Rotorua Daily Post
‘End of a chapter’
Skyline Rotorua is to close its mountain bike park to focus on new developments at its Mt Ngongotahā site. Mountain bikers will have a year to make the most of the park, which hosts international mountain biking event Crankworx, with closure of the...
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New scheme helps firms cut through CV deluge
Hundreds of job applications were “overwhelming” a Rotorua businesswoman looking for a few casual staff. Postie store manager Tracey Dunbar said she would only read the first 10 applications and choose from those because it was “too much”. Dunbar...
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New houses planned for iwi land
Ngāti Whakaue says it is looking to ease Rotorua’s housing shortage and create a brighter path for its people by building a new “community” on iwi land at Ngongotahā. Details of a 38-home project were revealed to just under 40 locals at a public...
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Dutch and Māori family united over WWII bravery medal
Residents of the wider Bay of Plenty will no longer be guaranteed free entry into the Rotorua Museum once it reopens after agreement to remove this condition from a $4.1 million grant. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council agreed last week to remove the...
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Kapa haka results under fire
Organisers of Te Arawa’s regional kapa haka event are being asked to rethink the results of its kaumātua section, days after they apologised for making an error in announcing the overall winners. Ngāti Rangiwewehi Pakeke say they were disqualified for...
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Bay’s baby bump
Birth rates in the Bay of Plenty have risen in the past decade, but experts say rising living costs are “without a doubt” reshaping residents’ family plans. According to the latest data from Stats NZ, 57,705 live births were registered in New Zealand...
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Te Arawa trust buys Rotorua Duck Tours
Aleading Rotorua iwi entity has made an “exciting” move to buy one of the city’s most iconic tourism businesses. Te Arawa Management Ltd, the commercial arm of Te Arawa Lakes Trust, has bought Rotorua Duck Tours –a 23-year-old business involving...
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Cemetery a ‘mess'
Weeds growing “higher than headstones” and other recent maintenance issues at Rotorua cemeteries have left mourners disappointed. Rotorua Lakes Council says the issue is good growing conditions, rather than any cutbacks, and issues are addressed...
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Sister heartbroken after memorial disappears
Amemorial tribute to a deaf and blind man killed after a hit-and-run in Rotorua last year has been stripped less than a year after his death. The entirety of the memorial, including hand-crafted items left at the Edmund Rd pedestrian crossing in...
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‘Red flags’: The search for Jayleb
Aaron Dean and his sister knocked on the door of the man who was last with their brother, Jayleb-che Dean. They were calm, Aaron said, but desperate for answers. Jayleb had connected with the man on a dating app and arranged to meet on Tuesday,...
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Council trims rates rise
Rotorua Lakes Council has reduced the proposed average rates increase for the 2026/27 Annual Plan to about 6.8%, following deliberations at Wednesday’s council meeting. The most recent prior projection had the council tracking for a 10.8% rise, but...
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‘Energy security is paramount’
Projects exploring potential new geothermal power station sites in the Bay of Plenty will receive a $20 million Government loan. Regional Development and Resources Minister Shane Jones announced the loan at an event in Rotorua on Tuesday , as well as a...
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Teen admits charge over mate’s crash death
Ateen driver was travelling at more than 130km/h with his mate in the passenger seat when he lost control, hit a bank, and rolled the car. Johdeci Te Kani, 17, had been drinking, had cannabis in his system, and was driving a Toyota Starlet with one...
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Silver boom
The Rotorua retirement village sector has invested millions of dollars in expansions and new units to help meet growing demand. Despite the sector’s expansion, “new supply is still not keeping up with the projected need”, the Retirement Villages...
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Touch move criticised
Teams are criticising a decision to move a national schools’ tournament from Rotorua to Gisborne, with concern some will be priced out or unable to find accommodation. The New Zealand Secondary Schools Touch Championships will be held in Gisborne in...
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Residents push back against Rotorua bin changes
Rotorua Lakes Council is backing its move to fortnightly general rubbish collection despite an online clamour to reconsider. Following consultation in 2022, the council decided to change the city’s future kerbside waste system, introducing a food...
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Te Arawa pride
It was 28 years ago at kapa haka nationals when legendary entertainer Sir Howard Morrison whispered in the ear of his son: “You need to do something to inspire your team.” Howie Morrison jnr walked on to the finals stage with his Ngāti Rangiwewehi...
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‘Out the gate’
Motorists are rushing to fill their tanks as petrol prices soar with the conflict in the Middle East pushing up the price of oil. And Rotorua businesses have been warned they could be heavily impacted by high prices. Oil prices surged over 25% on...
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Web of deceit
Fashion designer Kharl Wirepa spent thousands of dollars raised for charity by his Miss Rotorua Pageant contestants, on himself, it can now be revealed. On the day his trial was to start, the Rotorua former reality TV show star changed his pleas to...
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‘Caught our hearts’
Rotorua has earned the reputation of being a “very welcoming” city for migrants, with people from 66 countries now calling it home. The city’s population is expected to rise steadily in the next 30 years, with growing migrant diversity helping shape...
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Girl scarred for life
TWarning: Graphic image inside he mother of a 6-year-old child scarred for life after a relative’s dog bit her face is disappointed authorities have not ordered that the dog be destroyed. The 2024 incident has come to light after the dog’s Rotorua...
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‘It’s fantastic to see’
Rotorua hotels have spent millions of dollars on refurbishments as visitor demand rebounds to preCovid levels. Millennium Hotel Rotorua has completed its “largest upgrade in nearly 20 years”, Regent of Rotorua is hosting more than 3000 extra people...
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‘Prolific’ dealer ran drug window from CBD shop
A“prolific” drug dealer peddling thousands of dollars of methamphetamine and liquid ecstasy from his central Rotorua shop boasted he was the “best at this” in town. Now Jeremy David Jones, 48, is behind bars awaiting sentencing after admitting in the...
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‘A very long fight’
Australian citizen Ned Kelly, 91, lived in New Zealand for 66 years. His niece Kylie Cook says he paid taxes here, owned property, used the public health system, collected superannuation and essentially enjoyed the same privileges as a New...
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Club fights to reclaim facility after feud
ARotorua rugby league club has called on the council to end a seven-year wait to return to a clubhouse abandoned amid an inter-club feud. Central Rugby League Club was founded in 1969, but split into two factions in 2017 after an internal dispute,...
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‘Nowhere else to turn’
Adisabled teenager with the developmental age of a 13-month-old has been living in Rotorua Hospital for more than five months after his mother had “nowhere else to turn” for help. Taupō mother Melissa Humphrey told the Rotorua Daily Post she admitted...
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100-PLUS NEW BUILDS
More than 100 new Kāinga Ora houses will be ready for individuals and families to move in this year in Rotorua, with major projects nearing completion. Building work has started on the final stage of Kāinga Ora’s significant development on the corner...
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Push to fix late-night booze sale loophole
Rotorua Lakes Council is considering standardising offlicence closing times after a loophole in a new alcohol policy allowed some stores to trade later.. In January, the council opened consultation on a proposed amendment to its Local Alcohol Policy...
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Guardian admits role in 8-year-old’s death
On November 15, 2024, Pauline Timu put Rickah’shae KeefeHaerewa in the back of her car, after he’d allegedly suffered a serious assault at the hands of another person. But rather than race to Whakatāne Hospital, she pulled over for between seven and...
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Govt’s ‘move on’ law welcomed by some
Some in Rotorua are rejoicing in new laws that will allow police to “move on” beggars and homeless people, but Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi has called the legislation “disgusting”. The Government announced the crackdown on beggars, rough sleepers and...
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Hastings claims downhill
Top seed Jenna Hastings was the fastest woman on the Redemption Downhill course at Christchurch Adventure Park for Crankworx. She secured her third medal of the week after clinching gold in the Air Downhill and silver in the Pump Track Challenge. ■...
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Mayor plans fifth trip to China to put city on map
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell will travel to China next month as the city seeks to rebuild a tourism market during the Covid-19 paneroded demic. Tapsell will attend a tourism roadshow from March 21 to April 2. She will visit Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu...
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Dad alarmed by leaky baby unit
The father of a premature baby staying in Rotorua Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit has raised the alarm over rainwater leaks, a broken security door and what he described as “rotten floors” in the facility. Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora said safety...
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‘I try to say it how it is’
Superintendent Tim Anderson stands in front of a media conference near the scene of the Mauao slip that claimed six lives and answers questions calmly and genuinely. He’s not speaking like a cop, who are often drilled to choose their words...
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Rest home on trial
ARotorua rest home will go on trial in October after Worksafe brought a charge alleging failings with its smoking policy, following the death of a resident after a fire. Heritage Lifecare (trading as Cantabria Lifecare & Village) has denied the charge...
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Rotorua Museum exhibition funding
A breakdown of the external funders for this project: • $450,000 — Baytrust • $200,000 — Joe and Jo-anne La Grouw (via Rotorua Museum Centennial Trust) • $181,700 — Rotorua Trust • $100,000 — Phillip Verry Foundation (via Rotorua Museum Centennial...
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Teen driver dies fleeing forest security guards
Ateen driver was on his learner’s licence, driving late at night while on an illegal hunting trip, when he decided to flee a security team. It was a decision that cost him his life. As he continued to drive at a speed above what was safe for the road,...
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‘Entirely flawed’
Several Bay of Plenty regional councillors have expressed dismay at a local government overhaul proposed by central government, labelling it “fundamentally” flawed, potentially expensive and lacking Māori representation. Councillors gave feedback on a...
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Frantic dash to save Malakai
Rotorua parents Tearren Nanjan and Wiremu Tango thought their 3-month-old son Malakai had the flu when he had a runny nose, a cough and wasn’t eating. A week later, the family were being airlifted to Auckland’s Starship children’s hospital for a...
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‘Appalling waste’
After pouring more than $11 million into a Rotorua motel complex for the homeless, Kāinga Ora has decided to tear it down and put the Fenton St site on the market. While the purchase and subsequent renovating of the former Boulevard Motel has been...
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Rotorua weighs move to phase out parking coins
Using coins to pay for parking in Rotorua could be phased out as the council seeks public feedback on a potential city parking shake-up. Coin payments are one part of a wider review also looking at parking fees, time limits, payment technology, worker...
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‘Truly beautiful woman with a heart of gold’
Family and friends say Sharlene Smith was a beautiful woman with a heart of gold who opened her heart and home to children. Now those who loved her are grappling with the shock that her death is the centre of a Hawke’s Bay homicide investigation. The...
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Instructors welcome shake-up to licences
Three Bay of Plenty driving school owners say they endorse the change to the driving licence system that will extend the period for learner drivers and restricted drivers under 25 by six months. Transport Minister Chris Bishop has announced major...
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Council warns motels
two Rotorua motels have been operating as Ministry of Social Development emergency housing without proper resource consent, the local council says. Rotorua Lakes Council has confirmed it will approach the motels to become compliant, something the...
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STILL TICKING
Time has been influential for Rotorua local Bill Groves since 1926. For nearly 80 years, the former watchmaker helped keep other people on schedule, repairing watches and clocks until three years ago. His work ranged from delicate wristwatches to...
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Rafting merger faces scrutiny
Aproposal to merge all of Rotorua’s commercial rafting operators is before the Commerce Commission. The application has the backing of Rotorua Lakes Council’s tourism arm, Rotoruanz, but the commission is examining whether the deal could reduce...
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Maketū death: Trio lied
Three Mongrel Mob members were driving a badly injured associate to Rotorua Hospital when they pulled over and made a plan. They decided to tell the police Zain Taikato Fox had been hit by a car. The patched gang members now admit they lied to police...
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Civil Defence defends Rotorua emergency call
Civil Defence has defended its decision to include Rotorua in last month’s state of emergency after the district was left largely unscathed by the deadly storm that struck the wider region. Rotorua, along with the entire Bay of Plenty region, was...
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Post shop cuts hit locals
NZ Post’s decision to close two Rotorua post shops is expected to heavily impact older residents, local business owners and community advocates say. The company announced last week it would close more than 140 post shops nationwide, including those...
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Rotorua pair are final slip victims identified
Two Rotorua friends were the final victims formally identified from the Mount Maunganui landslide, as recovery operations wrap up at the site. The emergency operation ended 11 days after the January 22 landslide from Mauao into the Mount Maunganui...
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Big step forward for Ari
Lucy and Dane Higgison first thought something was wrong when newborn Ari had trouble breastfeeding and was “uncoordinated” when using a bottle. By age 6 months, Ari had not reached the age-appropriate development milestones such as sitting...
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‘Seems immoral’
Rotorua Lakes Council has finalised its transfer of pensioner housing management to a private provider, five months after announcing the move. The agreement, signed on January 15, opens the door to potential redevelopment of ageing units and confirms...
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Mayor Tapsell tops election spending
Returning mayor Tania Tapsell raised the most money and spent the most in her bid to get re-elected. Candidates for Rotorua Lakes Council had until December 10 to return their donations and expenses declarations. Tapsell’s campaign received $26,000 in...
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Council to weed out eyesore, safety risk
Ajungle of weeds and overgrown plants on the centre and side verge gardens along Rotorua’s Te Ngae Rd are to get tidied up after years of neglect. The state of the gardens prompted Eastside retiree Brian Pickering to complain, which raised questions...
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Landslide victims remembered
ARotorua property manager who died in the Mount Maunganui landslide has been remembered for the lives she touched and the “the aroha she gave so generously”. Susan Doreen Knowles, from Ngongotahā, was one of two Rotorua women who were victims of the...
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7 candidates enter board race
Seven candidates will contest the Rotorua Lakes Community Board byelection, with voting to open next week. The byelection is being held to fill two empty seats on the fourperson board after too few candidates were nominated during last year’s local...
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High-end homes add heat to market
The Rotorua housing market is heating up as more properties change hands at the “higher end” of the market. The latest QV House Price Index showed Rotorua recorded a 2.6% increase in the average house price for the three months to December, reaching...
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Red rain warning
Alocal state of emergency was declared in Rotorua yesterday, with a red warning for heavy rain remaining this morning. Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management made the declaration for the wider region just before 2.30pm, saying it had received...
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$50m mental health unit to open mid-year
The construction of Rotorua’s new mental health and addictions inpatient facility is in the “final stages” and will open to patients by mid-year. The project at Rotorua Hospital has been beset by delays and cost increases since it was announced six...
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Summer hits the sweet spot
Anew dessert shop in the CBD has served “thousands” of customers in its first days of opening amid a busy summer holiday season in Rotorua. Juice Up Rotorua franchise coowner Vrushank Shah said it opened on January 7 on Tūtānekai St and had been “very...
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3 dead in 48 hours
Police are calling for people to stay safe on the roads after two separate crashes near Rotorua have left three people dead and several others injured in the space of 48 hours. Two people were killed and another person was injured in a collision...
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Night market up for grabs
Rotorua Lakes Council has opened the door to transferring management of the city’s night market — the latest potential shift for the longrunning Thursday event. There is no guarantee the market will remain at the traditional Tūtānekai St site, where...
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Body found after man goes missing at lake
Aman has died at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) near Rotorua, in the second water death in the Bay of Plenty over the weekend. Police were called about 10.30pm on Friday to a report of a man who had not returned from a swim. The man’s body was found...
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‘I don’t feel safe’
Aneighbour of a live-in parolee rehabilitation facility in Rotorua says she feels so unsafe in her generational family home that she avoids spending time there. The Pūwhakamua programme, which supports paroled exprisoners reintegrating into the...
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Singer with cancer swaps mic for bike
When cancer forced Rotorua entertainment legend John Macrae to stop singing, he thought he’d never find another passion. But he swapped the mic for a bike and kept making records — this time on wheels. He’s beaten cancer three times and has another...
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The story of a Rotorua business icon
Jeremy Wells thought he’d closed the book on business eight years ago. In October the retired Kilwell Group director was back in the spotlight, named Business Person of the Year at the Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards. He “did not have a...
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‘It’s just hopeless ...’
Pressure is mounting on the Government to put Rotorua’s new courthouse build back on its urgent “to-do” list. The city’s lawyers say people accused of murder are being granted bail while they wait three years for their trials, while other defendants...
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Rotorua’s pipe dream
In the 1990s, Rotorua was the place families flocked to for hours of hydroslide fun. Leisure World, with its towering cascades – including the terrifying “Black Hole” – attracted locals and visitors from around the Bay of Plenty. But after a steady...
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Nurses shouted and sworn at
ARotorua Hospital nurse who has been verbally abused at work says frontline staff are “often” shouted and sworn at during long wait times in the Emergency Department. New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) delegate and Rotorua Hospital Emergency...
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‘Losing Sakura has shattered our family’
Christmas was cancelled for one Bay of Plenty family who couldn’t face celebrating without their cherished little girl. Sakura Hall, 2, died on May 22 after the car she was in collided with a parked rubbish truck on Dansey Rd, near Ngongotahā. Her...
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‘We need to back ourselves’
ROTORUA MAYOR TANIA TAPSELL As mayor and a mum to a 2-year-old, Tania Tapsell said it came naturally to want a better Rotorua for everyone. Tapsell said she wanted to honour the city’s past by reopening the Rotorua Museum, while also protecting its...
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Lifetime of service
Rotorua’s Leith Comer lives by the philosophy that he’d rather be on the field playing than watching — or worse, standing on the sidelines criticising. That mindset stuck after reading a book called Being by Vikram Murthy, which Comer said encouraged...
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