Rotorua Council to Apologize Over Rejected Lakeland Queen Petition

Origins of the Lakeland Queen Dispute at the Rotorua Lakefront

The controversy stems from late 2023, when longtime tourism operator Terry Hammond approached councillor Robert Lee with deep concerns regarding how the council handled his paddle steamer and its operational future at the newly redeveloped Rotorua lakefront. According to Robert Lee, Hammond had operated the Lakeland Queen business for more than three decades before COVID-19 forced the enterprise into hibernation. The dispute intensified when the council required Hammond to fund a replacement jetty before the historic vessel could resume sailing, alongside mounting pressure to remove the paddle boat from its dry-dock site.

Acting on Robert Lee’s advice, Hammond organized a petition that gathered hundreds of signatures. However, when the document was presented for the council’s infrastructure and environment committee in December 2023, officials rejected it on the grounds that it sat outside the local authority’s scope. Recalling his reaction to that rejection, Robert Lee stated, He prepared his petition, he got hundreds of signatures, and I was surprised – dismayed, actually – when our council refused to accept his petition. Lee added, It was claimed that it was outside the scope of council, which I found baffling. He further noted, It’s not like the Lakeland Queen jetty is found in the Chatham Islands or something.

The Ombudsman Investigation and Council Reversal

Following the rejection in December 2023, Robert Lee lodged a formal complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman challenging the council’s stance. On June 29 of this year, Chief Ombudsman John Allen released his final opinion, ruling that the petition fell squarely within the council’s jurisdiction and determining that the decision to decline it was unreasonable.

When the motion was brought before the chambers at Wednesday’s council meeting, it passed with unanimous support from all elected members present, with the exception of Karen Barker and Gregg Brown. Urging his fellow members to support the resolution, Robert Lee framed it as a chance to fix past errors. I would ask that we do the right thing, he told councillors, describing the Ombudsman’s ruling as an opportunity to right a historical wrong.

Chief executive Andrew Moraes clarified to the elected members that the council ultimately received the petition in question in April 2024. It was subsequently received and approved by myself, Moraes explained, noting that he had not been employed at the Rotorua Lakes Council when the initial petition was turned away in 2023. Moraes also pointed out that the Ombudsman acknowledged the council’s subsequent acceptance of the paperwork as the correct administrative move.

Despite this later submission, Robert Lee emphasized that the April 2024 petition was actually delivered by the “Save Our Iconic Lakeland Queen” group rather than Terry Hammond himself, even though it used identical wording and signatories. Because of this administrative detour, Lee argued that Hammond never received the chance to personally speak to elected representatives about the document he originally built. This is really intended to give Terry his first opportunity to address us, as he should have been able to in December 2023, Lee said.

Mayor Tania Tapsell and Terry Hammond React to the Apology

Mayor Tania Tapsell stated that she felt perfectly comfortable issuing the apology to Hammond. This stance came despite the Chief Ombudsman stopping short of formally recommending an apology, noting that the circumstances surrounding the tourism vessel had moved on considerably since the initial dispute began. Terry Hammond’s company ultimately entered liquidation in 2024, prompting him to sell the paddle boat. Under new ownership, the vessel resumed cruise operations before being listed for sale once again.

Mayor Tapsell maintained that apologizing was the right path to wrap up the lingering issue and confirmed her support for bringing Hammond back to the council table. Responding to the council’s resolution, Terry Hammond expressed appreciation for the decision. I think it’s very respectful, he told Local Democracy Reporting, welcoming the chance to finally speak directly to elected officials.

While Hammond declined to detail the exact arguments he plans to present, he hinted that he intends to question the communication channels between council staff and elected members throughout the entire Lakeland Queen saga. Hammond is scheduled to appear before councillors to deliver a five-minute address at the upcoming full council meeting on September 23.