Western Heights High School’s Zenith Dance Crew take DanceNZMade national title in Palmerston North. Western Heights High School’s Zenith Dance Crew danced away with not only the title of 11-13 Senior National Champions but also the Overall National Champions title at the schools’ DanceNZMade Nationals in Palmerston North this month. It is the third time they’ve won the overall title, having previously been champions in 2016 and 2022. It follows their success earlier this year: they secured second place in the Varsity/Secondary/Novice division at Project Tauranga in June and were crowned Senior Small Crew Champions at the Wellington Regionals of Hip Hop Unite NZ Schools in July. They also won the 11-13 Senior Champion title and were Overall Regional Champion at the DanceNZMade Rotorua Regionals in August. This was followed by a first-place finish and the title of Most Outstanding Hip Hop Dance Crew at the Queenstown Hip Hop Unite NZ Schools Nationals in September. Led by choreographer Logan James, the team included fellow Year 13 dancers Shani Hemara, Izzy Hiva, Ria Mani, and Carola Rodriguez-Perone, along with Kalani Pinga and Jess Day from Year 12, and Ella Hudson, Mereana Pehi, Leah Adams, and Oasis Taiepa-Hawkins from Year 11. Western Heights High School dance teacher Te Ao Tahana-Prangnell said: “I couldn’t be more proud of my students’ achievements this year. “Logan has worked extremely hard to create and foster such a strong crew. “I will be sad to watch my Year 13s move on from Heights Dance, but I will be looking forward to the new choreographers Kalani Pinga, Jess Day, Ella Hudson, and Mereana Pehi stepping up for 2025.” The DanceNZMade competitions around New Zealand involve 240 schools and 3300 students. He piko he tuna is about resilience and love the despite challenges of life. RotoruaBy Negotiation522989m²A Prudent InvestmentSpacious Home with Endless Potential – A Must-See for Families & Investors Set on a generous 989sqm (more or less) section in sought-after Western Heights two-bathroom home presents a rare opportunity for renovators and families looking to create something truly special this two-story home offers incredible potential for those ready to add value The large kitchen provides ample space for family living The dining area seamlessly connects to a spacious living room heat pump for year-round comfort with a separate laundry room adds to the home’s practicality The outdoor space offers endless possibilities—whether it’s landscaping There’s plenty of room for kids and pets to enjoy while still leaving space for future enhancements Located in a family-friendly neighbourhood just a short walk to Western Heights High and Selwyn Primary School this property provides both convenience and long-term investment potential the high rental yield and strong demand in this location make this an excellent addition to any portfolio and future potential offer an exciting opportunity to secure a home with lasting value and capital growth Call Arsh at 0211173175 for more information To access the Property File and other info on this property paste this link into your browser: https://www.propertyfiles.co.nz/property/RT04422 Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life. With no need for quotes from tradies, we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started. Police said the man, who is from Rotorua, is scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court today. The woman was found dead by police at 2.35am on Sunday morning after being called to a Utuhina property for a welfare check. "Two people injured in a linked incident at a Western Heights address remain in hospital in a critical condition," police said in a statement. Police were called to the Western Heights property around 5am on the same morning, where two people were located injured. "They were transported to hospital in critical condition," police said. "Scene examinations are continuing at the Western Heights and Utuhina addresses." Police are still wanting to speak to anyone with information on the case. Police said yesterday they believed the two incidents were linked. Map showing where the two incidents took place. (Source: 1News) A 52-year-old man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead at a property in the Rotorua suburb of Utuhina yesterday. Homicide probe after woman found dead in Rotorua two others injured Police said investigators believed the incidents were "linked" and said "One person is assisting us with our enquiries" Crime and Justice Crooks culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria Bush picked to take over as Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes Police experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising Technology has outpaced a currently underway review of the Arms Act and criminals are already taking advantage US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' was murdered in January 2022 by her neighbour Health Arrest after person assaulted A nurse leaving her shift last month was held up at gunpoint outside the grounds of the hospital More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ Tauranga and Auckland as a result of the six-week investigation Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Sole survivor of poisoned beef Wellington takes the stand Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon A 52-year-old man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead at a property in the Rotorua suburb of Utuhina yesterday is scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court today The woman was found dead by police at 2.35am on Sunday morning after being called to a Utuhina property for a welfare check "Two people injured in a linked incident at a Western Heights address remain in hospital in a critical condition," police said in a statement Police were called to the Western Heights property around 5am on the same morning "They were transported to hospital in critical condition," police said Police are still wanting to speak to anyone with information on the case Police said yesterday they believed the two incidents were linked A homicide investigation has been launched after a woman was found dead and two others were critically injured in "linked" incidents in Rotorua Emergency services were called to a Western Heights address at around 5am today following reports of two people being assaulted and enquiries are ongoing to determine exactly what has occurred." police were called to an address in Utuhina at around 2.35pm to conduct a welfare check on a woman A scene examination is also taking place at that property Police said investigators believed the incidents were "linked" and said "One person is assisting us with our enquiries "We are currently not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter "Police would like to hear from anyone who has information about either incident that might assist with our enquiries." The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months A US$3 billion (NZ$5 billion) repair backlog a stunning directive from President Donald Trump for the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons to “REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” — the notorious penitentiary on an island in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago Even as the Bureau of Prisons struggles with short staffing chronic violence and crumbling infrastructure at its current facilities Trump is counting on the agency to fulfill his vision of rebooting the infamously inescapable prison known in movies and pop culture as The Rock Trump declared in a social media post that a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz will house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders” Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William K Marshall III said that the agency “will vigorously pursue all avenues to support and implement the President’s agenda” and that he has ordered “an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps” We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law and justice,” Marshall said in a statement “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission.” an 8.9-hectare spit of land with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline was once the crown jewel of the federal prison system and home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals including gangsters Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly But skyrocketing repair and supply costs compelled the Justice Department to close the prison in 1963 and the Bureau of Prisons has long since replaced Alcatraz with modern penitentiaries including a maximum-security prison in Florence The former and perhaps future penitentiary is now a popular tourist attraction and a national historic landmark It’s controlled by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area meaning the Bureau of Prisons could be in for an interagency tug of war if it tries to wrest away control of the island Trump’s Alcatraz directive is yet another challenge for the Bureau of Prisons as it struggles to fix lingering problems while responding to the president’s priorities on incarceration and immigrant detention includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The problems at the Bureau of Prisons transcend administrations and facilities An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons over the last few years including widespread criminal activity by employees and severe understaffing that has hampered responses to emergencies then-President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency It remains the Justice Department’s largest agency 155,000 inmates and an annual budget of about US$8 billion (NZ$13.4 billion) but the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures have eliminated some pay bonuses that were credited with retaining and attracting new staff That has resulted in long overtime shifts for some workers and the continued use of a policy known as augmentation teachers and other workers are pressed into duty to guard inmates A Bureau of Prisons official told Congress at a hearing in February that more than 4000 beds within the system — the equivalent of at least two full prisons — are unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs a 37-year-old Florida businessman who was found dead April 28 in a suspected suicide at a federal jail in Miami He was awaiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and killed his estranged wife in Spain inmate Ramadhan Jaabir Justice was killed in a fight at the federal penitentiary in Pollock where he was serving a nearly 11-year sentence for a conviction related to an armed robbery As Trump was ordering Alcatraz’s reopening correctional officers at the same Miami jail were fighting to curb the spread of tuberculosis and Covid-19 isolating inmates after they tested positive for the diseases immigration detainees at the facility ripped out a fire sprinkler and flooded a holding cell during a lengthy intake process the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin has sat idle for more than a year after the Bureau of Prisons cleared it of inmates in the wake of rampant sexual abuse by employees the agency made the closure permanent and idled six prison camps across the country to address “significant challenges crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources” While Trump hails Alcatraz as a paragon of the federal prison system’s cherished past other facilities stand as reminders of its recent troubles They include the federal jail in Manhattan which remains idle after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide there in 2019 exposed deep flaws in its operations where 23 inmates have been charged in recent months with crimes ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing last month of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay A person is in custody after an alleged theft which left a person injured on the grounds of Palmerston North Hospital Police said officers were called to a Ruahine St carpark about 1.30pm on Tuesday Police said the alleged offender left the scene and was found a short time later "Police would like to thank the members of the public who witnessed the incident and intervened to assist the victim," a police spokesperson said That same night a staff member was knocked unconscious Staff have been calling for security improvements Health NZ MidCentral operations group director Sarah Fenwick previously told RNZ it was committed to making staff feel safer She said these included a security escort to vehicles increasing security services on hospital grounds and "opening up" access to the staff carpark for people working afternoon and night shifts "Lighting has been audited in all outside carparking areas to ensure it is well maintained," she said "Interim access to well-lit parking onsite with dedicated security for staff working afternoon and night shifts while a more permanent solution for out-of-hours carparking is developed." rnz.co.nz More than 25kg of cocaine has been seized and four men arrested following an joint investigation into the importation of the drug into Christchurch Police and Customs received information about a "significant importation" of cocaine that had come through Lyttelton Port on March 29 Search warrants were then executed across the country by specialist teams to support investigators with evidence gathering including possession of cocaine for supply and burglary and will appear in various district courts across a range of dates Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Sparks said the seizure equated to more than 250,000 doses of cocaine and $9 million of harm "That is an enormous amount of damage and misery that had been heading into our communities that has now been halted through this investigation." Sparks said the success of the investigation was partly down to the "excellent partnership" between Customs and the police "We continue to have a focus on engaging with businesses and supporting their legitimate services by keeping them safe with prevention advice to deter drug trafficking organisations’ attempts to exploit their people and premises." Customs acting investigations manager Rachael Manning said the investigation resulted from quick action and close collaboration between the agencies as well as industry partners "We know that transnational and serious organised crime groups are actively targeting New Zealand to drive up both demand and supply of illegal drugs such as cocaine for maximum profit They’re using every method possible to exploit any vulnerabilities within international supply chains in secure areas or on vessels themselves." A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate A stranger allegedly tried to force an 8-year-old boy into a car outside an Auckland primary school yesterday before bystanders intervened and the man drove off Police confirmed they were investigating an incident from around 3pm on Monday outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa "Police are still working to understand exactly what was occurring at the time and our enquiries are ongoing," a spokesperson said "We have spoken with the boy and will continue to work through a careful process Rowandale School principal Karl Vasau said in a statement to social media that other parents had intervened "The student then made his way home and told his parents who then came into school to let us know and then they rung the police." Vasau told 1News the pupil was "doing fine" following the incident and was surrounded by a "supportive "Our student is safe now and his family are thankful that nothing further happened to their boy but are wanting us all to be aware and stay safe It's about working with that child to make them feel safe again but also looking forward to returning back to school with a little bit of normality." Police had reacted "pretty quickly" to the reports "They've been in this morning to touch base and connect the community police constables are going to come back to tomorrow to address the whole school in relation to what had happened and around keeping themselves safe before and after school." Increased police patrols would remain in the area after school from Wednesday Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105 Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted A homicide investigation has begun after a woman was found dead and two other people were found at a different address in a critical condition Both properties are in Rotorua and the incidents are thought to be connected emergency services were called to an address in the suburb of Western Heights about 5am on Monday morning where the caller said two people were being seriously assaulted police were called to an address in the suburb of Utuhina to check on a woman's welfare and one person is assisting us with our enquiries," the spokesperson said "We are currently not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter." as officers worked to find out exactly what had happened They urged anyone with information about either incident to come forward to talk to police, by calling 105 and quoting the reference number 240923/0552. Information could also be provided through the anonymous reporting website: Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News The Mobil on Clayton Rd in Rotorua has not sold fuel since the start of August For about two months, motorists stopping at a Rotorua petrol station have not been able to buy fuel Every week – often twice a week – for years Rotorua truck driver Mokai Kingi has stopped at Mobil on Clayton Rd to fuel up he has been met with empty pricing boards and makeshift signs saying the business is “out of fuel” The loyal Mobil customer is among many in the community asking what is going on at the fuel station “Why is there no petrol?” asked a commenter on the business’ Facebook page last month The comment did not get a reply and the page has not posted since April 30 On two Rotorua Daily Post visits to the Mobil last month the “out of fuel” sign was taped to a yellow wheelie bin on the forecourt and the pricing board was blank The shop and attached laundromat were open The staff member said he did not know why there was no fuel and the shop owners also had stores in Hamilton who lives in Western Heights with his wife said he had been going to the Clayton Rd Mobil “for 10 years” as it was on his way to and from work Kingi said he first saw the “out of fuel” sign at the start of August Since then he had been driving an extra 6.8km to the Te Ngae Mobil to fuel up “I go to the other Mobil so I can keep earning [Mobile Smiles reward] points.” had expressed concern about the loss of convenience A spokesman for the Clayton Rd service station told the Rotorua Daily Post in a September 25 email fuel was not available because of an upgrade to point-of-sale systems and it aimed to be operational again in two to three weeks Kingi said fuel was still not available this week and the spokesman did not respond to an emailed request for comment A spokesman for Exxon Mobil told the Rotorua Daily Post the Mobil on Clayton Rd was a dealer-owned site “The Mobil retail network consists of company-owned sites sites which are owned and run by independent operators.” He declined to comment on other questions relating to the Clayton Rd site except to say Smiles customers could “collect their points at our other locations in the Rotorua area A Gulati-owned station in Whanganui East has also been without fuel for more than two months The shop had remained open despite the pumps being dry, until a car crashed into the station on Tuesday. Neither Gulati nor Mobil would comment on the lack of fuel the Chronicle reported that Gulati was in charge of other Mobil-branded sites throughout the North Island fuel company Waitomo Group confirmed to the Chronicle this week it was set to take over former Mobil sites at Te Rapa and Frankton this month Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty She moved to the region in 2024 and has previously reported in Wairarapa and at Pacific Media Network He piko he tuna is about resilience and love the despite challenges of life Voters approved a $146 million in bonds for Western Heights Public Schools on Tuesday that will fund upgrades to the district's facilities and provide new buses According to unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board 60.5% of voters voted for the Proposition 1 construction and upgrades to the district's facilities along with textbooks Police have charged a 52-year-old Rotorua man with murder after a woman was found dead at an Utuhina address Two people injured in a linked incident at a Western Heights property remain in hospital in a critical condition Emergency services had been called to the Western Heights property about 5am on Monday morning where a caller said two people were being seriously assaulted Scene examinations are continuing at the Western Heights and Utuhina properties The man was scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court on Tuesday OKLA (KOKH) — TheWestern Heights Public School District announced a lockdown that began Wednesday at noon the superintendent of Western Heights Public Schools the high school campus went on lockdown following a threat made to a high school administrator The threat came from an outside source via telephone the middle school and Winds West sites have been placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure Local law enforcement is pursuing the threat For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here. A homicide investigation has been launched in Rotorua after a woman was found dead and two others were critically injured in “linked incidents” Emergency services were called to a Western Heights address about 5am on Monday following a report that two people were being seriously assaulted Police said they were transported to hospital in a critical condition Police were later called to an Utuhina address about 2.35pm to conduct a welfare check on a woman and one person is assisting us with our inquiries,” a spokesperson said Scene examinations are under way at each of the properties and police inquiries are ongoing to determine what occurred “We are currently not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter,” police said Anyone with information about either incident which may assist inquiries is asked to contact police via the 105 phone service or online referencing the file number 240923/0552 Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night Voters across the Oklahoma City metro area will consider multiple bond proposals on Tuesday that seek to improve facilities within local school districts Western Heights Public Schools and Cashion Public Schools Voting for these propositions begins at 7 a.m Voters will decide whether to approve a $198.75 million proposal for Putnam City Schools that seeks to "elevate education excellence, modernize facilities and ensure safety for all students and staff." In a news release the district boasts that the 2025 Innovation Bond will bring "state-of-the-art upgrades and expansions without increasing taxes." More: Three candidates compete for Oklahoma City schools board chairperson seat the bond would fund construction on two new dedicated centers One center would be the Putnam City Innovation Campus that would feature a Health and Wellness Complex on existing district land near Hefner Road and Council Road The other would be the Putnam City Centennial Campus near NW 39 and Ann Arbor Avenue Other investments through the bond would provide advanced weapons detections systems to each elementary school and fund infrastructure improvements roof replacements and multi-functional storm shelters The bond also would support needs such as new buses Western Heights Public Schools is seeking approval from voters for a $146 million bond proposal with a 10-year repayment plan and no tax increase, according to a news release from the district's superintendent "This bond is focused on addressing the challenges of our aging facilities while providing safer and welcoming spaces for our students and staff," said Brayden Savage The bond is split by two propositions that voters will see on their ballots Voters to consider $39.93 million bond for Cashion Public SchoolsCashion Public Schools is looking to pass a $39.93 million bond for campus updates including a 30,000 square-foot high school expansion to include six new classrooms The bond includes a 13-year repayment plan with a 15% tax increase the bond will couple with a lease-purchase plan funded by the school district to free up space for a new high school by repurposing several rooms and moving the football field inside the track Fire crews battled a structure fire in Rotorua on Sunday night A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said they were called to a cabin on fire in Western Heights around 7.40pm “The cabin was 4m by 6m and was fully involved in fire when crews arrived,” she said “No one was in the cabin and it did not appear to be suspicious.” A fire investigator would be returning to the scene today Police at Kendra Scanlon's home on Brookland Rd in Western Heights in April 2022 A 19-month-old girl who died after an oven fell on top of her while she was unsupervised in her Rotorua home has prompted a coroner’s warning to parents as well as recommendations about free-standing ovens Details of the tragic death of “dearly loved” Kendra Paisley Ann Scanlon have been released in Coroner Matthew Bates’ finding released publicly on Wednesday 2022 at her Brookland Rd home after she and her 4-year-old brother were left unsupervised while the adults in the home slept Kendra was eventually discovered about 11am pinned under the kitchen oven The finding said the children were covered in cooking oil believed to have come from a pot of oil left on the stovetop The finding said it appeared Kendra and her brother had climbed on to the opened oven door Kendra was taken to Rotorua Hospital but doctors were unable to resuscitate her Her brother was taken to Starship Hospital in a critical condition Police and Coroner Bates found it was a “tragic accident” Also staying at the house were two relatives one who looked after the children while Kendra’s parents worked nightshift and another who was staying temporarily while working during the school holidays Kendra was described as an active child and was known to climb tables Her father once caught her opening the oven door to get leftover pizza inside None of the children were known to have climbed on the open oven door Kendra’s father recalled she had started pushing dining chairs next to the kitchen bench so she could get food from the bench or pantry and her mother said their 4-year-old son was also good at climbing things The finding said the children settled for bed at about 8.30pm the night before Kendra and her sister went to sleep in their parents’ bed and their father later moved them to their own beds The younger relative arrived home at 9pm and noticed the pot of used oil on the back of the stovetop the adults slept in and did not wake up at 8am as they usually would to take the children to school and daycare the younger relative woke and realised the children were still home She went into Kendra’s parents’ bedroom to wake them she noticed the hallway was messy with noodles and a powdery substance She discovered Kendra trapped beneath the fallen oven Kendra’s mother lifted the oven off her daughter and picked her up Kendra’s 4-year-old brother was sitting nearby pointing towards her covered in cooking oil and with uncooked noodles in his hand The finding said Kendra’s father recalled at some point Kendra’s mother asking their 4-year-old what happened and their son replied “the oven had fall” and confirmed he and Kendra had been playing on it The son also said he tried to wake his mother earlier because of this Hospital staff tried to resuscitate her and gave her adrenaline chest compressions and respiratory support but she did not respond Kendra’s brother was also treated for injuries He was transferred to Starship Hospital in critical condition but later recovered Police examined the home and the Simpson Atlas brand freestanding oven It weighed 61kg and was not secured to the wall or floor Kendra weighed 11.9kg and her brother about 20kg Police reconstructed events and concluded a 20kg weight on the edge of the open oven door would cause the oven to tip forward violently There are no council regulations requiring freestanding ovens to be fastened Operating manuals did not specify they should be fixed to a wall or other surface Police concluded the circumstances of Kendra’s death were not suspicious and were the result of a “tragic accident” Coroner Bates agreed with the police’s finding An autopsy found Kendra died from traumatic asphyxia In making recommendations to prevent further deaths from occurring again Coroner Bates said his comments were not intended as criticism of Kendra’s family who “clearly loved her and took good care of her” he said the “dearly loved” girl’s death was a tragic reminder of the need for young children to have constant adult supervision “If direct supervision of young children at home is not possible and children are permitted to play around the house all care must be taken to ensure the environment is safe Many are naturally curious and will explore or climb given the opportunity particularly if following the example of others.” He said Kendra’s death was a reminder of the importance of childproofing areas in the home by installing items such as oven and appliance locks and securing items that might be climbed or prone to tipping particularly when young children were known to enjoy climbing He recommended local councils consider regulations around installing freestanding ovens including fastening them in place to prevent the risk of tipping when weight is placed on the open door Coroner Bates said he was not suggesting regulations applied retrospectively although highlighting this issue should prompt people to investigate whether their current setup was safe He made a second recommendation to manufacturers of freestanding ovens to either include in user manuals or via labels placed on ovens with clear messaging that ovens might be liable to tipping when weight is placed on the open door if the oven is not fastened Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years French language students at Rotorua’s Western Heights High School have been taking up part-time jobs and selling food in a bid to raise up to $6500 for a school trip to Tahiti One student says she had “never” been overseas as several students hope the trip will help them become more fluent in French says the trip will “elevate” their confidence with the language and is appealing to the community for donations and sponsorships “Anything that would help our students get out of Rotorua and maybe try and open up their horizons to something else.” It comes as French and history students from Taupō-nui-a-Tia College have been fundraising for a trip to France in April, taking on part-time jobs, organising a car wash, and helping at the Taupō marathon Western Heights High School student Hinehou Kopu said she had been selling hot dogs at Mitre 10 on the weekends and had raised about $2000 so far who is in her second year of studying French said she was most looking forward to learning the language at a French school and swimming with the turtles “I found it an interesting language and a challenge that I could try and take on.” The aspiring photographer said she hoped the trip would help her become fluent in French and “maybe one day travel to France” Kopu said she had “never” been overseas before “I’m scared but excited at the same time.” Paige McLean said she sold Whittaker’s chocolate last year - which raised about $1500 - and planned to organise a ticketed hāngī with her family at home closer to the time McLean said she was looking forward to “the experience” of a new place and hoped to become more fluent in French Zoe Cullen said her mother had helped her fundraise last year by selling hams and Zoe had sold some chocolate The school’s head of department of international languages said 21 Year 10 and 11 French students and three staff were going to Tahiti from July 7 to 16 Students would spend the mornings doing one-on-one lessons with native French-speaking people while the afternoons would be dedicated to cultural activities and going to the coral reef to learn how the locals protect their sealife (in French) The students were home-staying with Tahitian families to get “full immersion” in the language Pike said some students had never left New Zealand and going to Tahiti would be their “big experience” “It just elevates not only their confidence but also their recall because they have to use it.” Pike said the students were fundraising to pay for their trip by getting part-time jobs which was “something new that I’ve tried to introduce” She said the cost was about $6500 per student for accommodation Pike said donations and sponsorships from the community were welcome She said Ray White had contributed through charity auctions while Mitre 10 Mega had provided donations and availability for using their premises for barecues Pike said the school’s French programme started with eight students in 2022 and now had more than 100 learners She attributed this to the school being the only school in Rotorua that offered French and “cross-curricular learning” with “full immersion cooking” in French and Spanish Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post A Western Heights High School student show where the slug from the air gun lodged in his hand It's the sort of phone call every parent dreads - someone saying don't panic but your son has been shot But that's exactly what happened to one Rotorua mother who thought her son was enjoying his day at Western Heights High School until being told he had been hit by pellets from an air gun fired into the school grounds New details have emerged about last Friday's shooting which left at least two students needing surgery Another two students and one staff member were also hit in the incident which sent the school into lockdown for more than an hour Police say it was fortunate nobody was seriously injured while the school is now reviewing procedures after "the most serious incident of its kind" it has had to deal with The Rotorua Daily Post Weekend has spoken to two injured students They have not been named for legal reasons One student needed surgery to remove a slug after he was shot through the back of his hand "I told a teacher that I thought I'd been shot and he sent me to the nurse." Both the nurse and student were unaware the slug was still in his hand but he was advised to go to the hospital as soon as the lockdown was lifted A teacher called the boy's mother while she was at work [he's] alright but he's been shot'," she said She was worried and wanted to collect her son despite the school reassuring her he was fine "Police weren't letting anyone in or out," she said Her son was kept in Rotorua Hospital overnight "They tried to remove the slug under local but it was removed under general surgery late Saturday afternoon," she said The event has been stressful for the family however for the student; the seriousness of the incident didn't sink in until he was discharged from hospital The mother described her son as having a complete breakdown on Sunday afternoon "It was really scary; I didn't want to go back to school," he said The school has offered counselling to the boy his mother is disappointed with how it has been handled "It's hard to have faith in the school; they haven't contacted us at all since They haven't even asked if he's okay," she said with the policies and processes they have in place "What's to say next time round it's more than a slug gun?" School board chairman Mike Membery said he knew there would be unhappy parents but the school was going through a process to access their needs individually Another student was shot in the lower back - and also required surgery "It just makes you aware these sorts of things can happen in your own backyard," his mother said "It was afterwards someone said to me that I had quite a lot of blood down my back." Having spent the weekend in pain he had the slug surgically removed under local anaesthetic on Wednesday evening "When we saw it on the X-ray I was worried about how close it was to his kidney." The student said he was just grateful it wasn't a real gun [school principal] Mr Gemmell said to go to him if I need anything," he said Western Heights High School this week said in a statement its thoughts were with the injured students and staff "This has been a distressing incident for our school and community," the statement said "This is the most serious incident of its kind that we have had to deal with and we are already rigorously reviewing our processes and procedures to ensure that we are following best practice Outside agencies will assist us with this where possible "We would like to reassure our community that the safety of our students and staff is our absolute priority." Rotorua Police Youth Aid Section is dealing with three youths through family group conferences An air rifle had been seized from a Western Heights address Senior Sergeant Courtney Brunt said police were treating the incident "very seriously" "Many of these air rifles have the potential to cause injury or death." The minimum age for possessing or using an air gun is 18 The school is currently in lockdown due to a bomb threat received by the police Teachers being stationed around Western Heights High School after all clear given Western Heights High School students have been allowed out after a two hour lockdown Just after 1pm the classrooms were evacuated and students were sent to the school courts and turf after a potential bomb threat Emergency services were at the scene this afternoon The school has a roll of 1300 pupils in Year 9 and above Brian Rae came down to the school to check on his son "He has had no lunch if he doesn't eat or drink he could go into a seizure for it if there is a problem the school should notify the parents straight away." Rae said the safety of his son was the ultimate priority if his health deteriorates because of this A woman quickly called her son when she heard of the bomb threat and although he was fine they are on the courts evacuated from the classes." She said she also received a notification from the school that parents and caregivers were not able to go to the school and no one was being let on to the grounds A Year 11 student told the Rotorua Daily Post the students were being kept on the basketball courts "There is all 1300 of us located on the basketball courts and most of us have no idea what is going on "The police have cleared the classrooms to our belief and are now searching our bags one by one "The teachers have put us into straight lines some of us are now a bit worried but still trying to keep calm," he said Megan O'Connor is one of the worried parents waiting outside the school gates She came to pick her daughter up for an appointment at 1.10pm but then five cop cars arrived and the gates shut "We were told to move our cars to one side so emergency services could come through Even that they're doing everything they can to calm a mother's nerves down." A marked police car is now guarding the main entrance to the school and cones have been put up to keep people away from the gates has two children and two nephews at the school "My son has anxiety so I pick him up at lunch but when I got here at 1.20pm it was already closed Just for them to say they are safe would be nice." Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand staff inside the school have moved away from their vehicles near the gates and towards the classrooms The school said on its Facebook page that students and staff had been evacuated and asked that parents stay away from the school "The school is currently in lockdown due to a bomb threat received by the police All students and staff have been evacuated safely from the buildings "We are under the instructions of the police who request that parents do not come to the school as we cannot allow access at this time Thank you for your co-operation," the post said A police media spokeswoman said police had been made aware of a threat made in the Rotorua area and are in the area making inquiries a school on Old Quarry Rd had been evacuated this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read Western Heights High School principal James Bracefield in front of science classrooms due to be upgraded Western Heights High School is set to get a makeover as buildings that see about 1250 students a day going through them are rebuilt The buildings that are part of the upgrade equate to about a third of the buildings on-site but they're tired," deputy principal Wiremu Shuker told the Rotorua Daily Post The plans have been about 10 years in the making but were only made possible late last year when the decile 4 school secured capital works funding from the Government But a major consultation programme with the school community and iwi will take place before the contracts designs and "dollar figures" are finalised but it's hoped the projects will gradually be completed in the next two to four years He said the Government funding was "hugely significant" Principal James Bracefield said one of the biggest problems with the old buildings was maintenance would go through the English and science blocks each day and about 27 students were based at the Te Maru unit the upgrades will be carried out with "a staggered approach so they will have minimal disruption" "We're going to have better facilities for our learners that are designed to last for the new way of teaching and learning for the next 30 years "This is a really positive thing for the school and community," he said The buildings will include a "cultural narrative" developed with Te Arawa and Bracefield said this would be one of the most "exciting" aspects He became principal at the start of this year after returning to his hometown A "whole school build" was carried out at Murupara while Bracefield was there familiarising him with the building process head of Ministry of Education's infrastructure service said the Western Heights High School funding came from the ministry's capital budgets These are "used to deliver construction projects across New Zealand to improve the quality and performance of the school property portfolio" "The ministry identifies and prioritises investment based on the needs of schools This funding is in addition to the capital funding all schools receive annually for maintenance and improvement works that they manage themselves." Principals are worried social housing developments being built in zones for lower socio-economic schools could create problems for staff Six school leaders want “transparency” on Rotorua’s housing intensification across the board saying that knowing early about developments would help them better support high needs children They wrote to Rotorua Lakes Council saying there was “not enough proactive planning and communication” to help schools support students and manage growing numbers The submission on council’s Housing for Everyone - Plan Change 9 was made by Western Heights High School principal James Bracefield Westbrook Primary School principal Colin Watkins Western Heights Primary School principal Brent Griffin Rotorua Intermediate principal Garry de Thierry and Aorangi School’s Kairo McLean Some worry schools would not be able to cater to the needs of new enrolments as more homes are built - including social housing The principals said new students in social housing might require a high level of learning support due to experiencing trauma and having large learning gaps caused by being “highly transient” Being informed of social housing developments would ensure proactive support could be put in place to ensure “a quality transition into schools” for students “We need to be informed to be proactive rather than reactive.” Another concern was that “many of the social housing subdivisions are beginning to appear in the catchment zones for the lower socio-economic schools” They said schools in these areas were already under “immense pressure” teaching children “suffering severe trauma huge learning deficits and significant emotional damage” these schools are going to be confronted with unmanageable environments.” The principals said they felt “very strongly” without adequate planning communication and support they would be left to navigate their way through “social dysfunction that is engulfing our school communities” principals and NGOs needed to work closely together to “ensure a strategic plan of absolute quality” was formed to manage the “ever-increasing social issue” the principals also said another concern they had was “how some of the new rules regarding housing intensification with multiple level dwellings being able to be built in residential areas on the same site” This had the potential to increase the disparity in some neighbourhoods as developers could potentially look to knock houses down in lower socio-economic areas and build intensified developments because it was “cost-effective,” they said Taute told the Rotorua Daily Post issues raised in the October letter “continued to be a concern” for principals Transparency about social housing planned for the area would help principals pre-empt challenges and put support in place to help new students settle into school Children joining school part way through the year were sometimes disengaged and anxious which could stem from feeling disconnected from their environment “It’s almost like the rest of the waka is already sailing and you are just trying to play catch up.” Support was needed to help them understand school work make new friends and address food or uniform issues said school rolls could grow “quite quickly” once families moved into housing developments resulting in more young people needing additional support principals may have to bring in more staff or establish additional learning programmes Griffin said while there was an “absolute need” for more houses principals wanted to know exactly what was being planned “What we are asking for is there to be some transparency around what is happening.” Work was under way on a number of public housing developments in Western Heights - including a dwelling on Clayton Rd consisting of three four-bedroom homes “The likelihood is there will potentially be 10 children coming from that [development] to our school.” The school already had students enrolled with “trauma Right now systems were in place to cater to them but Griffin said the school was not equipped to support an influx of children with similar needs Rotorua Lakes Council deputy chief executive district development Jean-Paul Gaston said it did not notify schools of new public or market housing developments unless it had a “direct resource management effect on them” Developers would also have their own processes around engaging with stakeholders and neighbours local iwi and government agencies had put in an “immense” amount of work responding to Rotorua’s housing crisis and planning for growth Work on the Future Development Strategy (FDS) was under way and principals had been invited to information sessions ahead of community consultation later this year Council could not respond to concerns in the submission as the process for Plan Change 9 was still under way The Rotorua Daily Post contacted developers for comment. OneWatchman Residential director Marcus Jacobson said the company had engaged with the Ministry of Education about how the development at 31 Ngongotahā Rd could affect school roll growth “They forecast forward in terms of what’s coming up to know what they need to allow for from a schooling perspective.” There had been two community meetings about the 350 home development with another scheduled for the month’s end Watchman Residential was also behind the Mountview Green housing development in Rotorua Kāinga Ora Bay of Plenty regional director Darren Toy said it was in “regular and ongoing contact” with the Ministry of Education and principals in areas where public housing was planned Kāinga Ora had about 300 homes in planning or under construction in the area Ministry of Education data showed in 2021 there were about 14,200 school-age students in the Rotorua catchment The ministry’s catchment plan said it would meet the needs of the “changing schooling network” benefiting an estimated 14,000 each year over the next decade to 2030 Hautū (deputy secretary) Te Tai Whenua Jocelyn Mikaere said regional staff worked closely with local councils to “understand the impact on the education network of housing developments” “We monitor school rolls and recommend new classrooms as part of our roll growth programme where needed.” Rotorua staff were also part of the advisory group for the FDS and had a “close working relationship” with the council around future housing developments Mikaere said schools had “coped very well” with additional enrolments occurring as a result of families in emergency housing - many removing barriers providing free uniforms and stationery you can join the Western Heights Cemetery in honoring the veterans who reside at the cemetery The cemetery is located at 1607 Fort Worth Ave and a living biography tour will begin at 11 a.m for several of the veterans buried at Western Heights The tour hopes to tell their stories from all three wars Recently, volunteers have been working at the cemetery to uncover and preserve unmarked graves. Volunteers want to turn the abandoned cemetery into a “crown jewel.” Western Heights School teacher Peter Turner and Kura Kai general manager Marie Paterson Western Heights High School is supporting the local community and whānau by preparing and cooking hangi packs for Matariki week Students have been working with charity organisation Kura Kai which donates chest freezers to high schools and ensures the freezers were kept well stocked by working together with community volunteers to prepare nutritious meals “Matariki gives us a wonderful opportunity to share our manaakitanga and aroha to give back to our community and to help those in need,” said Kura Kai general manager Marie Paterson The meals were available to people in a variety of situations - from whānau experiencing sickness and bereavement to families in emergency accommodation “Our kaupapa is a simple one - ‘whānau feeding whānau’ Some of our schools like Western Heights High School work closely with their regional attendance team they are able to turn up with meals which makes a difference,” says Paterson The head of food and fabric at Western Heights School said the initiative showed students first-hand how they could give back to their community “The process in preparing these packs really brought the students together and built upon the whanaungatanga (kinship) with the valued assistance from our partnership with Kura Kai has helped us with showing manaakitanga to others while also celebrating Matariki,” says Turner The school was given permission to cook the hangi in a steam box at Ōhinemutu it was their first time preparing and cooking a hangi Turner said: “Keeping our rangatahi in education at this level is increasingly more difficult We’re empowering our rangatahi with the value of manaakitanga (caring for others) and making the decision to stay in school a little easier.” More information and ways to support Kura Kai can be found on its website: https://kurakai.co.nz/ A video of violent bullying at a Rotorua high school has quickly gone viral which shows a Western Heights High School student being kicked in the head by another student was uploaded last night and has been viewed 14,000 times shared more than 200 times and garnered more than 250 comments in less than 12 hours The video shows three boys approaching another student who is seated before one of the students kicks the seated boy in the head The kicked student falls backwards off the seat or taking photos of the incident on an iPad a Western Heights High School spokeswoman said the staff and students were appalled by the incident "Our Board of Trustees have been notified of this incident and are following the Ministry of Education disciplinary guidelines," the statement said "We have used school assemblies to send out strong messages about appropriate behaviour and we are proud of those students who intervened to prevent further harm to the victim "We share the concern about the level of violence being used by young people today and would like reassure our school community that the safety of our students is our number one priority." The spokeswoman confirmed the incident happened yesterday at lunchtime She was unaware whether the victim's family had contacted police The school would not comment further on disciplinary measures for privacy reasons It's a prospect we dream about when we buy a Lotto ticket and for one Rotorua Lotto player that dream has become a reality after winning $8.5 million in last night's Powerball draw The prize is made up of $8m from Powerball First Division and $500,000 from Lotto First Division The winning ticket was sold at Western Heights Foodmarket Store owner Montu Kumar said he was excited when he found out about the win and hoped it was going to someone deserving it's been a long time that it came to our store and it feels good for the neighbourhood," he said we have a lot of regulars who like to keep it local and go to their favourite store This is a nice repayment for their loyalty." He expected an increase in business following the win "A lot of people get excited and they want to go down to the lucky store The store has sold four Lotto First Division winning tickets a Strike First Division winner and a Bullseye First Division winner previously but never anything close to the $8.5 million in last night's draw you want to get the Powerball and it's a good number Last night's big score was the fourth Powerball win this year and comes two weeks after a player from Te Aroha won $4.5m A Lotto player who bought their ticket in Auckland will also be celebrating after winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division The winning ticket was sold at Valley Road Superette Strike Four was won by two players from Napier and Invercargill who each took home $200,000 The winning strike tickets were sold at Z Kennedy Rd in Napier and Windsor Stationery & Lotto in Invercargill Western Heights High School have qualified to compete at the Condor National Sevens Tournament later this month Western Heights High School rugby has gone from strength to strength this season their latest achievement being a second-place finish in the under-19 open division at the Bay of Plenty Secondary School Sevens tournament at the tournament played at Arataki Park on Saturday means they will join the other top-four finishers Rotorua Boys' High School (third) and Te Puke High School (fourth) at the Condor National Secondary Schools Sevens at the end of this month It comes on the back of one of the most successful years the school's 15-aside team has ever had They were the Baywide Secondary School Division 1 champions beating the favourites Te Wharekura o Mauao 24-14 in the final before qualifying for the Chiefs region co-ed final where they lost to a very strong St Peter's Cambridge side While usually it is the top two Bay of Plenty sides who qualify for the national sevens tournament some smaller provinces pulling out has allowed the region to send four teams this year Western Heights High School head of rugby Carleen James said it was the best result the school had achieved at the Bay of Plenty sevens tournament "We lost to Tauranga Boys' 10-0 in the final but second is quite an achievement for us this year - we had a pretty good season with the 15s and now the sevens following on It's all about leading into the Condors now beating Rotorua Boys' in pool play was a real achievement too We've always sort of gone down to them in pool play at the sevens and in the 15s we're only playing their second XV and their Colts," James said She said Western Heights had been unbeaten before going down in the final having beaten local rivals Rotorua Boys' High School and John Paul College "It was some good strong work off the ball and defensively they put in a good effort They worked as a team and put in the big hits when they were needed to stop key players and things like that "I don't think we attacked as well as we have been doing Defence has probably been our strong point all year especially in the sevens when you're stuffed during those last few minutes She said she and the school as a whole were proud of the way the players had performed this year we were in the top eight for the co-ed schools top in the Baywide and now going to the national sevens - I can't complain the boys have put in a huge effort for us this year and we're really pleased "With the sevens we tried to emphasise that it was a chance to go out and have a bit of fun when they're playing - show a bit of flair and have a go because sometimes you're so focused on the end result That's what we said and they it's what they did," she said Bay of Plenty Secondary School Sevens results Under 19 Boys Open Final:Western Heights High School 0 v Tauranga Boys' College 10 Under 19 Boys Development FinalRotorua Boys High School Red 7 v Tauranga Boys' College White 24 Under 19 Girls Plate FinalCambridge High School 21 v Taupo Nui a Tia 22 Under 19 Girls Development FinalMount Maunganui College 12 v Nga Wahine Toa 32 Under 19 Girls Open FinalTrident High School 24 v Rotorua Girls' High School 14 Under 14 Boys Open Cup FinalGisborne 17 vs TWKO Mauao 10 Under 14 Boys Open Plate FinalTauranga Boys' College 21 vs Rotorua Boys' High School 5 Under 15 Girls Open FinalTWOM 7 v Nga Wahine 34 Under 15 Girls Development FinalTauranga Girls' College 19 v Te Puke High School 17 Under 15 Girls Plate FinalTaupo Nui a Tia 17 v John Paul College 15 Under 15 Boys Development Final39 Taupo Nui vs Mt Maunganui 5 Under 15 Boys Development Plate FinalOpotiki 20 v JPC 20 Under 15 Boys Open Final12 Tauranga v Rotorua 5 Under 15 Boys 3rd / 4th Play-off22 Rosmini vs Te Puke 5 Under 15 Boys Plate FinalOtumoetai (default) v Rosmini (win) Matthew Liley completed the Rotorua Marathon in five hours and 50 minutes Hemaia Tauroa-Apete shows his trademark jump-setting style for Western Heights High School in their Championship win against Rangitoto College Western Heights High School's boys' volleyball team have claimed their 11th national title with a three sets to one win over Rangitoto College in the final There were 171 teams in action at the 50th Secondary Schools Volleyball Championships in Palmerston North this week and Western Heights were dominant throughout they were ably guided around the court by their influential setter Hemaia Tauroa-Apete who was more often than not able to deliver centimetre-perfect sets to his spikers while under pressure His combination with tall middle hitter Jalen Massey was particularly telling for the winners did not give up without a fight and they cleared out to a good lead in the third set holding on narrowly against a typical Western Heights comeback For the Auckland-based side no player tried harder than the impressive Sam Andersen and the Western Heights blockers worked out the angles he was hitting Western Heights beat Shirley Boys' High School comfortably in the quarter-finals before taking on Trident High School in the semifinals where they did just enough to hold a clear lead in each set Westlake Girls' High School became New Zealand girls' champions when they overcame top Bay of Plenty team Otumoetai College in straight sets In each of the first two sets the Takapuna-based team pulled in front of their Tauranga opponents early in the set and held the lead throughout on the back of some powerful outside hitting by Tamara Otene and Rachael Webster Coached by the very experienced Stew Henderson 13-time Champions Otumoetai kept the scoreline much closer in the third set but just could not get their nose far enough in front to take it giving the Westlake team an unexpectedly straightforward victory - their first ever the team's win marked a welcome return to the winner's podium having coached top women's club sides Sparta and Akarana several decades ago Secondary Schools Volleyball Championships - Western Heights High School boys' results Pool play:Beat One Tree Hill College 3-0(25-12 25-21)Beat Riccarton High School A 3-0 (25-13 25-21)Beat Westlake Boys' High School 3-0 (25-22 Quarter-final: Beat Shirley Boys' High School 3-0 (25-18 25-20)Semifinal: Beat Trident High School 3-0 (25-20,25-23,25-20)Final: Beat Rangitoto College 3-1 (26-24,25-16,24-26,25-15) Students at Western Heights College held their graduation celebrations at The Pier on Thursday night Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535 Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) Western Heights High School Senior Boys' Beach Volleyball Team pairing Daniel Michael (left) and Tyran Gillespie celebrate their top Bay of Plenty Sport award Western Heights High School Senior Boys' Beach Volleyball Team won a coveted Secondary Schools Award at the annual Bay of Plenty Sports Awards last night the 2016 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards were a superb gala evening held at ASB Arena in Mount Maunganui with the Rotorua school team taking home the Secondary Schools Boys' Team of the Year The awards brought the region together to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement by Bay of Plenty athletes coaches and officials over the previous 12 months from October 1 2015 to September 30 this year The Western Heights High School pairing of Daniel Michael and Tyran Gillespie had an exceptional year - including winning the 2015 Senior Boys' National Secondary School Beach Volleyball Tournament Michael was also a member of the NZ junior men's Team that competed in the South East Asian Games and named in the BOP under-19 men's squad who won the New Zealand Under-19 Interprovincial Championships Title Whilst Gillespie was named in the BOP under-17 Men's Squad who placed second at the New Zealand Under-17 Interprovincial Championships Rotorua was also represented with a special presentation on the evening to Sir Gordon Tietjens for his contribution to sport in the Bay of Plenty Sir Gordon was gifted a taonga by Bay of Plenty Rugby Union president Graeme Crossman and Sport Bay of Plenty chairman Paul Wollaston on behalf of the Bay of Plenty community And locals - Olympian swimmer Kane Radford and NZ Sevens captain Scott Curry were presented with their Olympic pins as recognition of attending the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games The gold pins were presented by Korne de Pape on behalf of the New Zealand Olympic Committee and are engraved with their unique NZ Olympian number: Tui - 1356 Olympic champion Peter Burling received the prestigious Supreme Award after an exceptional year including winning a gold medal in the 49er class at the Rio Olympics going unbeaten in the major 49er regattas and being helmsman for Emirates Team NZ at the America's Cup World Series As always the competition was exceptionally tight and the judges found it difficult to separate the fantastic achievements "The calibre of nominations never fails to amaze me and it is fantastic what Bay of Plenty athletes officials and administrators are achieving," Sport Bay of Plenty sport manager and judging convener "This year has highlighted the number of athletes performing on the international stage and in particular the wide variety of sports and schools doing well." Earlier in the evening Burling was awarded the Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year award leading an outstanding field of category recipients including Lisa Carrington who took out the Holland Beckett Sportswoman of the Year award International hockey umpire Kelly Hudson won the Bay of Plenty Times Official of the Year after officiating an Olympic Games quarter-final and the final of the FIH World Champions Trophy The Farmer AutoVillage International Sportsperson of the Year was presented to Mahe Drysdale The Radio Sport Club of the Year was awarded to the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service who were awarded Club of the Year at the BOP Coromandel Surf Lifesaving Awards of Excellence and were Eastern Region Champions and National Champions for both the Surf Life Saving NZ Beach Events and Pool Championships "As illustrated at the recent Olympic Games the Bay of Plenty has a depth of sporting talent and the sports awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise this annually," Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Heidi Lichtwark said "It is a privilege to be able to honour our top athletes We look forward to following their continuing achievements in the future while also celebrating their contributions to date "We are proud to continue to host the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards which have been celebrating sporting excellence since 1969." The Dudfield Bryce Printers Service to Sport category acknowledged people who have been involved in their chosen sport for at least 10 years and have made a significant contribution at either regional or national level The recipients came from a wide variety of sports including badminton The opportunity to recognise these stalwarts of the sporting sector was a highlight of the evening as they were unaware until the award was presented on the night which combines both the secondary school sports awards and the open categories is a great celebration of the sporting prowess across all schools and codes with the six secondary school categories providing inspiration to the region's up and coming athletes All the winners of the 2016 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards joined an illustrious group of past winners and become part of the Bay's sporting history Sport Bay of Plenty Supreme Award 2016: Peter Burling - sailing Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year: Peter Burling - sailing Holland Beckett Lawyers Sportswoman of the Year: Lisa Carrington - kayaking Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Amy Robinson - hockey and athletics Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year: Callum Gilbert - canoe slalom Farmer AutoVillage International Sportsperson of the Year: Mahe Drysdale - rowing BayTrust Coach of the Year: Sean Horan - rugby sevens Bay of Plenty Times Official of the Year: Kelly Hudson - hockey Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust Team of the Year: Bay of Plenty Senior Men's Cricket Team - cricket Contract Mechanical Services Junior Team of the Year: Eva Morris and Jazzlee Thomas -synchronised swimming Radio Sport Club of the Year: Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service Surf Life Saving Dudfield Bryce Printers Open Service to Sport: Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Principals' Association Secondary School Service to Sport: Sandy Kindley - Katikati College Aurecon Secondary School Student Contribution to Sport: George Haswell - Mount Maunganui College touch and rugby Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls' Team of the Year: Trident High School Senior Girls' underwater hockey team Bay Office Products Depot Secondary Schools Boys' Team of the Year: Western Heights High School Senior Boys' beach volleyball team Vo2 Secondary School Coach of the Year Graham Watt: Whakatane High School RowingToi Ohomai Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportsman of the Year: Lenny Jenkins - Whakatane High School rowing Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year: Elin Tawharu - Mount Maunganui College surfing Patti and Steve Erickson have been volunteering at the Western Heights Cemetery since September 2023 On what seemed to be another regular day of volunteering and uncovering old gravestones Patti and Steve started photographing headstones last year and decided to survey in a regular pattern through the entire cemetery with Patti photographing and Steve recording info in a notebook the pair went back to get additional photos in better lighting They also spent quite a bit of time struggling to read the names of some of the older stones Many were hand carved into a purchased headstone or simply etched into a makeshift concrete marker as a large number of the burials occurred in 1900 to 1940 Steve has since taken over management of a master spreadsheet to document people and information as they discover new markers. Steve and Patti’s volunteering expanded over time to photographing all the stones multiple times compiling and managing the data records for the cemetery and interpreting and recording headstone text They now have an even deeper connection to the cemetery “We had noticed several unusual graves there in the cemetery and unusual markers and one of them is an area that is surrounded by a curbing … and if you look real close on the curbing and all of them have the last name Lindsey,” Steve said “They were a little hard to notice at first because the curb would get overgrown by the grass.” Patti found out she is related to this person and all of the several others there with the last name Lindsey She’s lived in Oak Cliff for many years and never knew she had any relatives at Western Heights Cemetery “One of her Aunts had married someone with the last name of Lindsey,” Steve said “We thought it’d be interesting if these kids were related to him but in tracing that — I started an ancestry tree for people in the cemetery — I put the Lindsey children in there and looked at some of the other trees.” They ended up discovering that the three children are cousins to Patti Patti and Steve recently purchased markers for the three Lindsey children who had “semi-unmarked” graves If this wasn’t an interesting enough discovery in itself Steve also found that he had a very distant relative at the cemetery as well He was searching for information as to whether Sam Brewer who is the lynch-pin connecting three other burials in the cemetery he found that Sam is his 6th cousin 3x removed and saw a name that looked familiar from my side of the family tree,” Steve said “He’s over in the same area of the cemetery as the relatives of Patti’s So you have a relative of Patti’s and a relative of mine “Most of her family on her dad’s side came over from Mississippi and Alabama and all my relatives come down from South Dakota We were definitely not expecting relatives to be in this little cemetery in Oak Cliff.” Rotorua police need the public's help to find the three people who robbed two men at gunpoint The first incident happened at 5.15am on the corner of Fairview and Gordon Rds in Western Heights The victim was waiting to be picked up for work at the time The victim in this instance was walking along the road toward Gem St in an older grey or silver four-door sedan A passenger in the car presented a firearm at the victims and stole personal effects Western Heights Community Association chairman Owen Roberts said he hadn't heard anything about the incidents but they were concerning "To me it's a concern if it's happening in any area "We're trying to do our best to improve [Western Heights] and we'll keep doing that." Roberts said the association often met with Neighbourhood Support representatives to keep informed Police would like to hear from anyone who can help identify and locate the offenders in these two robberies Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 The web app you have attempted to reach has blocked your access Western Heights High School's Patti Sutton's dedication to hockey at the school was celebrated at the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards managing and mentoring young hockey players were celebrated at the 2017 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards Last Friday Western Heights High School's Patti Sutton won the Bay of Plenty Principals' Association Secondary School Service to Sport Award when there are so many deserving people out there who do so much," Sutton said She has been coaching and managing girls' hockey at the school where she started as a teacher and has held several administrative roles "When I came we basically had half a hockey team and the person in charge of hockey recognised me from when I played at school and asked if I'd be interested in co-coaching the first XI "I coached them for 15 years and for 13 of those years we were the Bay of Plenty champions and for 10 of those years we were in the top 10 in New Zealand," she said she was unable to keep up with the demands of coaching the first XI but she was never far from a hockey turf as she coached social teams and the second XI In 2000 she took up the role of first XI manager but do not be surprised to see her cheering teams on "When I was younger I definitely preferred coaching when I had that commitment and the time to give it I really enjoyed the team performing in the way that I liked it and knowing my expectations." The biggest highlight for Sutton has been seeing her passion for the sport replicated by the players she coached "The most amazing thing ever is that I look around Rotorua and elsewhere in New Zealand and overseas and the number of people there coaching that I coached They're carrying it on and that's the best thing you could ever ask for "Hockey is the school sport I'm most familiar with I used to watch All Blacks train and think how can I change that to be suitable for hockey I enjoy the skill level you can see develop When you coach a sport at any level you develop a really good relationship with the students they become extended members of your family in some ways." Sutton said the best advice she could give an aspiring coach was to accept there were different levels of ability "As long as the people who are participating give it everything they've got The point is they have committed to giving everything they've got nobody can ask for anything more," she said Western Heights High School Sports co-ordinator Leona Davis-Kaye said the words which defined Sutton's contribution to the school were passion and commitment "Her contribution has been outstanding and so great for the school The girls keep playing this game they love and she has inspired them all She's balanced the work load of full time teaching and taking on girls' hockey after hours - the cold nights at the turf and weekends "Her past students are always coming back to help I think that says something about Patti," Davis-Kaye said Former Western Heights High School student Billy Johnstone is going to Canada on a five-year volleyball scholarship former Western Heights High School student Billy Johnstone flies to Canada for the opportunity of a lifetime he will be a student and volleyball player at the University of Alberta I was contemplating going on a scholarship last year but ended up going to Auckland to complete pre-med and to see if that's what I wanted to pursue That was good for me and now I know I want to go overseas I want to carry on with my volleyball," Johnstone says He knew playing in Canada would be a big step up from the club volleyball he has been playing in Auckland "It's going to be another level of competition it's getting a lot better and it's good to see players going overseas but it will be great to go somewhere that volleyball is a big sport it's really popular and the sporting culture is a lot different "Five years is a big commitment but I'm taking the risk and I'm going to go and make the most of it." Johnstone said his main goal was to gain as much experience as possible playing at a high level "Going to the University of Alberta is putting me in that situation where I can improve and play against the best The end goal would be to go professional with volleyball eventually "If you play in the United States or Canada you have a better chance of being recruited by professional teams in Europe and Asia That's definitely a goal if I can get there." I had the best years of my life at this school He said his time at Western Heights High School had prepared him well for his upcoming adventure "[His time at the school] was everything to me they still support me and give me advice all the time When we're back home we still come down to the school for a hit Volleyball is a huge part of the culture here at Western Heights - all my friends played so it was more encouraging to play and get better "It's awesome seeing all the young guys coming through too he's in the States right now playing for New Zealand Junior Men's While in Canada he will start off studying towards a Bachelor of Kinesiology (the study of human movement) "Over there you have to complete a bachelor degree before you go into med school so I'm doing Kinesiology because if I do medicine I want it to be more sports medicine focused "I'm setting myself up for if I want to take the medicine route eventually Rotorua's Western Heights High School has asked its junior school students to stay home this week after a "significant" number of teachers tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend In a letter emailed to all parents and caregivers this morning principal James Bracefield asked Year 9 and Year 10 students to stay home from Tuesday "You will be aware that there has been a surge in Covid cases across the country with new variants making an appearance Along with a nasty strain of influenza and other viruses this has had a significant impact on student attendance throughout June "Over the weekend we have had a significant number of teachers test positive for Covid and we expect this number to rise in the coming days We also have other staff who are unwell or absent for other reasons..." Bracefield said we now find ourselves unable to staff all our classes." Bracefield said teachers would provide students with work today and on Google Classroom teachers would not be conducting Zoom lessons as they would be working with Year 11 who would continue to attend school for the remainder of the week "Our decision-making is based on the need to ensure that examination students do not have their study interrupted at a time when internally assessed work is a priority." TOP FIVE: Western Heights High School volleyball players Daniel Michael have all represented New Zealand this year They may have relinquished their national secondary school crown but it's still been a great year for volleyball at Western Heights High School Five players from the school have played age group volleyball for New Zealand and the pairing of Daniel Michael and Tyran Gillespie won the national secondary school beach volleyball title captained the New Zealand under 18 side that also featured Western Heights student Kuratea Broughton in a US High Performance tournament in Fort Lauderdale Jon Newman and Matthew Butterfield were part of the national under 20 squad that competed in the South East Asian Games After representing New Zealand at under 17 level last year Johnstone was a first time captain in the US He said both he and the rest of the team gained confidence from playing in the tough US tournament ''It was good to see how we matched up against players from a country where volleyball is one of their greatest sports I think we all learned a lot overall and I think we came back as a better team,'' he said There were also benefits for Johnstone on an individual level and he has been approached by coaches from several US colleges ''Going over there obviously increased the exposure,'' he said Johnstone said he could potentially take up a scholarship but he also wanted to focus on his schoolwork to make sure he had other options His goal for 2017 is to make the New Zealand Under 19 team to play in next year's Asian Championships The under 20 team finished in fifth place in Myanmar beating the Maldives in the fifth and sixth playoff Year 13 student Michael was a first time New Zealand indoor representative and said he felt playing in the tournament helped him change his skill set and the way he played ''It was inspiring to see how well other countries trained their team - some of their volleyball play was amazing,'' he said As the senior volleyball season winds down with Michael and Gillespie hoping to build on their New Zealand secondary school title success ''I'll be look at jumping onto the summer pro tour and entering all the local tournaments leading up to the pro tour,'' said Michael Michael was also part of the Western Heights team that won the New Zealand secondary schools indoor title for the 10th time in 2015 Western Heights volleyball coach Eugene Bogun said it was disappointing to finish sixth at this year's tournament which was won by Westlake Boys' High School ''But we won our fifth Bay of Plenty title in a row and that's quite outstanding considering usually the top teams in New Zealand come from the Bay but we are a bit disappointed at national level.'' Bogun said the difference in size of this year's five New Zealand rep players showed there was no one body shape that made a good player but he's very agile and quick on the court and willing to put his body on the line The others four boys are quite big - they are 6ft 4 6ft 5 - and very athletic and quick on the court.'' But at the root of their success was hard work they have a good work ethic and are always wanting to improve together A man who can only be identified as Witness A has told a jury how at least 20 heavily armed Mangu Kaha gang members advanced on a Rotorua property before shots were fired who was testifying in the High Court at Rotorua via CCTV today was giving evidence against eight Mangu Kaha (Black Power) members - who Christopher John Jolley and Major Wetini (also known as Ransfield) George Jolley has denied a charge of attempted murder of intentionally discharging firearms to cause grievous bodily harm unlawfully possessing and discharging firearms and possessing offensive weapons and being unlawfully on property each defendant is charged with participating in an organised criminal group Witness A outlined how the group arrived outside the Western Heights property in December 2015 brandishing poles after gang-related insults were screamed at them and returned a young man ran up the drive and smashed a car's back and front windows with a baseball bat He told prosecutor Andy Hill he now knew that man was Cramer McMeeking He recounted how as he handed a steel pole to his companion Witness A said Perham had gone looking for George Jolley while he attempted to find a friend of his telling a police officer he encountered his mate needing help "George [Perham] would have wasted me if he saw me talking to a cop He said 'Don't you f***** open your mouth' but I gave the cop a few names." Witness A said he'd recognised George Jolley as the shooter because he knew his eyes "We've been in altercations before," he said "Ever since that day you have lied about Hori George (Jolley) haven't you?" asked Mr Wimsett "On the Bible and swearing by Almighty God I have not," replied Witness A Western Heights High School volleyball player Tyran Gillespie has been offered a scholarship by the University of Mount Olive The only thing taller than Tyran Gillespie are the heights his volleyball career could reach The 18-year-old Western Heights High School student has been offered the opportunity to take his game to the next level through a scholarship to the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina He got in touch with some US universities through former schoolmate Billy Johnstonein search of an opportunity and Mount Olive responded even when they first contacted me I was stoked I would go over to study for four years while playing volleyball and travelling the States Over there would be nothing like playing here - on the big college stage playing against the top colleges around the United States," he said He started playing volleyball at Western Heights when he was Year 9 and has loved every moment "I was actually in the coach's class for PE so we just started playing there and I got hooked on it and enjoyed it "[The team bond in volleyball] is pretty important we probably spend every day together so it's pretty big I play passer/hitter which is a bit of everything "I've definitely got some good memories playing for the school In the juniors we lost in the final at nationals a couple of years ago we lost in the quarters at nationals and last year we lost the semifinal." After coming so close during the last few years Gillespie and his teammates finally took out the national final this year He said the losses provided extra motivation "We worked really hard this year for what we wanted to achieve and we did it just knowing how hard we worked for it and finally getting the result we wanted." he is looking at heading over in July or August "I haven't really got any goals at the moment just play and see what it's all about over there we've been playing together for five or six years The school's influence on me has been huge; without the coaches I probably would've never played volleyball "They've helped a lot with the scholarship The scholarship will cover half of everything - travel He is looking at studying sports science at the college and is well aware of how important it is to have something to fall back on TOP: Jason Lee is top in the country for the Cambridge maths exams held last year Jason Lee from Western Heights High School topped the country in last year's Cambridge exams with a whopping 99 per cent He was also top of the school for NCEA with 178 excellence credits including excellence in all his subjects And he achieved an A-star in IGCSE English Literature Teacher John Schwartfeger said it was the first time a Western Heights High School student had topped the Cambridge exams for the country "He worked very hard for it and put in the hours there's a real commitment to his studies," Mr Schwartfeger said Jason said he was surprised no one else achieved the perfect score "It's for the whole country so I thought for sure someone else would get 100 per cent." Ex-WHHS student and brother Eric did the same exam two years prior Jason was born in Korea and his family moved to New Zealand when he was 8 He attended Lynmore Primary School and John Paul College before Western Heights High School Cambridge exams (or Cambridge International Examinations) are held twice a year in June and November They offer examinations and qualifications to 10,000 schools in more than 160 countries Last year more than a million students sat Cambridge examinations Jason found out his top result in January for the IGCSE math without course work exam and accepted his certificate at the Outstanding Cambridge Learners Awards in Auckland last month Jason has not decided on his future career and is keeping his options open "But if I keep getting good results it will be something involving maths," he said the Cambridge exams would help make the transition easier Western Heights High School crews have danced their way to the top of the country The Rotorua school's Genesis crew came home from the DanceNZmade national finals in Palmerston North as Year 11 to 13 team champions this month The school's dancers were winners of the Making a Difference award and the Posterity crew were also second runner-up in the overall team champions category Western Heights' Intensified crew was also first runner-up in the Year 9/10 teams competition The school's dancers have been rehearsing for five months in breaks after school and from 9am to 4pm each Sunday Teacher Te Ao Tahana-Prangnell is there day-in day-out giving up her spare time "all for the love" while juggling her teaching role and being a mother-of-three "I give my heart and soul to these kids because they deserve it," she told the Rotorua Daily Post Her main goal is to help them believe in themselves She runs a tuakana-teina model where seniors mentor juniors "They're learning to collaborate with each other .. When they come across something that's not working they have to solve it very quickly and they're working under pressure." Fellow Intensified choreographer Sam Patangan (Year 11) said the rehearsals "really paid off" He is looking forward to helping lead the senior dancers in his last two years of school said the group discussed every move together "so we are all on the page with all our practices" a Year 12 who choreographs the Posterity mega crew Many of the dancers have also been involved in the Western Heights High School's ShowQuest entry which won the regional competition and came third nationally Rotorua Girls' High School dancer Ngatahi Webster-Tarei was also first runner-up in the Year 9 solo category Mount Maunganui College student Lyla Radich: Art of movement solo award Mount Maunganui College (Triple x): Year 9/10 Duo Trio Champions: Mount Maunganui College student Lyla Radich: Year 10 first runner up Ōtūmoetai Intermediate student Lulu Moore: Solo Year 8 champion Ōtūmoetai Intermediate student Sophie Lane: Solo Year 7 champion Tauhara College student Alana Pointon: Solo Year 13 first runner up Tauhara College student Grace Davies: Solo Year 12 second runner up Taupō Intermediate (Does Your Mother Know): Year 7-8 team champions Taupō Intermediate student Kayley McAdie: Year 8 solo second runner up Taupō-nui-a-Tia (In Your Arms): Year 9-10 team champions Taupō-nui-a-tia (Les Poisson Rouge): First runner up overall team champions Taupō-nui-a-tia college student Onera Beck: Year 11 second runner up Western Heights High School current 1st XV members Tama Bidios and Max Hale hold the commemorative shirt On the back is a list of the names of all who played in the school's 1997 and 1998 teams Western Heights High School was a dominant force in schoolboy rugby The school's first XV went unbeaten for three years held the Moascar Cup and competed in the national Top Four competition The Moascar Cup is the secondary school equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield Victories over Rotorua Boys' High School were particularly savoured Dick Gordon and Phil George were the coaches Charles Te Kowhai was the captain and plenty of players went on to play at provincial level No 8 Courtney Ireland moved into a different sporting field and went to the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and 1994 Gordon coached the school's first XV for 17 years finishing up in 1990 has been heavily involved in organising the reunion with Scott Morrison Tuielu said all the players involved in the first XV at the time appreciated the impact Gordon and George had on them "They instilled in us the value of being loyal and commitment to one another and never to give up We were very lucky to have them and that's why we've got a lot of time for them now and in many ways they are the reason why we organised this [reunion] "What they taught us was respect - to respect one another and respect our opponents." While some of the team haven't seen one another since they left school Tuielu said the side had good role models provided by previous first XV teams and in turn wanted to create a legacy for future sides from the school The first time the reunion was thought of was at the funeral of Te Kowhai's mother last year there will be a bus tour and quiz tomorrow afternoon the formal presentation of a framed commemorative jersey that will be hung in the school hall The jersey commemorates Gordon's years as first XV coach and includes his nickname There will be a social event tomorrow evening open to all former students Website intended for a New Zealand health professional readership aperrott@nzdoctor.co.nz We are on our summer break and the editorial office is closed until 18 January in which our journalists curate an eclectic mix from our news and clinical archives throughout the year The Conversation and other publications we share content with Please note the comment function has been turned off while we are away From Alan Perrott: A PHO chief executive once told me the job was about creating models of care not business models Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Not a subscriber? 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Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Online is not a consumer medical advice service Consumers should seek advice from a health professional and not act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided A three-man block by Western Heights High School's Josh Tiplady (left) Tynan Gillespie and Draezel Edwards (9) against Westlake Boys' High School Western Heights High School volleyball players are having one of their best seasons in recent years The senior boys' indoor volleyball team won the Bay of Plenty Championships for the sixth time in seven years before going on to win their 11th national title in Palmerston North at the end of last month won the New Zealand Junior Boys' Beach Volleyball title while Tyran Gillespie and Bailey Gordon placed third in the senior boys' competition Western Heights volleyball assistant coach David Apete said the success came down to doing the basics right "It all started with the pre-season training Then it was all about the skill level improving as the season went on "Our goal at nationals was to win the banner and that's what we did We didn't talk much about [losing in the semifinals last year] but it was always in the back of our minds We just tried to focus on the current team and what they were capable of "We had a routine that the boys stuck to really well A former coach here used to say 'you're only as strong as your weakest link' there are different personalities but they gel," Apete said Making the moment even more special for Apete was seeing his son Hemaia Taurou-Apete win his first national title so for him to get one now was a big deal for him." The school is a powerhouse of New Zealand volleyball; their most recent national titles prior to this year were in 2012 and 2015 Apete said they were consistently "up there" "I think it's the depth of coaching we have here and the boys just love volleyball so much They're in the gym here every day at interval and lunchtime along with former Western Heights student Billy Johnstone are currently in the mix to represent the New Zealand junior men's team at the 2018 Asian Men's Under-20 Volleyball Championship in Bahrain in July They have one more camp before the final squad is selected Western Heights High School is under a hard lockdown due to a threat against an administrator Superintendent Brayden Savage said the threat came from an outside source via a phone call He said the school entered the lockdown at around noon on Wednesday Western Heights Middle School and Winds West sites are adjacent to the high school were cleared to release students as of 2:20 p.m officials anticipate that the lockdown at the high school will be lifted soon The update also stated that the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office advised school officials that "indicators point to a 'swatting' attempt against high school administrators." The update also stated that the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office advised school officials that \"indicators point to a 'swatting' attempt against high school administrators.\" and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox Western Heights High School has once again shown its volleyball prowess who in February with teammate Billy Johnstone won the New Zealand Secondary School title at Mount Maunganui will now don the black of New Zealand at the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games There are also five players from the school who have been selected for New Zealand indoor volleyball teams to travel to and play in the United States - Johnstone Gillespie said that while he was aware he was in with a good chance of being named but now that it's official and it's named and I'm going to the Youth Commonwealth Games Over the summer Gillespie took every available opportunity to compete "I pretty much played every men's tournament and every age group tournament I was pretty much there playing with someone." He doesn't have his own coach but attends national camps and last school holidays spent nine days training in Taranaki with Joe He has known Joe since Gillespie started playing beach volleyball five years ago "I've been to camps and partnered him in a few tournaments so we know each other quite well and I'm looking forward to playing with him." The Youth Commonwealth Games are being held in the Bahamas and start on July 18 I'm stoked and excited and can't wait to get over there and start playing." Gillespie is no stranger to long flights having also played for a New Zealand team in the US in 2015 That experience helped him decide to apply for a sports scholarship in the US He recently received an offer from the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina Western Heights' head of volleyball Eugene Bogun said Gillespie was the second student from the school to be selected to represent New Zealand at an international festival of sport with Kahurangi Robinson a volleyball rep at the 2014 Youth Olympics "We are very proud of Tyran - obviously he won the New Zealand beach title and everyone knows his ability and what he's all about and we are all supporting him to get there." It will cost Gillespie $8500 to make the trip and a givealittle page has been set up https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/tyran2commonwealthgamesinbahamas "Hopefully that will help his family out because it's not easy to raise that in three months," said Bogun Following the secondary school championships there were training camps with the two male and two female players chosen for the New Zealand Youth Commonwealth Games team "I think Tyran was always in there and it was just a case of finding him a partner." While the school has a strong indoor volleyball programme "Tyran does a lot of that stuff himself and gets himself to the trainings A lot of it comes down to himself and him wanting to put in the extra time." Bogun said the various selections can only help maintain the school's level of success "There is a lot of depth and there are a lot of kids who are wanting to play volleyball and we are giving them an opportunity." The selections were the result of a lot of hard work by the coaches and also from the students "It's only going to encourage more to play the game With the five who have made the New Zealand teams travelling to the US as well there are lots of really good role models and our younger players they are good in school as well and that's what we preach at the school." The Bahamas Youth Commonwealth Games will host 1300 athletes from around the Commonwealth with the New Zealand team featuring 34 athletes Western Heights High School in action at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Senior Volleyball Championships this week The Western Heights High School senior A volleyball team cruised into the semifinals of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Senior Volleyball Championships yesterday The national champs are being held at Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North this week Bay of Plenty champions Western Heights won their quarter-final 3-0 yesterday morning against Riccarton High School (Christchurch) 25-21 Western Heights had earlier progressed undefeated through pool play The Rotorua school were scheduled to play their semifinal last night against Westlake Boys' High School (Auckland) If Western Heights win the tournament it will be their first national title at the event since 2012 Tauranga Boys' College A crashed out yesterday morning bringing an end to their hopes of winning three straight titles Tauranga Boys' were beaten by Heathfield High School (Australia) in their quarter 3-1 No Rotorua schools qualified for the quarter-finals of the girls' first division Western Heights homes have "skyrocketed" in value A new report on how Rotorua's property market performed in 2019 reveals which suburbs are the most expensive and affordable which has "taken off" and where the action is Median property values in Western Heights have more than doubled in the past five years A new property report has revealed the Rotorua suburb recorded the greatest change in median value in a year (13.8 per cent) three years (43 per cent) and a massive 107.6 per cent after five years CoreLogic's 2019 Best of the Best New Zealand report is a suburb analysis of a variety of measures to determine property market performance across the year The report also unveiled the city's most expensive and affordable suburbs with Western Heights recording the lowest median value at $343,000 Lynmore took the crown for the highest median value at $678,050 Springfield recorded the second-highest median value of $581,500 and Kawaha Point came in third at $569,500 The suburbs with the second and third-lowest median value were Mangakakahi ($370,300) and Hillcrest ($432,950) CoreLogic senior research analyst Kelvin Davidson said he suspected low listings would be a factor in pushing up prices while the cheaper suburbs "always have affordability on their side" "The 'posh' suburbs always appeal to those with higher equity and looking for the best homes," he said OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan said there was a lot of unease in the property market at the start of 2019 due to the Capital Gains Tax and changes to tax breaks that property investors enjoyed he said there was more confidence in the market towards the end of the year First National principal and Rotorua REINZ spokeswoman Ann Crossley said Western Heights was where all of the "action" was "Investors and first-home buyers have been active parts of the Rotorua market," she said "Western Heights is basically a 1960s suburb which has got good solid family-type homes." She questioned if the suburb was undervalued five years ago property values tend to double in 10 years which meant Western Heights was "well ahead" in half of that time with some homes doubling in value in just five years "We have felt that growth in the last few years," she said It is a market correction through the suburbs showing where the demand is." Professionals McDowell Real Estate co-owner Steve Lovegrove said there was a "generational change" in what was happening with property in Rotorua "Five years ago we were dominated by rental properties It was always an investors' world," he said Lovegrove said first-home buyers had started to surface again in the past few years following the pressure on house prices and some investors choosing to leave the market Western Heights was originally developed in the 1960s as a family home area that went through the rental phase and was now moving back to mostly owned and occupied by families "We are also seeing confidence in the market as sellers are choosing to renovate their properties," he said "If it keeps going in this direction we might see an entire turnaround in the demographics [of the area]." said the level of capital growth had slowed in the past year "There is still growth in the Rotorua market but not as much as in the last two or three years," he said "We did see exceptional growth in the lower value areas for a number of years because people are still looking for value." Anderson said interest rates were low and yield levels were high which meant people were willing to dig deeper into their pockets to get a good return on their properties "But even though we have seen some slowing investors and buyers can still see value in the Rotorua market," he said "It reflects the growing confidence of the business community." Tremains Rotorua sales manager Megan Davies said Rotorua "has really come of age" Davies said feedback from her team of agents suggested 70 per cent of their purchasers were first-home buyers in the up to $450,000 price bracket "There is a new generation who have been able to purchase at the affordable end but that has risen due to buyer demand," she said "The first-home buyers still make up the vast majority of purchasers." What first-home buyers were getting in that area was affordable prices with opportunities to renovate and add value "Western Heights has taken off like a rocket," she said