Local News
Water warning for Rotorua as stream flows drop
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is warning a water shortage may be impending in parts of Rotorua, with one stream hitting record low flows and others also drying.
January 15, 2021Extinct giant shark gave birth to ‘cannibal’ babies over 6ft 6in long
Megalodon sharks gave birth to babies bigger than most adult humans after they feasted on unhatched eggs in the womb, according to a new study.
January 12, 2021Wedding Street Market
Whether you’re recently engaged, looking for venues or just want some good tucker, a bevvie and a rummage through some boutique market stalls.
January 10, 2021Quote of the Day
“The opportunity is often lost by deliberating.”
– Publilius Syrus
January 7, 2021Malaysian team transforms pineapple leaves into drones
It’s not a bird. It’s not a plane. It’s a drone – made partly from pineapple leaves.
January 6, 2021Vaping and aggressive behaviour among reasons for bans from Rotorua Lakes Council facilities
Vaping in the library, an “alleged over-familiar conversation” with a female staff member and aggressive behaviour were among reasons people were banned from council facilities in Rotorua in the past two years.
January 4, 2021German pilot makes point with syringe in the sky
German pilot Samy Kramer has traced a giant syringe in the sky, flying 200 kilometers to remind people about the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Europe.
December 28, 2020Quote of the Day
“The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”
– Madeleine L’Engle
December 27, 2020A painful skin disease is killing dolphins worldwide — scientists just found out why
Ever since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005 with its Category 5 strength, dolphins that called those coastal waters home have been dying from a painful skin disease.
December 23, 2020Mount Ruapehu volcanic alert level raised to 2 after changes to crater lake
Increases in crater lake temperature, gas and volcanic tremors have prompted GNS Science to raise the volcanic alert level at Mount Ruapehu.
December 21, 2020Wearing someone else’s face: Hyper-realistic masks to go on sale in Japan
A year into the coronavirus epidemic, a Japanese retailer has come up with a new take on the theme of facial camouflage – a hyper-realistic mask that models a stranger’s features in three dimensions.
December 17, 2020‘Concerns’ at new subdivision prompt moves by BOPRC to extend Rotorua Airshed
Building consents for homes in a new Pukehangi subdivision have prompted moves to extend the Rotorua Airshed.
December 15, 2020Quote of the Day
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
– Buddha
December 13, 2020Early childhood centre’s food rules to change following Rotorua boy Neihana Renata’s choking incident
Food provided by early childhood centres needs to be appropriate for children and kids must be seated while eating.
December 10, 2020Asteroid sample arrives in Japan after six-year space odyssey
Samples of an asteroid 300 million km from Earth arrived in Japan on Tuesday to applause and smiles, the climax of a six-year odyssey by a space probe pursuing the origins of life.
December 9, 2020Quote of the Day
“Love has no age, no limit; and no death.”
– John Galsworthy
December 7, 2020The Arts Village Summer Festival 2020
Welcome Summer in and prepare for the festive season at our Summer Festival this Saturday (5th December 2020).
December 3, 2020Rubbish behaviour – dead pig dumped: The cost of illegal dumping on Bay of Plenty state highways
Illegal dumping on and alongside Bay of Plenty state highways is taking time and money away from essential state highway maintenance, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says.
December 1, 2020Space oddity? Monolith in Utah desert mystifies helicopter crew
They were on a mission to count sheep when they found something they had not counted on.
November 30, 2020New kiwifruit testing lab at Te Puke to create 80 jobs
Nearly 80 local jobs will be created at Eastpack’s new commercial sample collection and lab testing service at Te Puke.
November 27, 2020Singapore activist faces fine over one-man smiley face sign protest
Singapore is set to charge an activist with staging a one-man protest without a permit over an incident in which he held up a sign bearing a crudely drawn smiley face outside a police station.
November 26, 2020Quote of the Day
“One that would have the fruit must climb the tree.”
– Thomas Fuller
November 23, 2020Clever rat sails to freedom on a piece of wood
This is the astonishing moment an intelligent rat escaped deadly floodwaters by using a piece of wood as a raft.
November 18, 2020Rotorua Running Festival
New Zealand’s premiere tourist city provides a spectacular backdrop for one of the most scenic and varied running events in the country.
November 16, 2020Whakaari/White Island: Alert level raised as ash, dark plumes seen for first time this year
Ash and dark plumes can be seen coming from Whakaari/White Island for the first time this year – showing a greater level of unrest at the surface of the volcano.
November 13, 2020Archaeologists uncover 1,000-year-old Viking ship burial site
Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered a unique Viking burial site, hidden deep underground, dating back over 1,000 years ago. Using only a radar, researchers identified a feast hall, cult house, farmhouse and the remnants of a ship.
November 12, 2020Quote of the Day
“Trust yourself, you know more than you think you do.”
– Benjamin Spock
November 10, 2020Astronomers discover extreme planet which rains rocks, has lava seas and 3,000 mph winds
Astronomers have discovered the most inhospitable planet ever that rains rocks, with 60 mile deep lava seas and winds of more than 3,000 mph.
November 6, 2020Health of Rotorua lakes on the up, but Lake Rotorua still ranked ‘poor’
New data shows a marked improvement in the water quality and health of Rotorua’s lakes, but some say it’s too soon to start celebrating.
November 4, 2020Generation Homes Legend of the Lake
The blue waters and native forest of Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) makes the Generation Homes Legend of the Lake a very special experience for swimmers and spectators at our only fresh water event in the Series.
November 3, 2020Power out in Hamurana after car hits power pole
Hundreds lost power after a car hit a power pole in Hamurana this morning.
October 28, 2020Quote of the Day
“Quality is everyone’s responsibility.”
– W. Edwards Deming
October 26, 2020Health warning issued for Lake Rotorua and Ōhau Channel
A health warning has been issued for Lake Rotorua and the Ōhau Channel with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council reporting a bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae.
October 23, 2020Quote of the Day
“Where there is no vision, there is no hope.”
– George Washington Carver
October 21, 2020Beer Fest
Join for a night of good beer and good cheer. Hurra Bier! The drinks will be flowing, food will be roaming and some epic live music to get those heads bobbing.
Spot prizes for the best costumes
‘Te Pūtake o Tawa’ – Whakarewarewa Forest Hub 2 opens in blustery weather
Rotorua’s second Whakarewarewa Forest hub has officially opened to the public, after a frigid and blustery karakia on Thursday morning.
October 16, 2020Quote of the Day
“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.”
– Blaise Pascal
October 14, 2020Kuirau Park Saturday Market
for over 30 years, the Rotary Club of Rotorua North has run a Saturday market. Now located on a larger site, on the corner of Kuirau Street and Pukuatua Street.
October 12, 2020Quote of the Day
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
October 8, 2020Work starting at Rotorua’s SH30/Tarawera Road intersection
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is reminding Rotorua motorists to expect delays as major changes to the State Highway 30/Tarawera Rd roundabout get under way later this week.
October 6, 2020Colombian Woman Missing for Two Years Found Alive in Sea
A woman whose family reported her missing in 2018 was found floating alive in the Caribbean Sea off a northern Colombian port town on September 26.
October 5, 2020Nearly $1m spent on asbestos-related issues on Rotorua’s major projects
Almost $1 million has been spent dealing with asbestos in some of Rotorua’s major projects and there may be more to come.
October 2, 2020Toi Ohomai Open Days 2020 – Rotorua
This year is going to be the biggest and best yet! Bringing students and the wider community together for a fun weekend out.
September 30, 2020First Shakespeare in Spain? Bard’s last play found at seminary
It was hidden away for centuries in the archives of a seminary in Spain, a rare edition of a Shakespeare play experts believe may be the earliest copy of his work to reach the country.
September 28, 2020Hamurana Playcentre Spring Fair
Hamurana Playcentre invites you to join for the 14th annual Spring Fair! A day filled with Games & Activities, Bake Sales, Stalls, and much more.
September 24, 2020Memorial Drive to close to through-traffic permanently as part of Lakefront Redevelopment
As part of the Rotorua lakefront redevelopment, Memorial Drive will be permanently closed to through-traffic from September 28.
September 22, 2020Disturbing find in dead penguin’s stomach
A dead penguin washed up on a popular beach died after eating a face mask that it seemingly mistook for food.
September 21, 2020Rotorua Lakefront redevelopment ‘about halfway’
Rotorua Primary School pupils had a first-hand look at the progress being made on Rotorua’s Lakefront Redevelopment yesterday.
September 18, 2020Rotorua Lakefront redevelopment ‘about halfway’
Rotorua Primary School pupils had a first-hand look at the progress being made on Rotorua’s Lakefront Redevelopment yesterday.
September 18, 2020Quote of the Day
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
– Helen Keller
September 16, 2020