and Freshwater Science.
He’s Dr Troy Baisden, who will take up the professorship on 14 November, leaving his current position at GNS Science.
“My particular interest is to provide New Zealand with the ‘big-picture’ understanding required to manage our most important environmental issues, with a focus on water quality, climate...
Health warning extended for Lake Rotoehu, while new warning issued for Lake Okaro
9 November 2017
The health warning issued by the Medical Officer of Health last month for Otautu Bay has now been extended to include all of Lake Rotoehu.
The public are also advised that Lake Okaro, near Rotorua, is unsafe with an algal bloom.
Routine monitoring conducted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has confirmed blooms of potentially toxic blue-green algae at both locations.
“These health warnings mean that people should...
Health warning issued for Otautu Bay of Lake Rotoehu
19 October 2017
A health warning has been issued for Otautu Bay of Lake Rotoehu because of the presence of algal blooms that are likely to be caused by blue-green algae. Sampling has been undertaken to confirm if the blooms are being caused by the potentially toxic blue-green algae.
“The health warning means that people should avoid any activity which results in significant contact with the lake water in Otautu Bay,” says Dr Neil de Wet, Medical...
Efforts continued to tackle pesky weed near Mount Tarawera
11 October 2017
Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Ahu Whenua Trusts Ruawāhia 2B, Rotomahana Parekarangi 6Q2B and Te Ariki have joined forces again this year to control silver wattle in Tarawera. The Tarawera Wattle Control Project is in its third year of operation with a focus on the heavily infested area between lakes Tarawera and Rotomahana.
Regional Council Land Management Officer Scott Kusabs says controlling the wattles...
Rules to protect Lake Rotorua formally notified
16 August 2017
Tuesday 15 August marks the formal notification date of Proposed Plan Change 10 after Bay of Plenty Regional Council unanimously adopted an Independent Hearing Panel’s recommendations at its Regional Direction and Delivery Committee meeting on 2 August 2017.
Regional Council Chair Doug Leeder says formal notification of the decisions is the next step in the RMA process.
“Submitters on Plan Change 10 have been publicly notified and...
Plan Change 10 a landmark decision for Lake Rotorua
2 August 2017
In what has been described as a landmark decision for the future of Lake Rotorua, new rural land use rules will be notified on 15 August, 2017 after Bay of Plenty Regional Council today unanimously voted to accept a report and recommendations from the Independent Hearing Panel relating to Plan Change 10.
Plan Change 10 introduces rules for rural properties in the Lake Rotorua catchment, to limit the amount of nitrogen entering the lake from...
Hearings Panel Recommendations released
28 July 2017
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has publicly released a report today from the panel of independent hearing commissioners who were delegated by the Council to hear submissions and evidence on the proposed Plan Change 10.
BOPRC will consider the report and its recommendations, and make a decision whether to accept or reject the recommendations at its upcoming Regional Direction and Delivery Committee (RDD) meeting on 2 August 2017....
Council fund helps Rotorua farmers spread the word
27 July 2017
A farmer education project funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Low Nitrogen Land Use Fund has seen a series of ten 3-5 minute videos produced to help farmers protect water quality.
Proposed rules to help protect Lake Rotorua will require most local farmers to substantially reduce nitrogen losses by 2032.
The Good Management Practice (GMP) videos have been produced by Landconnect, and feature farmers from the Lake Rotorua...
Emergency measures to help Okareka residents
23 June 2017
Good news for Lake Ōkāreka residents: Bay of Plenty Regional Council has invoked emergency measures to ease problems caused by high lake levels.
These emergency measures involve increasing outflow from Lake Ōkāreka above the consented maximum flow, to prevent flooding as a result of high lake levels. If necessary this regime will remain in place until the lake level is brought under control. A variation to the resource consent may need to...
Preserving the Kaituna River for future generations
30 May 2017
The waters of the Kaituna River and its many tributaries play a pivotal role in many lives of Bay of Plenty residents, and community members can now influence the document that will help enhance the river’s future well-being.
Kaituna, he tāonga tuku iho – a treasure gifted to us, is the Proposed Kaituna River Document that has been prepared by Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority, a co-governance entity of iwi and council...
Will Hazelnuts grow in the Lake Rotorua Catchment?
25 May 2017
Hazelnuts have the potential to become New Zealand’s biggest and most successful nut crop. If you’re a landowner in the Lake Rotorua groundwater catchment with a little spare space and time, Bay of plenty Regional Council are offering free hazelnut plants as part of a five-year trial to monitor the growth and production of two new varieties.
Take a read of our terms and conditions and fill out an application form if you...
40 million dollar fund now open to all Lake Rotorua land owners
24 May 2017
A $40 million fund aimed at reducing the amount of nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua is now open to all landowners in the Lake Rotorua catchment with nitrogen to sell, no matter how big or small their property is.
The Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme is available for those landowners willing to make permanent land use changes to reduce the amount of nitrogen entering the lake.
The $40 million scheme, funded jointly by the Crown and Bay of Plenty...
Proposed Plan Change 10 hearings close
5 May 2017
After two months of hearings that saw over 50 submitters have the opportunity to voice their views, the last day of hearings for Proposed Plan Change 10 was drawn to a close yesterday.
The proposed plan change seeks to improve the water quality of Lake Rotorua for future generations.
Held over March and April 2017, an independent hearing panel heard from a wide range of submitters on the proposed plan change, receiving closing statements...
Health warning lifted for both Lake Rotoehu and Lake Okaro
28 April 2017
The health warnings issued in November for Lake Rotoehu and in December for Lake Okaro have now been lifted by the Medical Officer of Health.
Results of water testing by Bay of Plenty Regional Council confirm that the algal bloom has subsided in both lakes.=
Despite the lifting of the warning, the public should always be cautious for signs of algal blooms if using lakes. “Algal blooms can develop rapidly and unpredictably and can...
#LoveOurLakes Easter Hunt treats up for grabs
11 April 2017
Little #Rotorock hunters are in for an Easter treat these holidays, with 25 rocks hidden around Rotorua’s Lakes from the afternoon of Tuesday 11 April 2017, waiting to be discovered and traded in for a special Easter package.
The 25 rocks have been hidden around Lakes Tikitapu, Okareka, Tarawera, Rotorua and Rotoiti. Once found, they can be taken into Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) to claim an Easter package, including a...
First sod turned for phosphorus mitigation project
4 April 2017
Brian Levine, PhD student at Massey University, installing a V-notch weir to measure storm water flows at a Detainment Bund site in the Lake Rotorua catchment
Work has started on a three year ‘Phosphorus Mitigation Project’ to understand how Detainment Bunds can help prevent phosphorus moving from farm land to Lake Rotorua. Too much phosphorus and nitrogen can cause water quality problems in Lake Rotorua and other lakes and...
Proposed Plan Change 10 hearings reconvene
1 April 2017
Public hearings for the Proposed Plan Change 10 to Regional Water and Land – a plan change which ultimately seeks to improve the water quality of Lake Rotorua – will reconvene on April 3, 2017.
The proposed Plan Change 10 introduces rules to limit the amount of nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua from land use and relates to rural properties in the Lake Rotorua Catchment.
Sessions were held from March 13 to 22 for submitters to speak to...
Public hearings for the Proposed Plan Change
12 March 2017
Public hearings for the Proposed Plan Change 10 to Regional Water and Land Plan, begin on Monday (March 13).
Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management – Proposed Plan Change 10 introduces rules to limit the amount of nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua from land use. The rules will affect rural properties in the Lake Rotorua Catchment.
Venue
Millennium Hotel
1270 Hinemaru St
Rotorua
Independent Hearing Panel
As previously announced, retired...
Progress on proposed lakeside sewerage schemes in Rotorua district
3 March 2017
Rotorua Lakes Council is progressing with resource consents for the proposed East Rotoiti/Rotoma Sewerage Scheme and a trial of Biolytix wastewater treatment units is now underway.
Design work for the Rotoma piping network is also underway and the Rotoiti part of scheme can proceed following the year-long Biolytix trial.
A total of 22 submissions were received to the resource consent application and council staff will attempt to meet with...
Tool launched to check if money grows from trees
23 February 2017
An online tool has been launched to help landowners in the Lake Rotorua catchment understand the potential economic gains from converting all or parts of their property to pine or Mānuka.
Toitu Te Waonui, a Māori forestry initiative group comprising Interpine Innovation, Tuia Group and iwi leaders have developed dNITRO with funding from Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Ministry for the Environment as part of the Low Nitrogen Land...
Rain needed for Rotorua lakes
1 February 2017
We all love a hot, dry summer and so far 2017’s given us just that. But it comes with a downside: some of Rotorua’s lakes are below their usual summer levels.
Lake Rotoiti is approximately 50mm below its usual range for this time of year, with Lakes Rotorua and Ōkāreka also low.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council principal engineering surveyor Graeme O’Rourke said river flows around the region were also in a low state as the...
Responses to submissions for rules to protect lake released
20 January 2017
Public submissions received on proposed rules to manage nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua from pastoral land use have been collated and evaluated by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Council received 92 submissions from various individuals and groups such as farmers, Māori land trusts and industry and an additional 20 further submissions based on matters raised by initial submissions
Council staff have now considered and responded to each...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
23 December 2016
Since a live catfish was discovered in Lake Rotoiti in March, our Biosecurity team have been surveying the lake, deploying fyke nets, electric boat fishing, undertaking ongoing research and coming up with ideas with the aim of eradicating catfish.
One of the actions to target catfish is to contain them in Te Weta Bay by installing a cordon at the entrance of the bay. The design of the cordon will include a small channel constructed in the...
Health warning issued for Lake Okaro
16 December 2016
A health warning has been issued for Lake Okaro, near Rotorua, as routine monitoring results provided by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have confirmed a bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae.
“The health warning means that people should avoid any activity which results in significant contact with the lake water,” says Dr Phil Shoemack, Medical Officer of Health for Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service.
Contact with...
Health warning issued for Lake Rotoehu
24 November 2016
A health warning has been issued for Lake Rotoehu as routine monitoring results provided by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have confirmed a bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae.
“The health warning means that people should avoid any activity which results in significant contact with the lake water,” says Dr Phil Shoemack, Medical Officer of Health.
Contact with algal blooms can cause asthma and hayfever attacks in...
Videos to be produced 'by farmers for farmers'
27 October 2016
Farmers in the Lake Rotorua catchment will feature in videos providing advice to other farmers about good nutrient management practice. The main objective is to reduce nutrients entering Lake Rotorua although the videos may appeal to a wider audience.
Seven projects have been approved by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Low Nitrogen Land Use Fund (LNLUF) with a $45,000 grant to this particular project. A key focus...
Swap a plant
27 October 2016
Rotorua locals who have been out in the garden clearing weeds can swap them for free native plants. Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff will be at Rotary Market, Kuirau Park this Saturday giving away 300 native plants in exchange for weeds at its Weed Swap stall.
Land Management Officer Shane Hona says the annual stall is a way for Council to raise awareness about weeds found in Rotorua and provide advice on how to stop them from growing...
Hearing Panel appointed for Lake Rotorua nutrient rules
18 October 2016
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has appointed an independent hearing panel to decide on rules to manage nutrients coming from land use and ensure the long-term sustainability of Lake Rotorua’s water quality (proposed Plan change 10: Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management).
The panel is to be chaired by retired District and Environment Court judge, Gordon Whiting, who was on the hearing panel for the plan change that sought to preserve...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
7 October 2016
Earlier this year, between March and June, a total of 391 individual catfish of various sizes, removed from Lake Rotoiti by Regional Council staff. The vast majority of the fish (more than 97%), were caught within Te Weta Bay.
Winter water temperatures cause catfish to slow down and in some cases hibernate, making netting impractical and population spread unlikely.
This has given us an opportunity to shift our catfish control efforts over...
Deal a significant milestone for protecting lake water quality
14 September 2016
A dairy farmer has become the first landowner to strike a deal with the Lake Rotorua Incentives Board, a committee of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, as part of its Incentives Programme aimed at reducing nutrients entering Lake Rotorua.
The $40 million Incentives Programme, an initiative proposed by the local farming collective, is jointly funded by central government and Regional Council to compensate willing landowners in the Rotorua...
Sustainable Farming Fund open for applications
1 August 2016
The 2017/18 funding round for MPI's Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) opens today.
"We welcome any groups keen to tackle a shared problem or develop a new opportunity related to the primary industries to apply for the fund," says Investment Programmes Director Justine Gilliland.
"SFF supports farmers and researchers involved at grass-roots level and each year we receive a very high calibre of project applications."
A...
Further submissions sought on lake rules
4 July 2016
There is still time to have a say on the proposed Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management rules, with a further submission phase giving the community an opportunity to provide feedback on what has been said to-date.
The proposed rules aim to reduce nitrogen by 140 tonnes through land use changes in the Lake Rotorua catchment, in order to meet lake water quality targets by the community in 2008.
The proposed rules were publically notified by the Bay...
Small lifestyle block owners help sought for guide
13 June 2016
Bay of Plenty Regional Council is looking for owners of small lifestyle blocks to help develop a guide for good land nutrient management practices.
Anyone who owns a property five hectares or smaller is welcome to contribute.
The guide is planned following a council-commissioned report last year that found there are over 1000 properties five hectares or less around Lake Rotorua. Many of which have landowners...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
1 June 2016
Surveillance in Lake Rotoiti, Ōhau Channel, Lake Tarawera and parts of Lake Rotorua and has now been completed. Intensive catfish surveillance using fyke nets is currently underway in Lake Rotoehu.
The catfish incursion appears to be limited to the western end of Lake Rotoiti; 330 catfish have now been caught and removed from Te Weta Bay, one was found and removed from Okere Inlet.
No catfish have been found in Lakes Rotorua, Tarawera or...
Dairy farmers take action to protect water
20 May 2016
Minimising phosphorous run-off, better managing stormwater and preventing down-stream erosion are just some of the benefits a Rerewhakaaitu farmer will soon realise, thanks to a recently constructed detainment bund.
Dairy farmers Barry and Mark Mogg approached the Bay of Plenty Regional Council late last year after learning about the benefits of detainment bunds, and are the first dairy farmers in the Rerewhakaaitu catchment to build an earth...
Open session to help rural landowners
13 May 2016
Rural landowners in the Lake Rotorua catchment are being encouraged to talk to Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff to find out what changes they might need to make under proposed rules to protect Lake Rotorua water quality.
“People see the word “rules” and think they will need to make a lot of big changes, but to date a number of landowners have found they are currently meeting their 2032 nitrogen discharge allowance (NDA)...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
3 May 2016
Netting continued in the western end of Lake Rotoiti and the Ōhau Channel last week with no further catfish caught.
Another round of netting is underway at Te Weta Bay (Lake Rotoiti) this week and we plan to start checks of Lake Tarawera next week.
We’ll update you again in late May, following our work with University of Waikato, NIWA, DOC and Fish and Game experts to identify further control needs and options.
If you have any...
Fund seeks land use solutions
3 May 2016
Bay of Plenty Regional Council, on behalf of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme, is asking for expressions of interest from landowners, researchers and the general public to help come up with solutions to reduce the amount of nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua from land use activities.
The Low Nitrogen Land Use Fund of $3.3 million is jointly funded by Regional Council and Ministry for the Environment (MfE) with $1.5 million of that offered...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
22 April 2016
Netting this week has focused on lowering catfish numbers in Te Weta Bay and Okere arm in Lake Rotoiti.
A further 66 catfish were caught in Te Weta Bay, no further captures in Okere Arm.
The University of Waikato electric fishing boat has also been operating this week – no catfish have been found so far in Lake Rotorua.
Netting in the north-western bay of Lake Rotoiti will continue next...
Lake nutrient rules submission period closing soon
21 April 2016
The submission period for the proposed Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management rules will close this Wednesday and Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chair Doug Leeder is encouraging the public to have their input into what the rules will look like.
“We have undertaken an extensive engagement with the community over the past two and a half years resulting in over 200 people providing feedback that helped shape the current proposed...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
15 April 2016
We’ve now completed catfish surveys in Lake Rotoiti, with no catfish found outside Te Weta and Okere Bays.
Next week’s netting work will focus on further removal of catfish from Te Weta and Okere Bays, and re-checking Otaramarae.
Weather-permitting, the electric fishing boat will continue survey work in Lake Rotorua next week. If weather is marginal, it will be used to assist with catfish removal work in Lake...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
8 April 2016
Catfish surveys have continued this week with fyke netting in the western end of Lake Rotoiti now complete.
Nets were set along the Lake Rotoiti shoreline from Te Weta Bay through to Otaramarae, and from Okawa Bay along to Okahutoroa Bay with no further catfish being caught.
The University of Waikato’s electric fishing boat was also deployed in the Ōhau Channel this week and along the south-eastern shoreline of Lake Rotorua, with...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
1 April 2016
In response to the discovery of a catfish in Te Weta Bay, Lake Rotoiti on 16 March, our biosecurity staff commenced targeted survey work in Lake Rotoiti to identify how widespread catfish are likely to be.
Results from Te Weta Bay have identified 52 catfish, predominantly juveniles of less than 150mm. These were caught from 21 nets set at Te Weta Bay. One juvenile catfish was caught at Okere Inlet. No catfish have been found in Okawa...
Rotoiti Catfish Update
24 March 2016
In response to the discovery of a catfish in Lake Rotoiti last week, our biosecurity staff will be working in the lake next week (as weather allows) to identify whether a breeding population of catfish is present and if so, how widespread the problem is.
With assistance from University of Waikato, we’ll be using fyke nets and an electric fishing boat to locate and remove any catfish that can be found.
We’ll be starting with Te Weta...
Council extends submission period
23 March 2016
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has extended the submission period for Lake Rotorua nutrient rules. The rules are a proposed plan change to the Regional Water and Land Plan, and are one of four parts of the long term solution delivered by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme (RTALP) aimed at protecting water quality in Lake Rotorua.
Regional Council Chair Doug Leeder says a decision was made to extend the time frame to enable landowners, iwi and...
Health warning issued for Lake Rotoehu
18 March 2016
Toi Te Ora has issued a health warning for Lake Rotoehu.
Health warning issued for Lake Rotoehu
18 March 2016
A health warning has been issued for Lake Rotoehu as routine monitoring results provided by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have confirmed a bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae.
“The health warning means that people should avoid any activity which results in significant contact with the lake...
Pest fish found in Lake Rotoiti
18 March 2016
One catfish was caught and a second one seen during weed harvester work at Te Weta Bay, Lake Rotoiti last Wednesday. The caught catfish is 26cm long and thought to be a pest species known as brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus).
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity Manager Greg Corbett said that the pest find is very disappointing.
“Catfish have become widespread in Waikato waterways, including Lake Taupō....
Lake Tarawera story shared
4 March 2016
Farmers, ratepayers, tangata whenua and water quality experts got an opportunity to see how the Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan was developed first hand during a field trip on and around the lake today.
The trip, which was organised by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, saw the group visit the Tarawera lookout, Hot Water Beach and award-winning farm, Highlands Station.
They heard from iwi, University of Waikato...
Next step towards improving water quality in Lake Rotorua
29 February 2016
The current proposed Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management rules have been formally notified by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council today, marking the beginning of an official submission period.
The Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management rules are a proposed plan change to the Regional Water and Land Plan, and are one of four components of the integrated framework delivered by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme (RTALP) aimed at improving the water...
Warm weather prompts Rotorua lake blooms
8 January 2016
The warm summer weather has prompted a notable visible increase in various algal blooms on parts of Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera. However, the latest test results from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have not shown high levels of the potentially toxic blue-green algae.
The blooms were sighted and reported to Regional Council by members of the public living on the Ngongotahā side of Lake Rotorua and by Te Toroa Drive/Kotukutuku Bay at Lake...
Lakes competition celebrates what we love
28 December 2015
COMPETITION TIME:
Share what you love about Rotorua’s beautiful lakes this summer and be in to win a GoPro HERO and two stand up paddleboard vouchers, with the #loveourlakes Facebook competition.
All you need to do is submit a short video to our Facebook page or share your lake photos telling us your favourite lake stories and what they mean to you!
The competition runs from 29 December 2015 until 31 January 2016. For terms...
Land-use change for Lake Rotorua catchment
18 December 2015
The Resource Management Act (RMA) process for land-use change surrounding Lake Rotorua has begun with the proposed Lake Rotorua Nutrient Management Rules being unanimously adopted at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Regional Direction and Delivery Committee (RDD) meeting on Monday 14 December.
The proposed rules require on-land practices in the Lake Rotorua catchment to reduce nitrogen entering Lake Rotorua by 140 tonnes by 2032, in...
Dry conditions mean low lake levels
12 November 2015
A very dry season to date has led Bay of Plenty Regional Council to issue a low lake level notification on Lake Rotorua at the start of this month.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Principal Engineering Surveyor Graeme O’Rourke said it was early to be in this position.
“The last low lake levels notification was earlier this year, in January, and that is usually when we’d see low levels during a dry summer. But this year we are...
Report: Alum dosing not a long-term solution for lake quality
11 November 2015
A report into the effects of alum dosing in the Rotorua Te Arawa lakes has highlighted uncertainty in its long-term application and supports the need for alternative solutions to sustain water quality.
The Ecotoxicological Review of Alum Applications to the Rotorua Lakes report was produced by the University of Waikato and reviews international literature to provide guidance on a number of concerns associated with long-term alum dosing of the...
Lake quality results highlight action needed
11 September 2015
Water quality in many of the Rotorua-Te Arawa lakes has declined slightly over the past year, according to latest annual monitoring results, highlighting the importance of long-term sustainable water quality solutions.
The Trophic Level Index (TLI) for the lakes is measured annually and provides a measure of lake water quality. TLIs are calculated using four separate water quality measurements – total nitrogen, total phosphorous, water...
Taupo Lakes and Waterways Event 7th October
10 September 2015
AgResearch scientist Dr Stewart Ledgard is presenting at Taupo advocacy group Lakes and Waterways’ public event October 7th on ‘Environmental Impacts of Farm System Options from Pasture to Plate’
Dr Ledgard’s research is part of a ‘Green Growth’ study exploring specific attributes of New Zealand primary produce contributing to their provenance and perception both locally and internationally.
The study...
There is still time for talk
7 August 2015
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has made changes to the proposed draft rules in response to the the consultation process in October 2014.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chairman Doug Leeder said that over the last two and a half years they have been listening and consulting with the Rotorua community on ways to achieve a reduction in nutrient discharges into Lake Rotorua, and the form of rules “to achieve a clean lake that we can all...
#loveourlakes Story and Photo Competition
23 July 2015
The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme had a stand at the Rotorua Daily Post Home & Leisure Show and ran a prize draw for locals to go in to win a GoPro Hero Action Camera. Many stories and photos of the beautiful lakes in the region and the people who love them were submitted.
Congratulations to Manaia Witoko who is the winner of the #loveourlakes Competition.
Manaia is a Year 11 student from Rotorua...
2015 National Award Winners from Rotorua
25 June 2015
Congratulations to John and Catherine Ford who are 2015 National Ballance Farm Environment Award winners and recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy. John and Catherine Ford from Rotorua are the National Ballance Farm Environment Award winners for 2015, the first time a North Island farming business has won this award.
John and Catherine own 1240ha Highlands Station – a productive and well-maintained hill-country farm south of Rotorua....
Landowners encouraged to attend Land Use Opportunities Symposium
12 June 2015
Lake Rotorua catchment land owners will be informed and inspired about ways to reduce nitrogen discharges next week at the Land Use Opportunities Symposium on 16 – 17 June.
The free Symposium held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre has already received significant interest but more land owners are encouraged to register as space is limited. The Symposium aims to support landowners who will be affected by new nitrogen rules designed to...
Symposium to explore innovative ways to reduce nitrogen
19 May 2015
Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Grow Rotorua are hosting a free symposium in June to explore economic and environmentally sustainable farming, and business opportunities for land use change in the Lake Rotorua catchment.
Regional Council Rotorua Catchments Manager Helen Creagh said the symposium was a way to support landowners who will be affected by new nitrogen rules designed to improve water quality in Lake Rotorua.
“We (Regional...
Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Meeting
6 May 2015
The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group will meet on Friday 22nd May, 10.30am at Rotorua Lakes Council Chambers.
Read the RTALSG minutes - 10th March 2015 online.
The agenda will be made available 2 days prior to the meeting on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website.
If you have any enquiries please email info@rotorualakes.co.nz or phone 0800 884...
Public feedback sought on plan for Lake Tarawera
6 May 2015
A plan to restore water quality in Lake Tarawera has just been released for public input.
The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme has released the draft Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan and is seeking input from the community.
The Plan outlines the key challenges and proposes actions to be taken to achieve long-term sustainable water quality for the lake. Bay of Plenty Regional Council General Manager Environmental Delivery Warwick Murray...
Health warning lifted for Lake Rotoehu
21 April 2015
The health warning issued in February for Lake Rotoehu has been lifted by the Medical Officer of Health.
Results of water testing by Bay of Plenty Regional Council confirm that the algal bloom has subsided in the lake.
Despite the lifting of the warning, the public should always be cautious for signs of algal blooms if using lakes. “Algal blooms can develop rapidly and unpredictably and can sometimes produce toxins that are harmful for...
Beef + Lamb NZ Farming for Profit Field Day
8 April 2015
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Bay of Plenty invites you to a Farming for Profit field-day.
WHEN: Friday 24th April, 1pm - 4pm
WHERE: Ngati Whakaue - Wharenui Farm, 135 Wharenui Road, Rotorua
The field-day will highlight how Ngati Whakaue - Wharenui Farm located within the Rotorua catchment has successfully mitigated nutrient loss into lake Rotorua. Lee Matheson (PerrinAg) will cover the economic and environmental impacts in particular.
Part of the...
Farms in the Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera catchments win BFEA
17 March 2015
Photo Credit: BFEA
Last week the Balance Farm Environment Awards for the Bay of Plenty region were presented and two farms in our lakes catchments were announced.
John and Catherine Ford (pictured above), owners of Highlands Station in the Lake Tarawera catchment, took out the Supreme Award for 2015 while Tony and Margo Cairns owners of Oturoa Properties Limited in the Lake Rotorua catchment were winners of a Bay of Plenty Regional Council...
Health warning issued for Lake Rotoehu
16 February 2015
Bay of Plenty District Health Board has issued a health warning for Lake Rotoehu as routine monitoring results provided by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have confirmed a bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae.
“The health warning means that people should avoid any activity which results in significant contact with the lake water,” says Dr Phil Shoemack, Medical Officer of Health.
Contact with algal blooms can cause asthma...
Changes to proposed nitrogen rules
10 February 2015
Feedback sought from the public on proposed land use rules to limit nitrogen loss in to Lake Rotorua has lead to recommended changes passed by Bay of Plenty Regional Council Regional Direction and Delivery Committee in December last year. Last week Rotorua Lakes Councillors were presented with the same update on the recommendations at their Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee. The next step would be to present these reports to the Rotorua Te...
Symposium on lake water quality to focus on weeds and wallabies
29 January 2015
Lakes Water Quality Society presents a symposium on Thursday 12 March and Friday 13 March 2015 in Rotorua, proudly supported by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The symposium will have two themes: dealing with Lake Weed, and the problem of animal pests in forested lake catchments.
Papers will be based on the best New Zealand and international expertise. They will discuss dealing with Lake Weed – both practical and theoretical...
Public warning after discolouring of water in Lake Tarawera
9 January 2015
Bay of Plenty Regional Council recommends the public avoid swimming or drinking water from Lake Tarawera after residents from Te Rata Bay/Hot Water Beach reported discolouring of the water to staff earlier today.
Geothermal activity is a possible cause for the white, milky appearance and water samples have been taken to test for what is also suspected algal blooms. The test results are not due back until next week at which point the public will...
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