Rotorua's Mayor says the city is turning around its problems with emergency housing motels. 

Resource consent applications are being sent to the Rotorua Lakes Council for seven motels for up to 549 people in 186 units.  

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development says it intends to stop referring people to emergency housing by July next year.  

Mayor Tania Tapsell told Kerre Woodham there's been a definite change during her time in office.  

She says there's been a 60% reduction in emergency housing motels . 

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