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NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Hobson's Pledge use of Rotorua kuia's image: Whānau consider legal options
He would not name the advertising agency. Hobson's Pledge came under fire after billboards around New Zealand, including in Rotorua, Hamilton, Whangārei and Christchurch, showed a photograph of grandmother Ellen Tamati with her moko kauae with the words alongside her image, 'My mana doesn't need a mandate, vote no to Māori wards'. The image was taken by travel photographer Rafael Ben Ari at the Waitangi Day celebrations in 2025 and, among others, was licensed to stock image websites iStock by Getty and Shutterstock. They were labelled for 'editorial use only'. Tamati said she completely disagreed with the billboard's message and never gave permission for her photo to be used in a political way, a breach of the websites' conditions. The photographer could not be contacted. Tamati, aged in her 70s, is distraught after what her whānau say were actions that trampled on her mana. Hobson's Pledge said in a statement that it immediately removed the billboards when it discovered Tamati was upset. The statement said it would reach out privately to Tamati to ensure she was okay. Tamati's granddaughter, Anahera Parata, said yesterday that her grandmother had not received an apology. Brash told the Rotorua Daily Post earlier that afternoon that Hobson's Pledge had not yet personally apologised to Tamati. 'I'm not sure we know how to contact her ... New Zealand's a big country.' When the Rotorua Daily Post said it found Tamati's whānau members online within minutes of looking, Brash said: 'We will work harder then'. Brash contacted the Rotorua Daily Post later yesterday afternoon to say a team member had contacted someone they thought was a relativewho told them 'in more dramatic words' to 'get lost'. 'It's about tīkanga' Parata said her grandmother was isolating herself. 'She's not doing too great ... She wants it all to go away.' Parata said the whānau engaged a lawyer to look at their options. 'My nan, she just wants it to be gone. She is not one to want for money, never has been, it is about tīkanga and what they [have] done is wrong.' She said the whānau had not heard from Hobson's Pledge and were not sure yet how they were going to respond. 'We have told her to turn her phone off and rest.' A legal view Lawyer Tania Waikato, who has published research on Māori intellectual property issues, said in her opinion the stock image websites were clear that the photo was for 'editorial use only' and could not be used in the manner they were. Waikato said 'serious questions' should be raised around Hobson's Pledge's assertions it had done nothing wrong. Lawyer Tania Waikato says "serious questions" should be raised. Photo / File She said both websites stated 'editorial use only' content referred to images and videos that did not have a 'model or property release on file'. She said this meant they could not be used for commercial, promotional, or advertising purposes without permission, particularly from a person in the photo. She said those types of images often portrayed real-world people, places, events and things and were intended to be used only in connection with events that were newsworthy or of general interest. 'This photo of Whaea Ellen was taken at Waitangi in 2025, which is the context and event that it might have been used for – stories about Waitangi Day." She said users of these websites have an option to purchase a further licence that could potentially allow them to use 'editorial use only' photos for commercial uses (such as billboard advertising), but Hobson's Pledge did not appear to have provided any documentary proof that this type of licence was obtained. In any event, Waikato said, both websites were clear that such photos could not be used in a defamatory way, or specifically in the Shutterstock licence 'in a political context, such as the promotion, advertisement or endorsement of any party, candidate, or elected official, or in connection with any political policy or viewpoint'. 'All of these points raise serious questions as to whether Hobson's Pledge did in fact secure all rights to use the photo as they have claimed they did and warrant further investigation.' A Hobson's Pledge newsletter sent on Thursday afternoon and attributed to Brash said the group would be getting new billboard designs completed in the next couple of days and hoped to have them back up next week. Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Homeless man jailed for spreading poo around Rotorua police cell
On May 8, he was in a parking building on Pukuatua St in Rotorua and defecated in it, making it clear to the CCTV cameras that he was there. On May 12, he walked past a Rotorua Lakes Council-employed City Guardian and verbally abused him. He also threatened to injure him by cutting off his nose and eating it. Judge Hollister-Jones said Smith was taken to the Rotorua Police station and put in a cell, where he defecated and spread the faeces throughout the cell. 'The odour caused significant disruption in the custody facility and had to be cleaned.' There was a breach of release conditions by failing to report. Judge Hollister-Jones described Smith as having a 'very concerning criminal history' including 18 previous convictions for intentional or wilful damage, 14 convictions for threatening or offensive behaviour, two for assaulting a prison officer and seven for disorderly behaviour or fighting. The Rotorua Public Library. Photo / Andrew Warner Smith's lawyer, Grace Banuelos, accepted her client would be sentenced to jail but asked the time be reduced given Smith's mental health. Judge Hollister-Jones said while there was no long-term damage to the cell, Smith's actions caused significant disruption to the custody centre for several hours. From a starting sentence of eight months' jail, the judge added time for the other offences and Smith's record, and gave a discount for the guilty pleas. Smith was sentenced to 12 months' jail. Judge Hollister-Jones noted Smith didn't recognise his mental health issues and didn't take medication. He described aspects of Smith's pre-sentence report, which the judge didn't divulge in open court, as 'deeply disturbing'. He said he would impose 'onerous' release conditions to protect the public, including GSP monitoring, not entering Gisborne without prior written approval and engaging with a psychologist. Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
NZ Herald
30-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Rotorua letters to the editor: Number of homeless a shocking reflection
Rotorua's growing number of homeless (many of whom are aged over 50) is a shocking reflection on this city and - specifically - on both Rotorua Lakes Council and the current government. Roll on the local body elections! Jackie Evans Pukehangi Boost for inner city Re Shake-up for inner-city parking (Rotorua Daily Post, July 11). I think it is an absolutely brilliant idea (which) would stop me dreading going into the city centre and it would make the city centre compete with the malls again. Everybody likes a level playing field, it would boost the inner city business no end. Gavin Muir Springfield Fair deal for retirees What an excellent article by Shane Te Pou on the subject of retirement village charges, especially highlighting the costs if one has to sell the unit (Opinion, July 14). Ingrid Leary's new Member's Bill is well overdue as this has been the case for years now and should be a priority for this Government. Anne Foale Tikitere Bigger issues than butter So why the obsession with the price of butter for goodness' sake? It is but one factor in the overall cost of living crisis, and while its financial gymnastics have a media following worthy of the once youthful Olga Korbut, hasn't the Minister of Finance got much bigger issues to deal with? Or has she been sucked into the trivia the media seeks to blind us with when there are much bigger issues at hand? We live in a big world of injustices, crime, bumpy roads, desperate health care shortages, global warming ... and we focus on the price of butter? Or is it perhaps that it's all a bit too hard and the reality has set in, that no government can fix this broken world, so we'll bury our head in Fonterra's chest and cry 'injustice'? John Williams Ngongotahā The Rotorua Daily Post welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following:
NZ Herald
18-07-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Rotorua Lakes Council pauses $10m reserve upgrade, citing budget issues
It aimed to improve safety for children by separating vehicle access from the playground area. Vehicles towing boats currently pass right by where children play, and shifting the boating area would reduce risk. Deputy Mayor Sandra Kai Fong, who put forward the notice of motion to 'pause' the project, said projects not deemed essential would fall 'below the line'. She described plans to 'simply move a jetty' and relocate a car park as a 'nice to have at the moment'. Kai Fong said the project hadn't come to their attention during Long-Term Plan deliberations because it had been under the 'different heading of Parks and Reserves'. Councillor Don Paterson said he only recently learned of upgrade plans and found it 'quite confusing' it had 'never come before us'. Councillors Robert Lee and Don Paterson in a March 2025 workshop. Photo / Laura Smith Waikawau Reserve Management Committee chair Nireaha Pirika told the Rotorua Daily Post the pause 'was not well received around the committee table'. He could not understand how some councillors did not seem know anything about the $10m upgrade. Pirika said the plans for the reserve had been worked on for several years. The reserve committee was formed in 2019 with representatives from Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi, and the Eastside Community Collective. The motion to pause had been late notice, Pirika said. Rotorua Lakes Council supported and adopted the management plan of the reserve in June that same year. A council spokesperson said the funding had been included in the approved 2023-24 Long-Term Plan. The reserve committee was informed on June 18 when the notice of motion was publicly notified. The spokesperson said more than $1m had already been spent on the reserve, which would continue to be maintained under the council's regular reserve maintenance programme. Councillor Robert Lee at a July meeting. Photo / Laura Smith Councillor Robert Lee is on the Waikawau/Hannahs Bay Reserve Committee and said in the meeting he raised questions about the project's funding nine months ago. He was surprised the funding hadn't come before councillors earlier. 'It's only right and proper that we do pause work at this time until it is properly consulted,' Lee said. Lee said the committee had gone through a lot of trouble to develop a master plan that had been progressed 'an awful long way down the path'. He said significant progress already made included the establishment of wetlands as part of an arrangement when Rotorua Airport was extended. The reserve committee's vice-chair, Ralph Mosen, called the decision to pause the project 'a waste of funds'. He claimed some of the work would need to be redone when the project eventually resumed. The council confirmed a significant amount of work in the reserve was already complete, but said concept designs for further development would not be wasted if the project was reconsidered in the future. Mosen said the board remained committed to the upgrade but expected the process would now be delayed for 'quite some' time. Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke's Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- RNZ News
Around the motu: Kelly Mahika on Rotorua
Kelly discusses how Rotorua's homeless are being taken at night to sleep in small pods at a remote area, street racer problems near Mamaku and the planned return of the paddleboat, the Lakeland Queen, to Lake Rotorua. Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist with the Rotorua Daily Post To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
