Our Stories

Get to know your community, from your local butcher to our city’s mayor.

Indigenous artistry takes centre stage at ARONUI Arts Festival 2024

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Launching the ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival in Rotorua this year is the premiere of “The Voices in the Shadows”, a highly anticipated performance that powerfully blends traditional waiata, dance and poetry.

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Rotorua startup Bike Matrix secures $2 million to revolutionise the global bike industry

Monday, September 9, 2024

Bike Matrix, a local tech company founded by Adam Townsend, Lyndal Bailey, and Adam Barnes, has recently secured a significant $2 million seed investment. This investment not only validates the groundbreaking nature of their technology but also brings international attention to Rotorua’s burgeoning tech scene.

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Dr Stacey Tremain redefines veterinary care in Rotorua

Friday, August 16, 2024

Dr Stacey Tremain, a well-respected and much-loved veterinarian with nearly 25 years of experience, recently opened his own practice, The Pet Vet, in Rotorua. It’s a decision that reflects both his love for the community and his deep commitment to providing stress-free care for pets and their owners.

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Rotorua mentorship programme sparks lifelong friendship

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

When Luke Donnelly and Wade Meads were matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters Rotorua nine years ago, neither could have imagined it would mark the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

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Kahu Collection brings whānau aspirations to life

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Claire Stirling-Hawkins and Rongopai Stirling-Maxwell, along with four of their tamariki, started the Stirling Collective earier this year with the vision of empowering their whānau, and turning their aspirations into reality.

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Rotorua allure offers new home for renowned hypnotherapist

Monday, July 29, 2024

Renowned hypnotherapist, Richard Kellow, has set up shop in Rotorua for a better lifestyle, and to help locals achieve their goals.

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The pioneering businesswoman inspiring future generations

Monday, July 22, 2024

When Ashleigh Nairn began working at BurgerFuel Fairy Springs as a 15-year-old she never thought she would still be there 10 years later. While her workplace remains the same today, her job title is a bit different now – she not only owns the business, she became the youngest Burger Fuel franchisee when she took it over in 2019 at 21.

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A place where curiosity and community bloom year round

Monday, July 15, 2024

Curiosity Blooms is a testament to the dreams and determination of its founders, Rachel Beckett and Donna Bigwood, especially considering the doors opened in November 2020, a post-Covid period when many dreams were deferred. In spite of the challenges, the business took off like the happy houseplants in their storefront windows.

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New myrtle rust education app empowers rangatahi to embrace science

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Scion has launched a new interactive learning app designed to empower rangatahi (young people) and communities with knowledge about myrtle rust.

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Rotorua rangatahi making their mark on the worksite

Monday, July 1, 2024

Korbyn Kiore and Kayden Andersen are prime examples of rangatahi thriving when given the right training, resources and support before entering the workforce. Both young men leapt at the opportunity to join a 12-week Māori Trade Training Course run by WACT Innovation Hub, knowing it would help prepare them for the workforce.

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Community partnership inspiring a new green generation

Monday, July 1, 2024

Every Thursday, the classrooms at Kaharoa School are empty as pupils dive hands-first into a different kind of lesson – one that's rooted in the earth itself.

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Rotorua doctor changing lives 13,000km away

Monday, June 17, 2024

Meet Tamsin Lillie who splits her time between treating our locals in the emergency department at Rotorua Hospital and training Malawians to become health workers.

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Facial eczema research and economic modelling holds promise for New Zealand’s agriculture sector

Monday, June 10, 2024

Scion is contributing its expertise in economic modelling to an ambitious and collaborative programme led by Beef + Lamb New Zealand aimed at eliminating the impact of facial eczema on New Zealand’s pastoral sector.

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Seed saving gardener helping locals reclaim food security

Monday, June 3, 2024

The Eastern Field is on a mission to promote and support food security and seed sovereignty.

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Jim Schuster continues the mahi of his ancestors

Monday, May 27, 2024

Jim Schuster has dedicated two decades to restoring marae across New Zealand and the world as part of his work with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga until his retirement in December.

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Work to protect New Zealand’s forests recognised

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Spanning four decades and featuring domestic and internationally significant work, Dr Brian Richardson’s career was acknowledged at the NZ Biosecurity Awards in April when he was presented with the Minister’s Biosecurity Award.

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Māori getting to tell their own stories

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Rotorua’s Steambox Film Collective started out as a group of friends hanging out and discussing the films and television programmes they dreamed of making. From there it was formalised and while its central membership includes Lara Northcroft, Mike Jonathan, Tihini Grant, Tim Worrall, Jo Curtis, Lea McLean, Richard Curtis and Nicola Smith, it also extends to their friends in the industry and their whānau.

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Lockdown running leads to full scholarship

Friday, May 17, 2024

From running laps around the block during lockdown to winning national titles and representing New Zealand on the world stage, watch the athletic journey of Poppy Martin.

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Master Carver Clive Fugill receives New Zealand Royal Honour for Māori Art

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Tohunga Whakairo Rākau (Master Carver) Clive Fugill was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori Art at Government House on Friday, afterwards reconnecting with the whānau of Hoani Waititi Marae.

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'Practical and pragmatic': Doug Gaunt retires after 29-year stint at Scion

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Doug Gaunt’s impact is seen on everything from building systems to wood grading and Scion’s own Te Whare Nui o Tuteata building.

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