This year looks set to be another good one for the Rotorua district, according to the latest Infometrics quarterly economic report.

The just-released report for the March 2017 quarter shows the Rotorua economy has continued to perform well.

Mayor Steve Chadwick says it reinforces the need for ongoing investment in the district's infrastructure and the future planning currently underway.

'Rotorua is changing, growing and progressing and that has brought new challenges, increasing pressure on infrastructure like roading networks, public amenities, public facilities and housing,” says Steve.

'Our population has passed 70,000, reversing a pre-2014 decade of decline, and we've seen considerable tourism growth.

'Future planning is needed to ensure the district can continue to be successful and we're doing that through the refresh of our 2030 vision and development of a spatial plan that takes a long-term view and will provide a blueprint for strategic, sustainable development.

'We also need to future-proof our infrastructure with long-term solutions now. That will require assistance from central government and we continue to lobby for ongoing investment in our district.”

The Infometrics Quarterly Economic Monitor for Rotorua for the March 2017 quarter says the district's economy has continued to perform well recently, with strength in a range of economic indicators contributing to a provisional GDP growth estimate of 3.1 per cent in the year to March 2017.

Rotorua's GDP growth compares to 3.4 per cent growth for the Bay of Plenty Region (including Rotorua) and is slightly higher than the national estimated growth of 2.9 per cent.

Accommodation and food services sectors are expected to benefit from an ongoing influx of tourists with a particular boost likely when the British & Irish Lions play the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua.

'Confidence about the prospects for tourism is certainly illustrated by the current refurbishment of the former Zen Centre into a five-star hotel to be run by Accor,” the report says. 'A positive outlook for forestry and associated wood product processing also bodes well for the district.”