Serial shoplifter Santana Tonihi at an earlier court appearance in 2023 with most of the 129 convictions being for stealing from shops The 35-year-old says she learned how to do it from one of her parents Tonihi appeared in Rotorua District Court last Thursday for sentencing on more charges including stealing a $999 television from a shop from which she had been issued with a trespass order Her lawyer conceded the court had done “everything it can” to get her to stop Judge Anna Skellern said Tonihi must be psychologically assessed and given counselling and treatment after she is released from prison but that sentence was already nearly over because she had been in custody since early December Tonihi called out to family in the public gallery “I’ll be home in a month” as she walked from the dock Judge Skellern said the lead charge was burglary of the television last November 29 Tonihi was charged with burglary instead of theft because she had been issued with a trespass order from Rotorua Central given the number of times she had previously been caught She was also sentenced for the burglary of an unknown quantity of items from a Rotorua supermarket that she had also been previously banned from she was sentenced for trespassing in Rotorua Central and two other shoplifting charges for products valued at more than $130 The offending happened between September and November What irked Judge Skellern was that Tonihi committed the offending just 18 days after the judge sentenced her to 21 months’ intensive supervision for seven other shoplifting and trespass-related charges stemming from offences in May Judge Skellern tried to get Tonihi to realise the impacts of her offending “It may seem to you like you’re only taking things from a shop but these shops are generally manned by very hard-working people who really suffer from these sort of losses but you have created some really serious problems for your victims.” said she hoped Tonihi meant it when she told the report writer she recognised it was a “big problem” noted in the report that Tonihi had said she was mirroring behaviour learned from one of her parents Hall said Tonihi’s report said she fully recognised “her stealing habit is a problem and she wants support to change” Ms Tonihi has expressed to your honour in her letters she has recognised she has a serious problem and is willing to grapple with it.” Hall said Tonihi should know that any more offences would result in prison sentences because “the court has tried everything and without wishing the court could be bound in future that is perhaps the reality going forward if she were to continue to reoffend” Judge Skellern gave a starting point on the burglary of the television charge of eight months’ jail and added another four months for all other charges She then discounted the 12-month prison sentence by 25% for Tonihi’s guilty pleas but added another two months for her previous convictions and a further month for offending while on intensive supervision That gave an end sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment but given she had already served about five months in custody Offenders in New Zealand serving sentences of two years or less are automatically released after serving half of their sentence Sentences over two years allow for parole consideration after one-third of the sentence is served but the offender could serve the full term if not granted parole Judge Skellern said the special conditions set out in the pre-sentence report must apply She said the prison-release conditions should also remain in place until six months after her sentence expiry date “It is to be hoped for the benefit of yourself and the community that that rehabilitation is successful.“ Tonihi did not have to repay the amounts she had stolen because police deemed that reparation was not feasible Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years He piko he tuna is about resilience and love the despite challenges of life Rotorua teacher Matthew Liley didn’t want to be one of those guys who crawled over the Red Stag Rotorua Marathon finish line in agony It was the 56-year-old’s goal to finish his first marathon in good time and feel good – and he’s rapt to say he’s achieved his goal But he reckons he could never have done it without the support of Rotorua running group Jogging the Powerpoles – a free community group led by Kerris Browne that helps beginners and experienced athletes lose weight The year’s event, the 61st Rotorua Marathon, had a new finish line in the heart of the newly redeveloped Rotorua Lakefront precinct with a grand final stretch down Eat Streat and finishing outside the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside a father of two and teacher of 24 years – currently teaching Year 2 pupils at St Mary’s Catholic School – trained for his first marathon six years ago until he got sick two weeks before the big event and “chickened out” but still managed to complete the half marathon That feeling stuck – so this year Liley was back for redemption He only just managed to fit in the training either in the early hours of the morning or late evenings just before dark but with help from Browne and the crew at Jogging the Powerpoles He admitted he made a few rookie mistakes – including being the king of tripping in the Redwoods and thinking it was okay to skip stretching He’s also learned not to skimp on nutrition “I had one big run with insufficient protein afterwards and I was the grumpiest teacher in town the next day “Sometimes I catch myself watching other people run and suddenly hear Kerris in my head advising on running technique and posture.” I rubbed my legs in magnesium and wrapped them in clingwrap and it looked utterly ridiculous – I genuinely thought Kerris was pranking me because it worked a treat for my sore muscles.“ “I don’t want to be the guy who pulled out again Telling others ‘I’m doing this’ keeps me accountable Liley completed his goal of crossing the line in under six hours: five hours and 50 minutes he enjoyed a cream doughnut at the finish line His advice was to do it now and join a group “There’s no way I could have done it without the support of the group.” He said Jogging the Powerpoles was inspiring “It was also the best decision I made for my mental health Nothing beats that post-long-run buzz when you realise: ‘I just ran that far’.” Jogging The Powerpoles’ next winter trail muster for beginners is 8am on June 8 at Waipa carpark just two seconds ahead of Cullern Thorby (02:24:43) with local hero Michael Voss (02:26:52) in third Balchin reported that “neither of us could really drop the other” as they both battled over the closing kilometres back into the heart of Rotorua “I managed to get a break on him in the last kilometre and hold on to that to the finish” ahead of Rachel O’Brien (03:04:31) and Kovo MacDonald (03:07:27) Haresnape shared her joy in not only winning the event but also simply finishing the event An injury meant she was off her feet for much of her build-up “I’ve only run three times in the last eight weeks She’ll now turn her attention to an Ironman in Germany later this year The marathon started at 8am from the Government Gardens and took in a historic lap of the lake Rotorua local Voss was defending his Rotorua Marathon title while last year’s runner-up Thorby repeated his placing Men’s winner Balchin came in to the race with a 2:22.25 best from Auckland in 2022 Women’s winner Haresnape finished third in the 2022 edition of the event O’Brien finished fourth in 2024 with a strong 3:10.21 performance The year’s event, the 61st Rotorua Marathon, had a new finish line in the heart of the newly redeveloped Rotorua Lakefront precinct with a grand final stretch down Eat Streat and finishing outside the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside A big crowd lined the finish chute and along the city’s dining precinct this morning with restaurant patrons cheering on the runners approaching the finish line the NZCT Half Marathon featured impressive performances with local Casey Thorby winning the men’s race in 1:11:38 Tyler Jerram and Anton Weatherhead followed Kumiko Otani dominated the women’s half marathon ahead of Lauren Spyker (1:27:45) and Mia Fletcher (1:30:50) The Go Media 12km race debuted a stunning new course in 2025 capturing the essence of Rotorua’s geothermal beauty and forested trails Runners were treated to a dramatic start at Te Puia the cultural and geothermal heart of Rotorua where they passed the Pōhutu Geyser as it erupted into the morning sky a uniquely Rotorua moment that set the tone for the race The race then weaved through Whakarewarewa Forest before heading back to the new-look finish Sofia Maulvurfs impressed with a decisive win in 49:08 with Alayna Le Comte (49:48) and Katie Elmitt (50:30) rounding out the podium holding off a strong challenge from Brodie Deer (46:17) and William Hylkema (46:43) The Te Arawa Marae to Marae Relay made a triumphant return with over 900 participants across 25 teams Rotorua Racing Club hopes to build on recent growth at Arawa Park in Rotorua Horse racing returns to Arawa Park Racecourse this weekend after a period of track maintenance and renovation Rotorua Racing Club is preparing to host its premier annual event on May 10 and hopes to build on the season’s successes General manager Damien Radesic said in a statement that over summer the club had done an extensive track renovation to enhance racing conditions The work included mowing the grass down to a height of 20mm “This is all done to open up the profile of the track.” Radesic said once the surface preparation work was done the track was reseeded with sports oval grass seed and irrigated on a strict schedule to support grass propagation The propagation process took about 10 days before shoots were seen and when the seed had taken hold of the track the entire surface was mowed to 60mm with a rake on it so the grass stood up and no matting occurred “This process is one that the club commits to each season to ensure we’re investing in our most important tool “We make a commitment to our stakeholders to present a surface that’s fair and safe and our track renovation each year allows us to do so.” The club said it had a “renewed commitment to engaging with the local Rotorua community” This approach led to about 3000 people attending the Holiday Raceday in December marking a significant increase in turnout this season Radesic said it was the best Holiday Raceday he had seen in many years The day’s strong performance was also reflected in financial results The statement said the broader New Zealand thoroughbred racing industry has also experienced significant growth particularly following the TAB’s 25-year partnership with international wagering operator Entain This collaboration has led to substantial investments aimed at enhancing the industry’s sustainability and competitiveness New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) also announced a $20.3 million increase in stakes funding for the 2023/24 racing season, followed by a further $10m for 2024/25, elevating the total to $90.8m. Rotorua Racing Club said these developments had boosted prizemoney and fostered a renewed sense of professionalism and growth within the industry, benefiting clubs like Rotorua and enhancing the racing experience for participants and fans alike. Radesic said as the club prepared for the Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup Day on May 10, the focus remained on delivering an exceptional experience for attendees. “Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup Day remains a highlight on the Rotorua sporting calendar with both of the club’s feature races held on this day, including the time-honoured Rotorua Cup.” General admission is free and there will also be free entertainment for the younger crowd, including a bouncy castle, face painting, and a range of fun games. The club will host its winter meeting on July 2 and final meeting of the season on July 19. He piko he tuna is about resilience and love the despite challenges of life. Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner. While Donald Trump is being widely cited as a reason/explanation for Anthony Albanese’s landslide victory on the weekend, that’s like blaming the icing for the state of a badly baked cake. In no particular order of incoherence...although allegedly being the party of low taxes, the Liberal opposition voted against Labor’s tax cuts. Liberal coalition leader Peter Dutton also offered a natural gas policy that even the industry and his major donors (e.g. Gina Rinehart) slagged off in public. The PSA has welcomed the news from the NZDF that $33 million will be allocated to staff pay increases over the next four years as the result of last year’s industrial action. As a maritime nation we are prioritising naval capability. The new helicopters will be able to go further and carry larger loads, including weapons, personnel and equipment – all of which is critical for Defence to protect New Zealand and New Zealanders. If we change the way farming is done, we can prevent the worst of the climate crisis by reducing methane pollution from intensive dairy, and we can protect drinking water, lakes and rivers here in Canterbury, which are under threat from intensive dairy pollution. At the event in Wellington, Jotika will join Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand Executive Director, Gina Lockyer, to explore the struggles and resilience of Fiji's garment workers and their collective fight for better pay and conditions. In a significant milestone for indigenous-led conservation, Hokotehi Moriori Trust has successfully carried out the first imi (Moriori tribal group) translocation of hakoakoa (muttonbird), relocating 50 juvenile birds from Mangere Island to a newly prepared site in Kaingaroa. The new standard requires public service agencies to conduct a risk assessment whenever personal information is to be shared and includes robust safeguards to protect individual privacy and directs agencies to apply best practices when granting access to personal information. From consulting you with your first break-up More FM wants you to repay the favour by gifting your Mum the ultimate Mother's Day package and Jack from Rotorua’s Workplace Social Club could be surprising her the temperature is dropping and steam is rising higher which is the perfect setting for a pampering and rejuvenating journey A unique geothermal mud spa experience at Hell’s Gate makes a memorable gift More than 1200 international and New Zealand delegates will arrive in Rotorua to attend TRENZ next week New Zealand’s largest international tourism business event will be held from Tuesday to Thursday with about 1200 delegates heading to Rotorua and the Energy Events Centre Delegates include travel buyers and tourism businesses representing accommodation The event will bring 340 buyers from 26 markets Tourism Industry Aotearoa manages the event and chief executive Rebecca Ingram said as well as experiencing Rotorua’s “unique tourism offerings” delegates were expected to hold 16,000 business meetings over two-and-a-half days “The conversations had will result in tourism business for years to come.” She said the event brought economic benefits to the host region with delegates spending more than $3 million during last year’s TRENZ in Wellington That spend was expected to be similar this year Last year’s event saw 74% of sellers expecting to generate more than $50,000 in turnover from attending 58% expected to generate more than $100,000 Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short said hosting TRENZ offered “significant benefits” from a business perspective including through international partnerships media exposure and tourism business growth “We also benefit from over 1000 influential attendees enjoying everything we have to offer – and taking their experiences back to their own countries to influence and sell to future visitors." “We’re stoked it’s come back around to where NZ tourism began.” The tourism and economic development agency, which recently inked a promotional deal with Air China was pleased several Chinese agents were coming as that market was “very important” and slow to return after Covid-19 Having attendees experience Rotorua attractions helped them plan itineraries and build tours for customers Tourism is one of Rotorua’s largest earners with about three million visitors a year and TRENZ directly helped grow the industry Rotorua NZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said events like TRENZ were catalysts for growth and resilience “It’s about lifting each other up and ensuring the world continues to see New Zealand – and Rotorua – as world-class destinations.” Wilson said his team worked with TIA for months to plan “every little detail” including the pōhiri and welcoming ceremony transport and the expo at the Energy Events Centre Redwoods Treewalk co-founder Bruce Thomasen said hosting was a great opportunity “The city is so very lucky to have this event.” He said it was great timing for Rotorua and the region to showcase its offerings with New Zealand and Australia seen as attractive destinations His team was busy preparing for some 300 to 400 visitors coming through on familiarisation trips over the next few days staff turnover in the sector had been high since the pandemic and so it was an opportunity to meet with new buyers and reconnect with familiar ones He said it was a chance to get ahead of any incoming challenges by making bookings for 2026 and 2027 Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village general manager Tanya Robinson was excited to connect to buyers who sent manuhiri to the village and meet people looking for “authentic experiences in our beautiful city and village” It would promote new products and offerings including a new tour and refreshed kai Māori experience The event offered a chance to understand the international market and Rotorua hosting allowed more of her staff to attend and learn from the experience The village expected a “good boost” in numbers from the event at the tail end of the season Rydges Rotorua general manager Kent Breeze said the city and its variety of attractions and accommodation were in the spotlight – “there really is something for everyone in Rotorua” Breeze said there had been a good rebound of international markets since 2023 “We are showcasing to the world that we are open and ready for business “Seeing Rotorua in person will certainly give the buyers more confidence to sell our city internationally which in turn will increase business levels providing great job security and even more growth opportunities for local businesses.” The hotel had a “high number” of buyers staying and had arranged “special locally themed gifts” Rotorua is home to more than 30 Māori operators including Ngāti Whakaue’s $65m Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa The venue will host the NZ Māori Tourism and Tourism New Zealand breakfast with buyers from the Asia market General manager Debbie Robertson said it was a chance to celebrate Māori-led tourism success The Māori Economy 2023 report released in March showed Māori tourism contributed $1.2 billion to GDP in 2023 “Māori tourism is thriving because our offerings provide something deeply authentic,” Robertson said “Visitors aren’t just seeing the culture - they’re feeling it and belonging that’s unique to our country.” Mayor Tania Tapsell said securing the event was a “significant milestone” for the tourist town “This comes off the back of Rotorua successfully delivering other major events which will continue to be a focus for our council.” She said she and the chief executive expected the city will “be looking its best” while hosting the buyers and the inner city will be given an “additional tidy-up to ensure we’re putting our best foot forward”  “Attracting events the size and calibre of TRENZ is so important to support the many locals in our tourism and hospitality industries Laura Smith is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post She previously reported general news for the Otago Daily Times and Southland Express - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air Michael Voss takes out the 2024 Rotorua Marathon It’s a new era for the Red Stag Rotorua Marathon with a new finish line announced for the iconic event More than 6000 participants are expected to take part across a series of events including the famous 42.2km race on Saturday “Runners will soak up the electric atmosphere as they descend the bustling dining boulevard before crossing the finish line outside the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside “This new finish experience has been designed to celebrate the final moments of each runner’s journey creating a festival-like environment for athletes it’s set to be one of the most memorable finishes in the event’s storied history” The Marathon starts at 8am on Saturday from the Government Gardens and takes in a historic lap of the lake coming into the race with a 2:22.25 best from Auckland in 2022 Billie-Lee Haresnape finished third in the 2022 edition of the event and returns in 2025 Also in the top contenders is Rachel O’Brien who finished 4th in 2024 with a strong 3:10.21 performance and Angela Hancock who enters with a best of 2.58.49 from Sydney Marathon in 2024 This year the event also hosts the 2025 NZ Master’s Marathon Championships Beginning the action on Friday morning, more than 2400 tamariki will lace up for the Matthews Sport Vision Kids’ Mini Marathon. Covering 2.2km along the Rotorua Lakefront the event brings together students from dozens of local schools for kids of all ages to get active and involved The Te Arawa Marae to Marae Relay returns on Saturday Featuring more than 25 teams and 900 participants the relay takes in 10 stages across key sites around Rotorua including eight marae and two awa (rivers) Each team is made up of about 30 runners of all ages The relay begins at Te Papa-i-Ōuru Marae in Ōhinemutu completes the iconic loop of the lake and finishes at the new Red Stag Rotorua Marathon event village A new addition to this year’s schedule is the new Go Media 12km Runners will start their journey near the Pohutu Geyser and finish at the event village at the Rotorua Lakefront Saturday night ends with the Runway5 event at the Rotorua Airport runway This “fast and flat spectacle” will double as the New Zealand 5km Road Championships drawing the country’s top speedsters to battle it out under lights for national honours runners take on the full length of the runway RotoruaNZ said in a statement today the city would serve as Samoa’s “home ground away from home” “Known for its rich Māori heritage and deep ties to Pacific communities Rotorua offers a unique and culturally resonant setting for this international fixture," it said Chief executive Andrew Wilson said Rotorua was honoured to host the match “We’re proud to bring the passion and spirit of Pacific rugby to our stadium offering fans the opportunity to witness an epic game and experience everything Rotorua has to offer.” As both Samoa and Fiji ramped up preparations for upcoming global competitions this test match would be a key part of their campaigns Their long-standing rivalry promised an unforgettable showdown full of flair Lakapi Samoa chief executive Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun said: “We are delighted to bring another Samoa home test match to New Zealand and specifically to Rotorua while we continue to improve the Apia Stadium facilities in Samoa “We know we will receive support from the Pacific community in New Zealand “Thank you to RotoruaNZ for their support to bring this international game to their region.” Fiji Rugby chief executive Roverto Nayacalevu said they were looking forward to an epic clash in what would no doubt be a thrilling encounter “Matches like these aren’t just about rugby heritage and the enduring bond between Pacific nations “Both teams carry the hopes of their people and we know they’ll deliver a contest worthy of their traditions May the spirit of the Pacific shine through on and off the field.” September 6 at the Rotorua International Stadium Ticket presales will begin at 10am tomorrow More details and presale access can be found by signing up to the Mai Rotorua newsletter Police have released the name of a man killed in an Anzac Day crash in Rotorua The man who died in an Anzac Day crash in Rotorua was local Shubhkarman Singh The 33-year-old from Ōwhata died at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Te Ngae Rd Another person was seriously injured in the crash Police previously said the injured person was stable police extended their condolences to Singh’s loved ones They said all occupants involved in the crash had been identified The police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident was ongoing Police previously called for witnesses to the crash to come forward including anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage Anyone with information was asked to contact the police via 105 A man accused of a triple murder in Rotorua has pleaded not guilty and is taking the case to trial on the grounds of insanity The case of Justin Matthew Jeffries was called in the High Court at Rotorua this morning He is charged with murdering Michelle Nicola Schiller on September 19 and Jessie Florence Currin He is also charged with wounding Adam Sour with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on September 23 in Rotorua Jeffries is also charged with entering a building at Flat 2 with intent to commit an imprisonable offence in the building and unlawfully using Schiller’s bank card with intent to obtain property About a dozen friends and family members of those who died were present in court told Justice Layne Harvey that a trial would be required because the issue of insanity needed to be determined He said many of the facts were agreed but much of the trial would be around expert evidence Crown prosecutor Anna McConachy said given the defence was one of insanity the Crown would obtain its own psychiatric report She asked for the next callover to be at least six months away Schiller’s body was found in her Old Taupo Rd flat on September 23 the same day police were called to Russell Cres where the Currins had allegedly been seriously assaulted Jessie Currin died in Rotorua Hospital on October 5 and Glendon Currin died on October 9 Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years Police have confirmed they are working to identify the pair The footage supplied to the Rotorua Daily Post and police shows the girls walking on Pukutatua St about 4am on Monday One girl is carrying what appears to be a large knife and crouches down between cars later found to have slashed tyres Rotorua area commander Inspector Herby Ngawhika said police were following strong leads to identify the girls Seventeen complaints had so far been made to police by people who found their tyres slashed overnight on Sunday Ngawhika said police knew from the Daily Post and comments on social media there were more victims The Daily Post counted 11 cars with slashed tyres on Pukuatua St Tutanekai St at the Lakefront and Fenton St near Pukaki St early Monday morning There were also reports of three more on Hinemoa St and others in the Rotorua Central mall carpark “We encourage anyone who’s been a victim of this to report it to police to help us form a fuller and more accurate picture,” Ngawhika said The owner of the security cameras that captured footage of the girls did not want to be named but said the pair’s parents obviously didn’t know where their children were at 4am told the Daily Post they would return to Rotorua for a proper holiday despite their time being cut short when their tyres were slashed Evans said they parked their rental vehicle on Hinemoa St overnight on Sunday while staying in the CBD She said she paid for parking from 9am but did not notice three tyres were slashed until they were loading the car to head to tourist attractions at 10am A car next to theirs had all four tyres slashed with a third vehicle across the road also hit She said it took several hours to resolve the issue including reporting the vandalism to police and spending time on the phone with their rental company and insurance company They were still not sure if they would be charged Evans said their insurance covered the car being towed to a nearby tyre store where they met at least six others also waiting to have their tyres replaced “We were sitting there in the waiting room They’d walk in and we’d say ‘Slashed tyres?’ and they’d say ‘Yeah’.” Evans said they swapped stories about their tyre woes “We ended up playing cards with some of them while we waited Evans said they had to cancel their plans for the day to visit tourist attractions “We are only in New Zealand for two weeks and She said they were sending videos and photos back to their families in Britain “They were a bit worried about us and asking if we were safe.” Evans said she reassured them they were okay and said they would not let the situation dampen their feelings towards Rotorua She said Lumley was particularly happy with getting free coffee while they waited for their tyres to be changed A 7-year-old girl forced to hide at the back of her family’s dairy while it was held up by armed young men keeps asking her father whether police have caught the robbers yet The owner of Lake Road Dairy in Rotorua spoke to the Rotorua Daily Post about his ordeal after two masked men burst into his store on Sunday night The alleged offenders were seen on CCTV just after 6.50pm on Sunday they stole the store’s cash register and tobacco before fleeing in a waiting car said he was behind the counter with two visiting friends and his 7-year-old daughter when the robbers entered his friends and his daughter ran to the back of the store and hid “She keeps asking if the police have caught the robbers,” he said and said it was the second time he had been robbed CCTV footage supplied to the Rotorua Daily Post shows a silver car pull up to the dairy Two people wearing hoodies and with their faces covered run inside while a third gets into the driver’s seat and reverses into a car park near the front door the one with the tyre iron leaps over the counter Fog begins to pour in as he rips out the till and hands it to the other offender Police said in a statement on Wednesday night that the alleged offenders were young men who stole tobacco and the store’s till They confirmed on Thursday morning that one teen had been referred to the Rotorua Youth Court Detective Sergeant Jonathon Brady said in Wednesday’s statement that police were appealing to the public for information and were confident that people knew who was responsible Information can be passed on by phoning 105 and quoting file number 250427/4078 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Kaden Young didn’t let a little hiccup like leaving his running shoes at home put him off smashing his Rotorua Mini Marathon effort He slapped his Crocs into “sports mode” - heel strap up - and away he went He was one of about 2400 Rotorua primary and intermediate pupils who got to experience what it is like to run part of a marathon at the event in Rotorua today Image 1 of 14: Rotorua Mini Marathon 2025 Kaden’s mum was waiting with his running shoes in a bag having hoped she could have caught him among the masses before his race got under way But for the 11-year-old Kaharoa School pupil The puffed youngster told the Rotorua Daily Post as he crossed the finish line he barely noticed the difference “I realised when I got to school I’d forgotten my shoes because I forgot I had mini marathon today.“ The Matthews Sport Vision Kids’ Mini Marathon is part of the official Red Stag Rotorua Marathon and started in 2010 Children from across Rotorua schools run 2.2km of the 42.2km Rotorua Marathon course – experiencing the glory of running down the finishing chute to the cheers of parents and supporters Children are given “marathon passports” when they register and are asked to spend the weeks leading up to the event ticking off 1km at a time as part of their training They run the final couple of kilometres in the mini marathon event – giving them the feel of completing a marathon distance towards the Government Gardens and back along Whakaue St towards the finish line on Tūtānekai St Athletics New Zealand event manager Keegan McCauley said the great weather and the new course design helped make for an awesome day out “It’s good to keep the kids active and enjoying running and it’s an opportunity to run down the finish chute that maybe their mums and dads might be doing at the weekend they feel inspired to have a greater involvement in the sport of athletics and running.” said the marshals did a great job of showing them where to run to ensure no children got lost He said he had done the mini marathon several times before but loved this course as he got to see more sights is normally a rugby and league player but liked the opportunity to get out for a run “It was tiring but it was fun and I liked it very much.” also used the opportunity for some pre-season league and rugby training She said she liked this course better because it provided more shade than in previous years “It was tiring but good at the same time.” The weekend’s racing starts on Saturday from 7.45am at Whangamarino School for the half marathon and 8am at Government Gardens for the full marathon More than 2400 children ran the Rotorua Mini Marathon and Parliament tackles alcohol and mental health CCTV footage has emerged showing two people robbing a Lake Rd dairy in Rotorua CCTV footage has emerged showing two girls The Aronui Arts Festival Matariki drone show returns to the Rotorua Lakefront this June sustainable way of building homes at a low cost could help ease New Zealand's housing woes Recent timelapse taken of Whakaari/White Island Evidence of fresh explosive activity had been seen on the island Tove Jensen-Munroe says the drug will be her 'best option' if she relapses A "very bright" fireball seen over the Bay of Plenty on Wednesday night Rotorua’s Reg Stag speeds to victory at 2025 Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix Smoke from the Rotorua Recycling Centre fire blanketed the surrounding area Amelia Branson is going to America for surgery and radiation for her brain tumour Thousands attend official Waitangi Day event in Rotorua Locals feared they looked like container homes when they first arrived but today they had a chance to look through the finished product Security footage of a ram raid at Westbrook Liquor Centre in Rotorua Parents Sarb Mann and David McNeill want harsher penalties for impaired drivers Twelve fire crews joined the battle to contain a scrub fire in the Tahorakuri Forest area between Rotorua and Taupō on Wednesday Rotorua Māori ward councillor Rawiri Waru at the final meeting for the year Salvation Army’s choice model supermarket empowers those in need The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM presenter Paul Hickey announces the final tally for Fill the Bus 2024 The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM’s Fill the Bus fundraiser is part of the six-week annual Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal for the foodbank Video of the fire showed large flames and black smoke coming from an address on Ngongotahā Rd at the time Thousands of protesters marching up Fenton St in Rotorua Rotorua Daily Post has launched its annual Christmas Appeal supporting the Salvation Army foodbank Ngāti Whakaue has created its own subdivision for its people in a sought-after location on iwi land following a multimillion-dollar partnership with the Government Hundreds of people take part in the Rotorua Pink Walk organised by the Rotorua Breast Cancer Trust A second bronze sculpture dedicated to the memory of a much-loved stray dog in Rotorua that lived beside Te Ngae Rd has been unveiled to the public Rotorua Hospital's children's unit has undergone refurbishment Nikau Grace's latest project with Waiata Anthems has seen a new song and documentary released about her love of Kawerau and how you can beat the odds Tom Stephenson says he hears the hounds from his property daily Hosted by the Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival Taumata Soloman pays homage to cultural entrepreneur and kapa haka legend Wetini Mitai Ngatai Vehicles were caught in a slip on State Highway 2 at Waiotahe in the Eastern Bay of Plenty An investigation is under way after a body was found in a burning vehicle on State Highway 1 near Ātiamuri between Tokoroa and Taupō last night Lynmore Primary School pupils spent the day at NZME learning about the media Hundreds lost power after a car crashed into power pole on Te Ngae Rd on Monday night The Voices in the Shadows by Rotorua's Wairea Company features Tame Iti and premieres as part of the Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival 2024 recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease about why he wants to donate his Tour de France bike to charity Tyres have been slashed on more than 10 vehicles in Rotorua’s CBD in a random act of vandalism that has confused and distressed locals Residents awoke to find at least eight vehicles parked on Pukuatua St overnight had all four tyres slashed Other targets were a vehicle near the lakefront on Tūtānekai St and another on Fenton St near Pūkaki St Rotorua police said they received multiple complaints A police spokeswoman said the exact number was not known as the reports were not yet in a centralised file She said the complaints were being made through different systems - including at the police station front counter The Rotorua Daily Post counted 10 vehicles with all four tyres slashed and one with three tyres slashed None of the locals spoken to could understand why someone would do this The House of Eliott hairdressing owner Craig Eliott said he arrived at work on Monday to see people on the footpath on Pukuatua St who had discovered the vandalism “There’s about seven or eight cars that have been stabbed and most of them belong to residents of the apartments next door Some of them are families and it’s deeply distressing for some of them.” who didn’t want to be identified for fear of retribution said he normally parked his car on Pukuatua St after hours and his vehicle was usually fine I’ve got insurance but it’s a hassle with the delay waiting for a tow truck and trying to get to work.” said his friend in the apartment alerted him It’s my only day off and I was planning to go outside and do something so it’s really annoying having to deal with all this.” Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Service manager Mohamad Safraz said a customer who had spent $2500 on four new tyres last weekend called this morning saying his new tyres had been slashed overnight Safraz said the customer asked if they could be covered under a warranty that’s a matter for their insurance companies.” He said sometimes tyre punctures could be repaired if a nail or bolt entered the tread area but usually when tyres were slashed with knives Cuts on the sidewalls of tyres also could not be repaired Rotorua Towing manager Colin Goodwin said he wondered if the vandalism had happened over two nights as they had been called on Sunday to collect a car with four slashed tyres He had three further callouts on Monday morning KM Motors part-owner Matt Ranchod said they had also had four callouts this morning to collect cars with slashed tyres He said they were working through insurance details with the owners and a visitor to Rotorua with a slashed rental car Rotorua Lakes Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said the council’s CCTV system captured two individuals damaging the tyres He said anyone who believed their vehicle was affected was encouraged to report it to the police who could request access to the CCTV footage under privacy legislation Gaston said parking wardens would not issue parking fines to those affected “We feel for those who were targeted and appreciate the community’s assistance as we work alongside the police to ensure those responsible are held accountable.” Robert Lee and Conan O'Brien voted to leave LGNZ Rotorua Lakes Council will keep its Local Government New Zealand membership - at least for now The council joined the list of local authorities weighing up membership to the advocacy body While some councillors valued the advocacy and support Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) comprises and represents most councils in New Zealand It is a body that Government ministers consult when seeking a view from the local government sector Rotorua’s annual subscription for 2025/26 is $93,458 Council chief executive Andrew Moraes said a trend of councils leaving LGNZ emerged in 2023 Rotorua councillors voted to retain membership for 2025/26 and noted the issue of LGNZ membership for the next triennium would be brought to the new council Don Paterson and Robert Lee voted for the council to quit LGNZ O’Brien said he found the commentary at LGNZ events could be “very biased” and structured around “this is how we want you to go” He did not believe Rotorua was getting value for money and said the council needed to show fiscal responsibility The membership fee had risen “substantially” He told Local Democracy Reporting it cost $85,350 for the 2024/25 year He did not believe LGNZ delivered on its advocacy and said the council could provide the support it offered elected members in other ways Paterson said his view of LGNZ had changed since he started as a councillor “I thought it was a great concept … As time progressed it’s left me a little less than inspired.” He believed money could be better spent elsewhere and said he did not see results from LGNZ’s advocacy Lee also believed there was political bias at LGNZ events and that it did not deliver value for ratepayers there were other ways to connect with elected members of other councils Mayor Tania Tapsell said membership enabled the voice of local government to be heard in Parliament She called it naïve to think Rotorua’s voice would be heard over other councils Tapsell questioned whether those with concerns had reached out to the LGNZ representatives that councils had voted in She did not think the learning opportunities it provided should be underestimated Fisher Wang also wanted to continue membership saying smaller towns like Gore and Wairoa and “even Rotorua benefit hugely from the collective advocacy” Wang, who was first elected at age 19 said he valued the support and professional development from LGNZ’s network for young elected members He said the members supported “each other as humans” and the forum retained talented councillors by helping them get through “baseless hate” “I think we have all experienced our fair share of colourful language.” Councillor Trevor Maxwell considered membership value for money and noted Rotorua was in the running to host a future LGNZ conference In response to previous claims of political bias LGNZ president Sam Broughton has said councils are given opportunities to have input on LGNZ submissions before they are sent to the Government it had to make decisions based on majority support A Matariki drone show that attracted tens of thousands of people to Rotorua lakefront last year is set to return in 2025 Aronui Arts Festival is preparing for the launch of a brand new drone show this Matariki The free outdoor event will feature hundreds of drones painting stories across the night sky in a mesmerising blend of light and narration created by Ngāti Whakaue and Te Arawa artists The performance, set to begin at 8pm both nights, will “honour those who have passed in the last year since the rising and setting of Matariki lifting their memory to the stars where they will be forever remembered by their loved ones" “It’s more than a show — it’s a spiritual moment,” Mataia Keepa a Rotorua-based member of the creative team Aronui’s drone show attracted over 30,000 people “combining cutting-edge technology with ancient knowledge in a world-first tribute to the Māori New Year” “The energy last year was electric — there was such a positive vibe in the city, with people travelling from across the motu to see the show. “Matariki holds deep meaning for Māori, and it’s wonderful to see the new year being embraced by the wider community.” This year, taonga puoro artist Dr Anaha Hiini joins the team, crafting a live soundscape using traditional Māori instruments to accompany the visual storytelling alongside taonga puoro artist Riki Bennett. For the first time, the entire performance, narrative and music, will be broadcast live on Te Arawa FM, expanding its reach across the region. “I want it to illuminate the stories, meanings, and traditions behind this sacred time.” The show should offer both education and inspiration, helping people not only to understand Matariki, but to feel its presence, history and relevance in our lives today, Hiini said. The Matariki drone show is the centrepiece of a larger celebration. From 5pm to 9pm each evening, an expanded Rotorua Night Market will showcase food, crafts, and stalls from past Aronui Māori Market vendors alongside regular favourites, turning the lakefront into a vibrant place to spend the Matariki long weekend. and Mother Your Mother this Mother's Day where you'll both indulge in the geothermal mud and sulphur waters experiencing the healing properties local Māori have been using for centuries and Andrew could be surprising her on Friday with a bunch of flowers Keep an eye out as they'll be relaunching their popular Twilight Spa experience from Matariki weekend Rotorua Hospital anaesthetist and Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive member Andrew Robinson is participating in a 24-hour senior doctors' strike on May 1 A Rotorua Hospital anaesthetist who suffered burnout at work says the health system is “perennially stretched” and “getting quietly worse” Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) executive member Andrew Robinson is one of 100 senior doctors at Rotorua Hospital striking on Thursday Nationally, more than 5000 senior doctors will go on strike, including 206 staff at Tauranga Hospital but the union says life-saving services will be maintained Last-ditch mediation between Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and the union failed to avert the strike Health NZ is “disappointed” the union did not take its latest offer to members saying the offer was “fair and realistic” given “tight financial constraints” The union says the offer failed to take staffing shortages “seriously” and would “drive existing doctors away” Robinson told the Rotorua Daily Post he was working “well in excess” of his contract “I went part-time during the week because I was just so burned out and I don’t think that any job should be such that you have to reduce your hours from one FTE [fulltime equivalent] to be able to do it.” Robinson said his contract included one in six weekends on call but staff shortages meant he worked one in four – bringing him up to “the equivalent number of hours to one FTE anyway” Robinson said Rotorua Hospital employed about 17 or 18 anaesthetists He understood most Rotorua Hospital departments were short-staffed Health NZ’s offer was “not really adequate” to recruit doctors improve on-call rosters and “get rid of the gaps” Robinson said he would “far rather be doing the orthopaedic list” instead of striking “We’re just working in a system that is just perennially stretched and it’s getting quietly worse.” Health NZ Te Whatu Ora Te Manawa Taki deputy chief executive Cath Cronin said it was “deeply disappointed” the union did not take its latest offer to members giving an independent party “the opportunity to hear from both sides and make a recommendation” “We value our doctors and want to do the best we can for them but the reality is that Health NZ has limited budget available for salary settlements within its tight financial constraints “We believe we have been fair and realistic including offering to remove the lowest pay steps for senior doctors.” Cronin said an estimated 4300 planned procedures would be postponed due to strike action Cronin said a first-year specialist would receive a $17,700 (9.5%) increase on base salary and the same percentage on other remuneration They would receive a $12,211 (6%) salary bump the following year A second-year specialist would receive a 6.2% increase on base salary ($11,800) and other remuneration then a 6% ($12,211) salary rise the following year “We have heard ASMS and have focused on their concern regarding growing and retaining our senior doctor workforce.” Cronin said it offered newly qualified senior medical officers “a very substantial salary increase” This included a 3% rise over two years for all other salaries and a lump-sum payment of $8000 to doctors with three or more years’ experience It offered an incentive for “hard-to-recruit districts” to help attract and retain senior doctors Health NZ referred to its press release when approached to respond to Robinson’s comments Most specialists were already near or at the top of the specialist scale the offer worked out at “less than 0.77% on average” An ASMS press release said Health NZ’s offer failed to take staffing shortages or achieving health targets “seriously” “This will drive existing doctors away rather than help retain them let alone attract any new senior doctors we need to fix the gaps.” The impact of doctor shortages was already being seen with longer wait times in emergency departments and for first specialists’ appointments Health NZ addressed some issues in mediation This included removing the bottom three steps of the pay scale to “restore relativities with junior doctors” Dalton said the recruitment and retention allowance was for four districts only and it needed to be “rolled out across the country wherever there are shortages with clear criteria” Vacancies for senior medical officers across the country averaged at 12% The strike would result in planned procedures being postponed “but the same number of procedures are lost every week due to ongoing staff shortages” ASMS members were working to maintain all life-preserving services during the strike Hospitals and emergency departments will remain open Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post Rotorua Stadium will act as be Manu Samoa's home ground when they play Fiji in a rugby test match in September With Samoa's Apia Stadium about to undergo a major upgrade its national rugby team has adopted Rotorua as its home ground for the test on 6 September The September test will be important for both sides as they prepare for matches in the northern hemisphere later in the year and continue their buildups to the Rugby World Cup in 2027 Fiji have matches lined up against England and France in November while Samoa so far have a test lined up against Italy on 23 November "We are delighted to bring another Samoa home test match to New Zealand and specifically to Rotorua a rugby heartland," Lakapi Samoa chief executive Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun said in a statement "While we continue to improve the Apia Stadium facilities in Samoa we know we will receive support from the Pacific community in New Zealand." Fiji Rugby chief executive Roverto Nayacalevu looked forward to a thrilling encounter "Matches like these aren't just about rugby Both teams carry the hopes of their people and we know they'll deliver a contest worthy of their traditions." Rotorua's stadium has hosted a number of international matches over the years with Bay of Plenty hosting touring teams such as the British and Irish Lions while it has been a regular home ground for the Māori All Blacks The All Blacks played their only match in Rotorua at the International Stadium in 1973 when they beat New Zealand Māori 18-8 in 1973 Lakapi Samoa announced the appointment of the former Manu Samoa captain over the weekend We have regular online commentary of local and international sport Sport RSS Follow RNZ News John Tekuru appears via audio visual link in the Rotorua District Court Warning: This article contains distressing content A man has appeared in the Rotorua District Court charged with abducting a 3-year-old girl from a Rotorua early childhood centre for sex has entered no plea to the charge of unlawfully taking the girl with the intent to have sexual connection with her on March 10 Judge Joanne Wickliffe has permanently suppressed the name of the daycare centre Tekuru first appeared in court on March 11 but details surrounding the case were suppressed Lisa Robertson appearing on behalf of Scott Mills said there were no grounds for continued name suppression and therefore didn’t seek it Mike Olphert appeared on behalf of the early childhood centre and asked for permanent suppression of the daycare centre to protect the identity of the girl Crown prosecutor Anna McConachy did not oppose the application and Judge Wickliffe granted it McConachy asked for a report to be carried out Judge Wickliffe remanded Tekuru in custody until May 14 when he would need to plead to the charge The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years Police were called to the scene of a crash in Rotorua on Friday The circumstances of a fatal crash on Anzac Day in Rotorua remain under investigation One person died following a crash in Ōwhata on Friday night The two-vehicle crash on the corner of Te Ngae Rd and Tennyson Drive was reported about 9.10pm “The second person injured in the crash is stable,” police said on Sunday “Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.” Police would like to speak with anybody who witnessed the crash This includes any dashcam or CCTV footage around the area A kōhanga reo in Rotorua has been forced to close indefinitely after a robbery at the weekend stripped it of basic operating essentials said whānau were left shocked and devastated She said the thieves had no regard for the impact on mokopuna who had been left without a kōhanga reo while staff desperately tried to recover items they needed to stay open The kōhanga reo said tāonga of significance to the mokopuna food and large rubbish bins were among the items stolen Kaimahi at the kōhanga believed the burglary would have occurred sometime between the evening of Friday Whānau took to social media listing the items taken and urging anyone with information to contact them or the police Police were investigating and had completed a forensic examination of the scene Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Who would steal a childcare centre's playground Break-ins at two Ōtara schools and a local preschool have led to calls for more security patrols and community vigilance Auckland will get a new primary school and there will be new classrooms for several kura Te Ao Māori RSS Police are appealing for information about an aggravated robbery in Rotorua on Sunday night A child was forced to hide with staff after armed robbers raided a Rotorua store on the weekend Detective Sergeant Jonathon Brady said two young males entered a store on Lake Rd on Sunday night They stole the cash register and tobacco products “Staff members and a young child who were present were forced to hide and activate the fog cannon,” Brady said He said police were appealing to the public for information about the aggravated robbery “We are confident that someone in the public knows who is responsible and are seeking them to come forward.” This can be done by phoning 105 and quoting file number 250427/4078 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 A person has been killed in a crash in Rotorua last night One person is dead and a second seriously injured after a crash in Rotorua last night The two-vehicle crash happened on the corner of Te Ngae Rd and Tennyson Drive in Ōwhata about 9.10pm A second person received serious injuries.” Fire and Emergency also sent crews to help with two fire engines and a support vehicle dispatched Police want to hear from witnesses to the crash “This includes any dashcam or CCTV footage around the area Those getting in touch should reference file number 250426/9296 The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Māori cirque theatre production, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is set to take the stage at Sir Howard Morrison Centre Presented by Te Pou Theatre, The Dust Palace and Performing Arts Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) this performance is an exploration of love Performances will be held in Tauranga on August 6 to 7 and in Rotorua on August 10 to 11 Tuhoe and Tūwharetoa) and Amber Curreen (Te Rarawa “Te Tangi a Te Tūī” is a deeply evocative narrative that weaves together Māori cultural storytelling with the physicality and artistry of circus performance This work delves into the relationship between Māori and the natural world set against the backdrop of colonial impact and cultural adaptation Tukiwaho and co-creator and lead circus artist Eve Gordon share a personal connection to the story where their shared upbringing plays a pivotal role in shaping the authentic voice of the production Originally a collaboration between Te Rēhia Theatre and The Dust Palace this production brings together the strength of kaupapa Māori theatre with the daring spectacle of circus arts The result is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience that speaks to the soul of Aotearoa’s cultural heritage “Rotorua is very proud to host ‘Te Tangi a te Tūī‘ The performance celebrates Māori culture in such an innovative and powerful way and will not only engage and inspire our community but also contribute to our vibrant arts scene here in Rotorua,” RotoruaNZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said “Sir Howard Morrison Centre is the perfect setting for this.” Two public shows will be offered in Rotorua there will be a special matinee for schools and kura in Rotorua and the wider region “Bringing students to ‘Te Tangi a te Tūī’ will not only deepen their understanding of te ao Māori but also provide them with a unique perspective on physical theatre and cultural expression “It’s an exciting way to celebrate and promote the arts and a chance to witness a show created with children and teenagers in mind,” The Dust Palace’s community engagement co-ordinator join the waitlist or visit sirhowardmorrisoncentre.co.nz Limited presale tickets are available from Thursday Unsettled weather conditions are expected to continue throughout today and into tomorrow. The following are newly issued and updated weather alerts. For comprehensive information on each alert, please visit our website at https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5Click here… pic.twitter.com/7KWsX2PAt8 Heavy rain warnings have been updated for Bay of Plenty as a low-pressure system serves up the latest batch of wild weather across the country Downpours and severe gales are expected to lash the eastern and upper regions of the North Island as a winter blast hits the country A heavy rain watch remains in place for the Bay of Plenty west of Ōpōtiki until 9pm today while an orange warning for heavy rain has now been issued for areas east of Ōpōtiki through to 3pm Thursday MetService said 150 to 200mm of rain was expected with thunderstorms possible A strong wind watch is in place for Coromandel until midday Thursday A significant low is moving across central New Zealand today and tomorrow with the Cook Strait ferry services cancelled due to monster 7-metre swells Auckland and Northland expect rain and possible thunderstorms while Gisborne also faces heavy rain and potential flooding Emergency services have been called to several trees down in the region this morning A police spokesman said they had a report of a tree blocking State Highway 33 at Okere Falls about 9.30am “The road was blocked for a period of time Fire and Emergency NZ were called to a large tree blocking one lane on Takitimu Drive in Tauranga “We helped to slow traffic while waiting for contractors to arrive,” a spokesman said A tree was earlier blocking the eastbound lane of State Highway 30 at Lake Rotoma but was now clear Motorists are being warned to prepare for anything on the roads after a car was damaged by a rockfall in the Karangahake Gorge A video posted by Pāeroa Towing Services on Facebook overnight showed the rockfall on the side of State Highway 2 after the service had been called to tow the damaged vehicle from the scene The rock damaged the underside of the vehicle and the bumper Over the past two days, heavy rain in the Karangahake Gorge had caused more rocks to slip onto the road, Pāeroa Towing Services owner Michael Small said when speaking to SunLive this morning “It is just a common occurrence at this time of year,” Small said Small said the road conditions on SH2 in the Karangahake Gorge can be challenging they are advised to remove it from the highway if it is safe to do so Mākereti "Maggie" Papakura was an internationally renowned Whakarewarewa guide Her family and iwi say they are grateful for the tribute to her memory and it is testament to her determination to ensure Māori stories would not be forgotten Born in 1873 at Matatā, Papakura is believed to be the first indigenous woman to study at the university Oxford’s School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography said in a statement She made her name as the pre-eminent guide at Whakarewarewa in the early 1900s and was known as Guide Maggie The school said she enrolled in 1922 to read anthropology at the Pitt Rivers Museum where much of the teaching was conducted at the time In her groundbreaking research for her studies at Oxford she explored the customs of her people of Te Arawa from a female perspective earned her the respect of many Oxford academics at the time and went on to be celebrated by members of Māori communities and researchers worldwide just weeks before she was due to present her thesis Rhodes Scholar and fellow Oxford anthropologist TK Penniman It became the first ethnographic study published by a Māori author and was recognised as such by the New Zealand Royal Society The School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography applied to the University of Oxford’s Education Committee to request that Papakura be posthumously awarded the degree of Master of Philosophy in Anthropology The application was supported by St Anne’s College and the Pitt Rivers Museum to which Papakura and her family donated numerous artefacts and papers both during her lifetime and after her death The Education Committee’s decision to grant the request was been warmly welcomed both in Oxford and in Aotearoa New Zealand The degree would be awarded at a ceremony presided over by the university’s vice-chancellor later this year in Oxford’s Sheldonian theatre Members of Papakura’s family and representatives of the Māori community were expected to attend Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography said they were delighted that the “extraordinary achievements of Mākereti the first indigenous woman to study at Oxford” had been recognised by the University of Oxford with the award of a posthumous MPhil degree not only to many in Aotearoa New Zealand but to students and scholars around the world.” June Northcroft Grant on behalf of Papakura’s family and tribe (Tūhourangi – Ngāti Wāhiao) said: “We are grateful to Oxford University for this tribute to Mākereti’s memory and to all those who have supported her story in the years since her passing It is a testament to the lasting power of education and the determination of one woman to ensure that Māori stories would not be forgotten “We have always known the sacrifices she made to pursue education and the strength it took for her to continue often in the face of considerable challenges “We are especially humbled that her customary tribal practices and the scholarship she possessed have been acknowledged with such careful and respectful consideration by the university’s Education Committee he mana tangata (Where there is creative excellence said it was hugely significant for Tūhourangi and Aotearoa to see Mākereti’s work “finally recognised in this way” Mākereti’s mahi here at home and around the world has long been an inspiration to our people Mākereti was always conscious of her whakapapa and responsibilities to Tūhourangi immortalising our culture and traditions – from a wāhine perspective – through her research." The recognition was a credit to Mākereti’s whānau and others who advocated on her behalf over the past 95 years “Mākereti continues to remind us of the strength and determination of our people and the contributions we make in the world A Rotorua factory worker says his life changed forever after two fingers were amputated in a workplace accident WorkSafe said the man’s fingers were amputated in a machine at Claymark’s Rotorua factory on February 27 He had been a trainee machine operator at the time The man’s fingers were severed by the moving parts of a planer machine as he went to remove sawdust from it The machine control had been “fooled” with a false signal indicating it was safe to do so The victim said in a WorkSafe statement that his life changed forever “Everyday tasks I once took for granted like writing His music passion had become “a bittersweet pursuit” “Playing the guitar and trumpet now demands creativity and resilience as I relearn techniques with my altered hand.” The victim - who has had three surgeries - said he remained hopeful about the possibility of prosthetic fingers despite a challenging recovery “Their unwavering emotional support and practical help have carried me through the darkest moments of my recovery I cannot overstate how grateful I am for their love and strength.” The man’s employer Claymark was charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 WorkSafe’s investigation found the machine was unguarded and there was an ineffective system for maintenance Training and supervision of workers also “fell short” Two years on, WorkSafe has accepted an enforceable undertaking from Claymark An enforceable undertaking is a legally binding voluntary agreement that can be used as an alternative to prosecution The “major player” in the wood manufacturing industry committed to safety measures worth $481,000 in response to the incident The man received reparations of $67,724 from Claymark and topping up the shortfall between his ACC entitlements and his usual pay while he was off work The undertaking also included using AI technology to indicate risks to workers’ health and safety in real time offering trials of the technology to other businesses in the wood manufacturing sector and upskilling workers on health and safety the undertaking involved support for the Women in Trades Rotorua event funding for 20 students to complete an initiative which would provide them with industry-aligned forestry training and hands-on experience donations to five schools for woodwork technology Claymark executive director Paul Pedersen said the health and wellbeing of its people were its highest priority and the incident had a significant impact physically and emotionally Claymark acknowledged the impact on the victim It was committed to learning from the experience to ensure safer outcomes for everyone we see a valuable opportunity to drive meaningful people-focused change - both within Claymark and across the wood manufacturing sector.” Pedersen said its key initiatives included engaging with local communities and schools in the towns where Claymark operated to promote safe wood manufacturing practices It also included working alongside the Central North Island Wood Council and other industry bodies to share its learnings and help build a stronger health and safety culture sector-wide and “investing in our people” through training modules Claymark was also exploring the potential of AI to support “smarter more responsive safety systems and personalised learning experiences” “This is about more than compliance – it’s about creating a workplace where our people feel informed “Claymark is committed to continuous improvement and collaboration as we work towards a safer The man was “deeply appreciative” of Claymark’s commitment to workplace safety improvements retirement isn’t an option I’m ready to consider which is why I feel fortunate to continue contributing to Claymark’s team “While my path forward looks different than I once imagined I’m determined to adapt and keep moving ahead WorkSafe revealed Claymark’s investment for today’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work today which is focused on the impacts of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on workers’ health and safety WorkSafe’s head of regulatory services Tracey Conlon said it was looking forward to seeing Claymark pioneer its AI innovation to benefit the timber processing sector “Agreements like this are all about enacting positive improvements from an adverse event “The initiatives align with WorkSafe’s priority plan for manufacturing which is one of the most high-risk sectors for workers in Aotearoa “Unsafe machinery is a persistent problem in the sector Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post Two Bay of Plenty Lotto players have won $16,252 with second division A Tauranga and Rotorua Lotto player have each won $16,252 with Lotto second division in last night’s draw The winning tickets were sold at Greerton Lotto in Tauranga and New World Westend in Rotorua They were two of 23 Lotto players nationally to win second division Anyone who bought their ticket from these stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store Suburbs can be built in “weeks, not years” with a new low-cost, fast-build, sustainable housing design The Living House is the brainchild of Auckland-based architect Richard Naish A pilot home has been built in Rotorua’s Western Heights on Upland Rd and was completed in six weeks Naish said he hoped community housing initiatives would pick up the design for future projects and that it could help address New Zealand’s housing woes Rotorua MP Todd McClay has praised the design saying it stands “head and shoulders” above a state project in Rotorua that delivered one-bedroom apartments for $630,000 each the founder of 20-year-old architectural company RTA Studio said he took three months off during the Covid-19 pandemic to think about “what next?” He said affordable and sustainable homes were key themes and he sought solutions for the housing There have been so many failures and now there are still 21,000 people on our Housing Register Naish said his pre-consented 85sq m three-bedroom design arrived on a truck in a “flatpack style” in 36 modules they could be put together within six weeks by two or three people The design uses pre-cut cross-laminated timber from Rotorua’s Red Stag Timber a living and dining area and a large laundry and bathroom Compacting labour expenses also saved costs but his design was 10% as many of the regular trades jobs weren’t required rangehood and dishwasher – arrives in one unit and is connected through a hole in the floor Lighting and power are connected through the floor and installed in one unit that attaches to the wall decks and gardens were additional and buyers could choose from a range of colour schemes but could not alter the plans by adding extra windows or walls Naish presented the Living House concept at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore last year after it was shortlisted in the future housing category His company then bought the Rotorua section for the pilot Naish said he chose Rotorua as the region had housing issues was close to Auckland and was home to key players Scion He said the pilot home would be sold at cost to a local family through Rotorua Lakes Council and iwi groups Naish said the Living House was not a “silver bullet” for New Zealand’s housing crisis as the cost of land was still a major issue and a three-bedroom home was not fit for all purposes “Hearing daily news stories about kids living in cars and motels was a strong motivation to design a family home.” He said while the home was designed to help get people out of motels and cars it was available to anyone including bach builders or first-home buyers McClay said he was “hugely impressed” by the housing project “It stands head and shoulders above what Kāinga Ora has done in our city over previous years.” He said the cost of the last Government’s “container-style” homes in Rotorua was “still incomprehensible” The Rotorua Daily Post revealed in February the 12 one-bedroom apartments on the corner of Ranolf St and Malfroy Rd cost more than $630,000 each to build Kāinga Ora said completed one-bedroom units usually cost between $325,000 and $520,000 each to build It said in response to cost criticism at the time the Rotorua apartments’ cost reflected the price of the off-site manufactured units These were chosen because of a lack of capacity in the New Zealand market at the time McClay said the Government had signalled a willingness to work with community groups and the private sector in Rotorua to build homes at a reasonable cost “I congratulate all those involved for their hard work and will make sure senior ministers are aware of this accomplishment.” Housing Minister Chris Bishop said that in his position he did not endorse particular products or houses A Ministry of Housing and Urban Development spokesperson said it contracted Community Housing Providers to procure housing directly The spokesperson said $140 million was allocated in last year’s budget for 1500 new social housing places over the next two financial years to be operated by community housing providers Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years A car in Lake Rotoiti after a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday Photo / Triple One Towing & Transport A vehicle has gone into the water at Lake Rotoiti A police spokesman said they were responding to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 30 “The sole occupant is out of the vehicle but has serious injuries,” he said but motorists in the area should expect delays A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said one person in a serious condition was being taken to Rotorua Hospital and one rapid response unit went to the crash A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said three fire trucks a support vehicle and a boat also went to the scene A person who answered the phone at the Emery Store told the Rotorua Daily Post a vehicle went into the lake on the sharp bend near the store She said there were people in the vehicle but didn’t know how many Mark Jefferson appears in the High Court at Rotorua charged with the manslaughter of Stuart Stobie following a hunting incident in Minginui in March A Minginui man has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter over the hunting death of Kawerau man Stuart Stobie Jefferson entered not guilty pleas to manslaughter and two other hunting-related charges It is alleged Jefferson caused the death of Stuart Maxwell Stobie on March 21 at Minginui by unlawfully firing a .308 firearm at him Jefferson has also denied a charge of unlawfully killing a deer in the Kaingaroa Forest without authority to be on that land and a charge of unlawfully possessing a Tikka Point 308 rifle said he would not ask for continued name suppression Justice Harvey remanded Jefferson on continued bail to reappear on July 11 for a callover A one-week trial was set down for May 2027 The maximum penalty for manslaughter is life imprisonment The Rotorua Daily Post reported tributes to Stobie with those who knew him saying he loved the outdoors and went hunting and gathering whenever he could A sexual health medicine specialist says he will be the only one working in Bay of Plenty and Lakes hospitals from next week Dr Massimo Giola claimed “delays in advertising” meant his colleague had not been replaced by Health NZ Giola was striking outside Tauranga Hospital today as part of a 24-hour action by senior doctors who are members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) Mediation between Health NZ and the union failed to avert the May Day strike Giola told the Bay of Plenty Times his “only” colleague would retire next Friday leaving him as the sole sexual health medicine specialist for the Bay of Plenty and Lakes specialist sexual health clinic sessions would be reduced from seven a week to four Giola said he normally worked three days a week in Tauranga and one day in Rotorua He and his colleague had been working in the service “forever” as it had not received approval for more full-time equivalent staff the service would see “a few cases of syphilis a year” “Now we see half a dozen syphilis cases every week “The amount of work, the complexity of our work, has been exponentially growing. The population has been growing and yet we have been told essentially that we need to suck it up and work more.” Giola said he was “happy” living in New Zealand but if he had more than five years of full-time work left in his career His Australian colleagues “easily” earned double “In a highly competitive market such as for medical specialists it will be extremely difficult for New Zealand to keep a well-staffed public health service without paying senior doctors what we are really worth.” Giola said Health NZ’s offer was a 1.5% pay rise which was “essentially a pay cut” once adjusted for inflation the hospital simply cannot run … The hospital is open today only because we have agreed to life-preserving services.” Dentist Rudi Johnson said she was striking for maranga - standing up for the workforce and health system Workforce shortages and being unable to “fill those gaps” were the main issues She said she saw patients with “dire dental needs” so it sort of sits with the hospitals in the end.” Rotorua Hospital anaesthetist and ASMS executive member Andrew Robinson said there was “lots” of public support at the Rotorua strike with car horns honking “pretty much constantly“ “A lot of solidarity and good cheer but … kind of depressed about what’s been happening in the healthcare sector.” Health NZ referred to its Wednesday press release when asked to respond to Giola’s and Johnson’s comments Chief clinical officer Dr Richard Sullivan said Health NZ was concerned about the impact of the strike on patients waiting for planned care and specialist appointments An estimated 4300 planned procedures would be postponed due to the strike action Sullivan said Health NZ was committed to reaching a settlement with the ASMS and it had applied to the Employment Relations Authority for facilitation which would give an independent party the opportunity to hear from both sides and make a recommendation “We are disappointed at the union’s refusal to take our offer to members as we believe this was a fair and reasonable offer given the budget constraints we have and the current economic environment.” The ASMS previously told RNZ there was no point taking the offer to its members, as for most of them it was “worse than what was originally on the table”. Most specialists were already near or at the top of the specialist scale and ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton told RNZ senior doctors would have received increases to base pay ranging from $8093 to $29,911 those on step 4 to step 15 would have received an $8000 lump sum but the reality is that Health NZ has limited budget available for salary settlements within its tight financial constraints.” Appointments deferred because of the strike would be rescheduled for the next available opportunity Teen swimmer Ariel Muchirahondo has smashed a 33-year-old age group record held by swimming legend Danyon Loader while qualifying for a major world competition will swim in five events in the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania in August The first Kiwi to meet the qualifying time standards Ariel qualified in the 400m individual medley He also broke three New Zealand age-group records during recent championships in Hawke’s Bay he smashed Danyon Loader’s 33-year-old record by over a second and in the 400m individual medley and 200m individual medley broke Luan Grobbelaar’s previous records Ariel was presented a joint Life Members Trophy for the most outstanding performance in the championships As well as breaking a Bay of Plenty regional record in every one of his events Ariel also took out the open age BOP records in 100m backstroke having to be helped out of the pool in that final event He came home with six gold medals and one silver Head coach Aidan Withington said the teen reached a new level at the competition “Everything we were targeting and had planned fell into place perfectly.” Ariel said it meant a lot that he could “get up there and swim faster than some of the greatest swimmers in New Zealand history” “It definitely shows me that I do have the potential to keep on improving and getting up there with some of the top swimmers in the world … I might have to start learning some Romanian.” Withington said it was great a provincial club in a town the size of Rotorua had been able to produce a swimmer such as Ariel “We are very fortunate to have a great outdoor 50m pool but it does show that it can be achieved anywhere.” Other outstanding performances by Swim Rotorua athletes included Leo English Withington said his 1500m freestyle was “very well executed” and his 200 free was especially exciting with Leo only taking the lead in the last 50 metres “His 100m Freestyle was an awesome finish and he sneaked in to get the bronze.” Leo was “really proud of getting in there this week and giving it my best” Withington said Leo and Ariel lifted each other’s performance this was their first National level competition — Noah Lomas were both finalists in their respective age groups for multiple events and all four set some strong new personal best times with an “especially well-executed” 200 backstroke He set personal best times and qualified for finals in all eight of his events ending the week with two silver medals in 50m and 100m backstroke as well as the gold also set some solid new personal bests and competed in the 4x50m freestyle relay with Ariel Leo and Kai Jung-Ishida and the team placed 5th With only eight swimmers at the NZ Swimming National Age Group Championships Swim Rotorua came home with 15 medals and placed 10th in the country Withington was very happy with the team’s performance overall “We have been working towards this event since September last year and had over 150 national swimmers from six clubs train with us in January.” This is the first time Swim Rotorua had placed in the top 10 clubs Withington hoped to stay in the top 10 and continue to grow the numbers and opportunities for all the members of the club The neighbour of a Rotorua public reserve has claimed council “incompetence” in dealing with a large rotting tree he feared could have endangered his family Gem St resident Richard Diamond lives next to the Homedale St Reserve, where a tree was felled on March 31, months after he raised its rot with Rotorua Lakes Council and a large limb fell across his fence Large rotted sections were visible in the cut tree the wood turning to sludge in Diamond’s hands and he said his family were “counting the days” until it fell ‘is today going to be the day one of us gets crushed?‘.” It was “wonderful” to have the tree down but Diamond said it “shouldn’t have taken me jumping up and down to do that” Diamond felt unheard and called it “incompetence” “It’s like they put their head in the sand.” Diamond believed he first alerted the council to the rot in December He sent an email on January 17 showing the rotten crown and said he was told an assessment would be made on the tree and that it would be pruned Diamond contacted the council again on February 1 when a large branch came down across his fenceline He understood it was assessed as dangerous the next day He strung that section to the reserve fence Diamond noticed in the last week of March a deadfall branch caught in the limbs of the rotted section and emailed the council again He received a call from the arborist who told him the urban forestry adviser disagreed with his assessment that the tree should be removed Diamond took to social media to voice his concerns and emailed Mayor Tania Tapsell on March 26 he received an email from her office and the recreation and open spaces manager that the arborist and the adviser had redetermined the risk and tree health The manager’s email said the tree would be felled to “mitigate risk and conflicts with the power lines” He ended the email with an apology for the delay and communication on the issue and the stress caused to Diamond and his family “I will be reviewing this matter with the team to ensure an improved service for our community.” The council’s community experience group manager Alex Wilson told Local Democracy Reporting the council acknowledged Diamond’s concerns "Public safety is a priority for Rotorua Lakes Council and has been the key consideration with regards to the tree in Gem St." The review the manager referred to “highlighted that there should have been a more co-ordinated approach to dealing with this issue and to communication with Mr Diamond” “We have implemented improvements to ensure that happens in future.” She said staff remained in regular contact with Diamond as work progressed between January and March “The tree was assessed during each site visit and the most appropriate course of action was considered.” Trees assessed as dangerous were cordoned off to prevent access and maintenance or removal works are programmed The first site visit was after Diamond’s January 17 email it was agreed work was needed to remove the limb overhanging the fence Wilson said the delay from Diamond’s email to the limb removal decision was due to a backlog of requests requiring them to be prioritised The area was taped off and the fallen limb cleared on February 2 The next was on March 27 when it was agreed the tree should be removed Wilson said an initial decision to retain the tree was reassessed and the decision to remove it related to long-term maintenance requirements and powerline concerns A contractor with powerline certification removed it The tree was previously last checked in August 2023 A Rotorua retirement village - complete with bar cafe and theatre - has been green lit under the Covid-19 Recovery Fast Track Consenting act 20 hospital-level care beds and 30 care suites The Fairy Springs village will be based on a 14.2-hectare section of land where the Rotorua Heritage Farm and 3D Trick Art Gallery operate It applied for resource consent under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 in December 2023 An expert consenting panel appointed by environment judge Laurie Newhook approved the consent with conditions last Thursday The decision detailed how the project also included lounges Summerset would build on its plans on a section of the land in a separate consent process to provide for commercial uses such as medical facilities The company's New Zealand acquisitions and development general manager Oliver Boyd told Local Democracy Reporting the project represents about a $180 million investment in Rotorua It previously anticipated welcoming new residents from 2026 but delays in the consenting process meant there was no project start date Boyd said it focused on securing the consent prior to advancing design and works planning Asked if it would find any conditions challenging and why he said the process involved "significant external consultant input leading to a decision with 'comprehensive' conditions "We are ultimately happy that resource consent has been secured." Boyd said it was keen to bring its retirement village offering to the city which he said had a strong 75-plus population expected to increase by 30 percent in six years Census data from 2023 showed there were 11,571 people aged above 65 in the Rotorua district Rotorua Lakes Council's consent conditions included that a maximum of 260 units be established on-site along with a maximum of 20 assisted living suites 20 hospital-level care beds and 30 care suites within the proposed "main building" Other conditions relate to traffic management both during construction and when the units become occupied An upgrade to State Highway 5 is proposed with the centre island to be modified to stop right-turns when exiting the village Only light vehicles may exit to Barnard Rd The road to Barnard Rd was previously reserve land but will be sold to Summerset following consultation and a council decision last year for emergency vehicle access and as an exit Sale funding was to go towards local open spaces or recreation areas The council confirmed to Local Democracy Reporting the sale had not been finalised Council community and district development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said in 2023 it had been working alongside Summerset since early 2022 The council's role in the fast-tracking process was to ensure the development could be adequately serviced with water and to ensure the assets met standards before the council took ownership Market Economics completed the economic assessment for the application The consent decision detailed the construction of the site infrastructure will equate to about $9.2 million in value added The panel was satisfied the project would "contribute positively to the future economic and social wellbeing of Rotorua other areas of New Zealand" and would help sustain construction sector jobs "The economic impacts of the development are significant both in terms of direct and induced impacts The application was projected to contribute to sustaining the equivalent of about 2725 full time workers working for one year when the indirect and induced effects are considered It was estimated to stimulate a total of $147.8m in value added (GDP) across the duration of the development Market Economics also assessed the potential economic effects of loss of commercially zoned land and found there was enough vacant appropriate land and therefore would not "result in any shortfall" of large scale tourism activity growth in the medium to long term Among Bay of Plenty Regional Council consent conditions was that the applicant invite and work with Ngāti Whakaue to develop a Tikanga Management Plan This plan also applied to aspects of the district council conditions It would cover things like managing archaeology sites methods to monitor and report potential adverse effects and methods to mitigate them It also needs to prepare an Overarching Ecological Management Plan (OEMP) for the site which should include things like the area and type of offset wetland and contaminant management wetland area and type of bat roost mitigation and bat connectivity The general public can not appeal and those who meet criteria and wish to appeal must do so within 15 working days of the decision notification Rotorua Heritage Farm operations manager Robyn Van den Hurk said the attraction would stay open for the foreseeable future LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air "We know this will mean a bigger burden will be placed on the public health system," the chief executive said The retirement village operator's bottom line profit has fallen 23 percent as it faced higher tax costs and a smaller rise in property values The retirement village operator said it also achieved a record year of construction and met its build target Summerset says recent events and activities contributed to the spike in cases Local Democracy Reporting RSS Rotorua's police area commander has commended opposition to Operation Trolley saying the controversy raised awareness of the homeless community January's Operation Trolley lasted three days and resulted in 13 people being arrested 45 trolleys returned to stores and 19 trespass orders issued Seven of the arrests were for possessing shopping trolleys and those people were given verbal warnings The other six arrests were for alleged historical offending Praised by some in the community for tackling an enduring problem others claimed it unfairly targeted vulnerable people they had received complaints about homeless in the CBD intimidating other people with trolleys Inspector Herby Ngawhika spoke during a Rotorua Lakes Council community and district development committee meeting on Wednesday The council's Community Safety Plan involved police partnership and focused heavily on the CBD Ngawhika said the operation was "interesting" because the byproduct of it was everyone we interacted with in regards to that operation were given referrals to appropriate services." The partnership worked to make the city clean and safe He said it was about raising awareness of the homeless and vulnerable community "It instigated some action by the Feed the People Group More than 200 free meals were handed out in the counter-operation The issue of abandoned trolleys has come up several times during this council term and in 2023 about 260 trolleys were removed from the inner city each month The council was responsible for recovering abandoned trolleys because they were classified as illegal dumping and It later worked with four major shops to manage the issue Ngawhika said visibility of vulnerable community members had increased recently police began charging people for begging in the middle of intersections he said many locals were not happy with the beggars' actions and felt intimidated Destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston observed some "good gains in the last 18 months" Comparing the period from October 2022 to January 2023 and October 2024 to January 2025 there was a 22 percent decrease in violent offences and a 23 percent reduction in property damage offences Both trespass and drug anti-social offences remained the same The council would continue to look at its bylaws whether some needed to be "enhanced" to address begging and areas like supermarket and petrol station entries and exits Gaston said the council was looking at opportunities to create a "referral app" for not-for-profits to focus on wraparound interventions for "harder to address individuals" Inner city safety manager Kylie Kennett said the city's mall was a hotspot and the council was working to get a guardian presence there Councillor Fisher Wang also asked how effective the alcohol ban area was to which Ngawhika said "it is one of the greatest pieces of bylaw we can have" and made a "huge difference" on violence and disorder Councillor Conan O'Brien raised his view on how the homeless seemed to be shifted from A to B and asked what was happening to address the problem Gaston said the council used a graduated approach of education and working with not-for-profits create a relationship with them and encourage them to take up services many of them do need." O'Brien also asked about police resourcing and Ngawhika said Rotorua would get a share of new staff The Government announced 500 additional police officers nationwide last year Ngawhika said some of the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua allocation was for dedicated community policing Companies who between them control around $6 trillion worth of funds have made their way to Auckland for the event NZTA says some roads will revert automatically and others are subject to public feedback What the council wants public feedback on this year The proposals include a three-year freeze on new off-licence approvals A Rotorua company's modified crane became a weapon that changed the life of a teenage contractor New Zealand RSS A toddler died after her parents left her in a hot car overnight following a Fourth of July party in Florida A teen who impersonated a police officer while questioning Rotorua Hospital staff is known by police as an “emergency services chaser” Joshua Stuart Avery made inquiries about a hospital staff member while dressed similarly to a police officer parked in a police car park and carrying a police notebook The 18-year-old appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Friday to admit a charge of impersonating a police officer Avery was arrested after he went to Rotorua Hospital about midnight on March 6 and asked staff about a security guard who A police summary of facts released to the Rotorua Daily Post says Avery wore a pair of dark blue tactical pants that looked the same as police dog handler pants He was driving an ex-police vehicle — a blue Holden Commodore — which looked like an unmarked police car Avery parked the Holden in the police car park outside the hospital’s main entrance He told a staff member he needed the security guard’s details and presented a police notebook Hospital staff refused his repeated requests to provide details about the security officer and called police after he drove off Avery denied telling hospital staff he was a police officer The summary said Avery was an active Bay of Plenty “emergency services chaser” who listened to a police scanner and filmed police attending incidents It said he had multiple social media profiles where he posted photos he took of emergency services There were multiple records of Avery attending a crime scene with his ex-police vehicle before the police attended The charge carries a maximum penalty of four months imprisonment or a $15,000 fine Avery was represented by Hussain Sabori, who asked Judge Ajit Swaran Singh to record the guilty plea but not convict his client Sabori said he intended to ask the sentencing judge to discharge the case without conviction He said Avery worked at Rotorua Airport in baggage handling and the blue pants he was wearing on the night he was arrested were part of his work uniform He said Avery was not purposely trying to be in police uniform or wearing an exact police uniform Sabori opposed a media application for a photograph in court and access to the summary of facts saying publicity around Avery’s case could impact his job prospects as he was currently suspended from his airport role pending the outcome of the court case Sabori argued the gravity of offending was low and the matter was not in the public interest saying court hearings were open to the public and the media were the eyes and ears of the public when there was a matter of public interest “The general practice has been to allow media to have access to information Sabori said the media publication was premature Judge Singh said in some cases he would accept that argument he said Avery was himself prominent in social media Sabori said his client’s interest in following police callouts was a hobby Judge Singh declined the application to take Avery’s photograph in court but allowed the summary to be released saying it wasn’t likely to make his employability worse given his employers already knew he had been charged He said it was in the public interest for the media to report the case as the public should be aware of people posing as police officers “Public interest outweighs the opposition to the media’s application.” Avery will be sentenced in the Tokoroa District Court on May 28 It’s not the first case of its kind in Rotorua. Last year, Luke Irvine failed in his bid to overturn two convictions for impersonating a police officer from 2022 and 2023 He used flashing lights to pull a car over in one incident and broke up a fight claiming to be an off-duty officer in another Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years The only spectre haunting Anthony Albanese’s government going into Election Day tomorrow will be the way the polls got wrong the likely 2019 election outcome the Scott Morrison government got re-elected in an upset result Opposition leader Peter Dutton is clinging to that precedent all of the prevailing signs – including the consistent theme of the polls for the past month – indicate that Albanese’s Labor government will trounce Dutton’s conservative coalition we can prevent the worst of the climate crisis by reducing methane pollution from intensive dairy which are under threat from intensive dairy pollution Jotika will join Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand Executive Director to explore the struggles and resilience of Fiji's garment workers and their collective fight for better pay and conditions In a significant milestone for indigenous-led conservation Hokotehi Moriori Trust has successfully carried out the first imi (Moriori tribal group) translocation of hakoakoa (muttonbird) relocating 50 juvenile birds from Mangere Island to a newly prepared site in Kaingaroa The new standard requires public service agencies to conduct a risk assessment whenever personal information is to be shared and includes robust safeguards to protect individual privacy and directs agencies to apply best practices when granting access to personal information A window to the world for our rangatahi and whānau,” says Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer “We won’t sit back while this Government shuts the door on Māori futures Our commitment is clear—we would invest more in regional tertiary education Unless your workplace is already utopia – and we haven’t come across one yet – there is a good reason for all union members to come to this hui Whatever your union and whatever matters most to you and your workmates please join us at the union meeting this May Day so that we can keep building our relationships and strength as a movement for workers’ rights More than 500 people have signed a petition to keep a busy section of Rotorua state highway at 80km/h with its creator calling for support from the city's mayor and MP NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) consultation on the government's intention to reverse speed limit reductions under the previous government closes on Thursday Some will revert automatically and others are subject to public feedback Transport Minister Chris Bishop said at the time the changes would make it easier for people and freight to move as quickly and efficiently as possible and would drive economic growth and productivity Rotorua resident and former council candidate Ryan Gray created a petition to keep the speed limit at 80km/h at the intersection of Waipā State Mill Road and State Highway 5 rather than it revert to the pre-2022 limit of 100km/h Gray said the number of people signing reflected people's desire for safety in that area despite how "in general people seem to like to drive fast" Gray calculated an increased limit would shave 12 seconds from a journey He did not view this as worth the safety risk especially without any road design changes or improvements He called on both mayor Tania Tapsell and Rotorua MP Todd McClay to "speak up for their communities and tell NZTA to keep Waipā at 80km/h" He said the signatures came from a wide range of people both lanes of the 795m stretch south of Old Taupō Rd had an annual average daily traffic of 16,631 vehicles Gray said some worried for young drivers that frequented the forest to mountain bike while others for the logging truck drivers turning right across both lanes of traffic from SH30 to then almost immediately turn left into Waipā Rotorua MP Todd McClay said the government was "keeping New Zealand moving by ensuring speed limits are sensible and consistent" He agreed the area would get busier with the business park development and he noted the "significant economic development" it would deliver Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said she had been "strongly requesting funding" from NZTA for safety and accessibility improvements in that area alongside Rotorua Business Chamber and RotoruaNZ "It's very disappointing that for the next three years NZTA hasn't allocated or prioritised funding for important road network upgrades or any safety improvements in our district." She assured the community it would "keep pushing for the right decision" for safety and to support job growth aspirations with the development of the industrial park She previously said she would be reluctant to see the stretch return to 100km/h without improvements The council's infrastructure and assets group manager Stavros Michael said it did not submit during consultation but continued to advocate for roading network improvements It would discuss its concerns directly with NZTA Recommended interventions supported "by all parties including NZTA" included roundabouts at key intersections and speed limit adjustments at that section of state highway There were 56 speed limit changes on local and reserve access roads following a June 2021 council meeting after consultation for a number of reasons and considerations This included roads lowered to 60km/h under a nation-wide phase out of 70km/h limits There were no fatalities on these sections of roads prior to limit reduction One was recorded on Pukehangi Road in 2022 NZTA data shows a 2022 crash in that location as involving an SUV and a post or pole in light rain Police said in September that year it was notified of a crash at 12.30am and the sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty and Waikato system design regional manager Susan Collins said it appreciated the concerns about safe and effective roading links to and from Rotorua The district received more than $65 million for projects in recent years There were always more bids for funding than what was available and this was prioritised Regional investment under the programme was forecast to total $1.9 billion $500m more than under the previous programme Other investment in Rotorua included safety improvements at State Highway 33 from Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa "The high rate of deaths and serious injuries in Bay of Plenty is being addressed with targeted infrastructure improvements maintaining the state highway network and increased police enforcement," Collins said Bay of Plenty state highway maintenance totalled $319m for the programme period $208m was ring-fenced for pothole prevention An NZTA spokesperson said it would review and consider feedback and if it did revert it would be changed by July 1 alongside other automatic reversals A small community is "angry and frustrated" it's been forced to once again fight a battle it thought it had already won The Transport Agency has confirmed it will consult on the automatic speed reversal of two sections of highway through Nelson following strong community opposition After weeks of uncertainty for residents about a speed limit increase through a Nelson suburb the New Zealand Transport Agency has confirmed the community will be consulted The government plans to reverse former Labour government's speed limit reductions Sections of State Highway 5 are set to remain at 80km/h A proposal to raise the speed limit on a busy section of Rotorua highway has been dropped in a move one petition creator has called a “victory for common sense” The Government announced in January it would consult on reversing a swathe of state highway speed limits lowered under the Labour Government More than 21,500 people had their say during public consultation and based on this NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said today 43 locations would return to their previous higher speed limits with six remaining at their current lower speed limits NZTA said today road users and communities in those six locations made their support for the current lower speed limits clear The tipping point for keeping a limit in place was if 50% wanted it to remain About 73% of 1030 responses wanted the 1.33km stretch of road from south of the Hemo Rd roundabout to south of Waipa State Mill Road to stay at 80km/h It included 513 who signed a petition submitted against raising it to 100km/h Rotorua resident and former council candidate Ryan Gray created the petition I’m incredibly grateful for the 500-plus people who signed the petition which helped overwhelmingly show the community wanted the speed limit to remain at its current level.” At the time it was announced, businesses expressed their concern to Local Democracy Reporting noting the business of the area and how there were blind spots Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said it was positive most feedback was listened to and she thanked locals who shared views “But playing with speed limits won’t fix the underlying safety problem that NZ Transport Agency decided not to invest any more into such as upgrades on Rotorua State Highways for the next three years Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell in a March 2025 meeting “This is despite [the] council having provided plans and community aspirations for safety improvements in places like Waipa State Mill Road and industrial areas near the Rotorua Airport “So while we’ll take these speed changes as a win we won’t give up the fight to see the investment that Rotorua deserves to be safer and also support the growth happening in our district.” Tapsell made similar comments last month in response to residents’ concerns about the speed limit proposal NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty and Waikato system design regional manager Susan Collins said at the time it appreciated the concerns about safe and effective roading links to and from Rotorua “The high rate of deaths and serious injuries in Bay of Plenty is being addressed with targeted infrastructure improvements maintaining the state highway network and increased police enforcement,” Collins said $208m is ring-fenced for pothole prevention Meanwhile the speed limit on the about 1km section of SH5 from north-east of Waikite Valley Rd to southwest of Waiotapu Loop Rd will also stay at 80km/h About 1km of SH5 from north-east of Waikite Valley Rd to southwest of Waiotapu Loop Rd will stay 80km/h Submissions totalled 799 and included a 57-signature petition Implementation of the speed limit reversals will be rolled out in monthly tranches with all reversals to be in effect by July 1 Among them are sections of State Highway 30 from Rotorua towards Whakatāne More than 80% of respondents wanted this for each length The Te Teko to Awakeri section had 1264 responses Consultation on another 16 sections of state highway is open until May 14 How do you feel about Tauranga’s rapid population growth Back to top