Following a public outcry, Rotorua Lakes Council has decided not to use imported Korean mud in December's Mudtopia festival.
Rotorua Lakes Council's Acting Group Manager Operations Henry Weston says ongoing public concern regarding the importation of cosmetic mud powder from South Korea prompted the decision.
'We will now run the festival without it. This decision follows a meeting with the event's advisory board and delivery partners.”
Mudtopia was inspired by the Boryeong mud festival, and the purchase of highly-treated cosmetic grade mud powder was part of a reciprocal arrangement with Boryeong in exchange for intellectual property, advice and promotion of the Rotorua event.
The festival team had been working with the Ministry for Primary Industries for over a year to ensure there would be no biosecurity risk and the product's importation was subject to meeting all border requirements.
'We were satisfied with MPI processes and requirements which would have ensured the safety of the imported cosmetic mud powder. However, given the heightened public unease and the importance of needing to alleviate that, we have made the decision to proceed without the imported product,” says Henry.
'Our contacts in Boryeong have been informed and we will now work with them on a new agreement reflective of the importance of the partnership. Their expertise and advice has been crucial, enabling us to establish the Rotorua festival.
'Our focus now is on delivering an outstanding event.”
9 comments
The right decision
Posted on 07-08-2017 16:33 | By Border Patrol
Thank goodness for that- I would say the final decision was based on a commercial basis, as the negative publicity would have impacted profitability, but at least the council have seen sense. I wonder how much this change to the "reciprocal agreement" will cost the taxpayer?
Congratulations on a wise decision
Posted on 07-08-2017 16:44 | By Papamoaner
Common sense has prevailed. I don't know anything about mud, but as a hobbyist amateur beekeeper, this sounded to me a bit like importing hives from an area that has American Foulbrood. No thanks.
Hooray
Posted on 07-08-2017 18:27 | By overit
Sense at last-its too risky.
The Right Decision
Posted on 07-08-2017 19:04 | By backofthequeue
Rotorua MP Todd McClay said it best when he stated "the issue was becoming a distraction to what is otherwise a great idea".
Sounds Great
Posted on 07-08-2017 23:35 | By MISS ADVENTURE
So perhaps Tauranga Council could "jump in" to this one as a Xmas bonanza tourist attraction? If they throw a bit of folded stuff at it then volunteer to be lassooed in the middle of it. Then run a raffle or even better an auction of who gets to throw the first bucket of mud at teh Councillors, Garry, Kirsty and a few others. What fun it would be and for a change a few true colours would be revealed and it would just have to turn a profit, now that would be something really amazing.
great
Posted on 08-08-2017 15:26 | By Capt_Kaveman
Now who ever it was that come up with the idea should be booted to the curb
It's really quite sad........
Posted on 08-08-2017 23:13 | By groutby
....how this could have actually been considered and accepted in the first place, ..only to realise that it was always a nutty idea right from the start. (Isn't that why we ratepayers employ Council?..to make the logical decisions?)...OMG...what happens about the really important decisions made for us ??...
So they finally realised...
Posted on 10-08-2017 17:14 | By GreertonBoy
BIO-SECURITY means mud as well as fruit and dead animals and stuff? Whew! Sanity prevails... The council will have to pat each other on the back and give themselves a pay rise for being so clever and avoiding a disaster?
Whoever proposed this....
Posted on 10-08-2017 20:09 | By GreertonBoy
Needs an IQ test real quick.... Look at the beautiful mud we have here already, find some of the pink and white terrace mud from the buried village and use that? People will come from miles around to play in it... People who bathed at the pink and white terraces before they got buried thought it had some therapeutic qualities, like the mount hot pools... I reckon we have perfect mud... should sell some to Korea
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