Plans for new $1million HQ for St John in Rotorua appear to be moving slowly.

In April 2017, St John announced plans to leave its Pererika St site of many years for new buildings at Te Ngae near and Fairy Springs Road.

While plans to take over a building at Te Ngae had fallen through, another building was being sought.

St John also eyed a disused building VTNZ (Vehicle Testing New Zealand) used for issuing or declining warrants of fitness, and plans were progressing.

Ross Burns, St John Rotorua area committee chair, said egress and entry points along Fairy Springs were still being investigated.

'The Te Ngae Rd building was sold – bought as what we called a spoke* station [specifically for St John use]. It was a trial for a spoke,” says Ross.

The set-up of the building was not found big enough for a hub. 'We decided you look for another station for a possible hub site.”

Purchase of the vehicle testing building along Fairy Springs Road has been confirmed.

'We're getting a resource consent to change the egress and access to Fairy Springs Road.”

St John presently wanted to assess traffic flows north and south along busy Fairy Springs Road.

'We want to see if the ambulance can come out and be able to turn south across the aisle along Fairy Springs Road. So, there's a little but that's underway at the moment.”

*A ‘spoke' building is one where ambulance officers remain for their respective shifts. Spoke buildings worked well in Auckland; Rotorua needed a similar main hub.

The two buildings on either flank of Lake Rotorua were a geographical necessity.