Quizzed on how to improve the city’s nightlife, Barrett said that in interactions across the country she had been told by people they “are scared to come to Rotorua”.

She said Rotorua needed a return to community values in order to “rebuild and reconnect our reputation that it is safe, and you will be looked after”.

Lee linked Rotorua’s image problems to contracted emergency housing motels.

“It has harmed our reputation and hurt us so badly,” he said.

“We can’t be a thriving tourist destination and simultaneously be a thriving social housing destination.”

He said a choice had to be made and he “chose tourism”.

Tapsell pointed to the recent decrease in the number of contracted emergency housing motels to five, with the aim of reducing to two special needs emergency housing options by the end of the year.

She said Rotorua would continue to “help people in need”.

According to previous Local Democracy Reporting coverage, prior to the 2022 election, Rotorua’s pre-election report highlighted the city’s plight when it came to crime and safety.

Rotorua had the joint-second-lowest approval rating across the country when it came to crime. One factor the 2022 report attributed this to was the “clusters of motels” used for emergency and transitional housing associated with antisocial behaviour and crime.

Rotorua data from New Zealand Police shows a 2.5% drop in all crimes in the year to July 2025, compared with the preceding 12 months. However, crimes against a person, including violent crimes like assault, increased by 0.79%.

Velocity Valley managing director Simon Short, who was at the meeting, told Local Democracy Reporting on Tuesday there had “definitely” been improvements in Rotorua.

He believed Rotorua was now suffering from a “perception” issue, with “negative” media reporting not helping.

“Rotorua’s image needs to be improved,” he said.

“Every single town has the same problems but in Rotorua the perception seems to be amplified.

“It’s not a true perception of what the town is like, it’s a beautiful city.”

Candidates at Monday’s meeting also fielded questions on adventure tourism, RotoruaNZ funding and revenue generation.

Haydn Marriner, chairman of the Backpacker Youth and Adventure Tourism Association, was a moderator on the evening. He said it was ”vital” to hear from the candidates and hoped young and adventure travellers would be considered as a key demographic in future.

“They make up 25% of New Zealand’s market, spend more on leisure, drive social media advocacy, and present the biggest growth potential, especially as Rotorua sits at just 85% of pre-Covid international arrivals.”

Mayoral candidate Don Paterson could not attend due to a family emergency. He provided a pre-recorded video that detailed TV and film productions, a revitalised events calendar, golf tourism and upscaling the airport as his four key tourism platforms.

Shakaina Fraser did not attend.

The event was co-hosted by the Rotorua Tourism Investment Partnership and the Backpacker Youth and Adventure Tourism Association.

Voting in Rotorua’s local elections remains open until October 11.

Mathew Nash is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. He has previously written for SunLive, been a regular contributor to RNZ and was a football reporter in the UK for eight years.

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.