“This created potential safety risks for people, nearby buildings, and infrastructure.”
She said the council understood people may have questions about the work.
“Our priority is to manage the situation safely, minimise disruption where possible, and keep the community informed throughout the process.”
Kelly said the bore closures impacted the apartments as well as three businesses: The Fat Brother Rotorua, Lady Janes Ice Cream Parlour and Ambrosia Restaurant and Bar.
Kelly said the council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and WorkSafe had been working together on this since 2024 and maintaining regular communication with the apartments’ body corporate and neighbouring businesses.
“Discussions have focused on the expiry of the bores’ consents, their deteriorating condition, and their proximity to the apartment complex, surrounding businesses and a public walkway.”
Kelly said the body corporate and neighbouring businesses were advised that alternative heating and water sources needed to be arranged.
In February this year, the council formally gave them notice that both bores needed to be permanently closed by the end of April 2026.
“This timeframe was provided to allow sufficient opportunity for alternative heating and water arrangements to be put in place.”
Kelly said the council had not received a response from the body corporate before Monday this week but neighbouring businesses had secured alternative services and arrangements.
“Rotorua Lakes Council remains committed to working constructively with the body corporate and will continue to support a safe and practical transition wherever possible.”
Kelly said the council worked directly with bore owners, who were responsible for communicating with their tenants and occupants.
“We will continue to provide updates to the community as further information becomes available.”
Under the Rotorua District Council Geothermal Bylaw 2016, Rotorua Lakes Council has a responsibility to protect public safety and ensure the safe operation and proper maintenance of shallow geothermal production and re-injection bores, including associated headworks, pipework and plant.
“The decision to permanently close these bores has been made with public safety as the primary consideration.”
Kelly said geothermal systems were naturally unpredictable and while the exact nature of a failure could not be determined, the Whakaue St bores presented a level of risk that required them to be safely closed.
Since June 2025, 15 ageing or deteriorating bores have been closed and eight have been replaced.
The bore sprang into life at a marae on Tārewa Rd. Photo / Ben Fraser
At the start of this month, a private geothermal bore failed at Tārewa Pounamu Marae on Tārewa Rd.
The bore erupted with a geyser-like display, shooting a mud substance towards nearby buildings and vehicles. At least five buildings were affected, including a kaumātua flat and an office.
Using geothermal resources as an affordable source of heating is not unusual in central Rotorua, which sits on a large geothermal system.
The impacts of losing geothermal
A resident at the Whakaue St apartments said arrangements for alternative heating had not yet been made.
The resident said they were disappointed the work could not be delayed until after winter.
A spokesman for the body corp said they did not want to comment.
Ambrosia Restaurant and Bar owner Kris Beehre said he was advised of the change via the property manager about six months ago.
He said they had a new gas water heating system installed and had ordered heat pumps but unfortunately, these had been delayed.
Beehre said the business was using other heaters to keep the premises warm until the heat pumps arrived.
He said the heat pumps alone cost $15,000 and the monthly power bill and gas bill for the water would now be significantly higher.
He said it was always a risk when using geothermal that it could one day be gone.
“It would have been nicer if it had been delayed until after winter though.”
He said he would miss having geothermal heating operating “24/7″.
“The place was always warm.”
No one at The Fat Brother Rotorua could be contacted for comment and a spokeswoman from Lady Janes Ice Cream Parlour said the business was not impacted.
In response to comments about waiting until after winter, Kelly said: “We understand this may be frustrating for some, particularly at this time of year. However, our priority is to manage the situation safely, and we believe it’s best to act early rather than risk acting too late.”
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.