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Why following the Māori lunar calendar is better than a four-day week - businesses
Businesses say the maramataka mindset has health and work-life balance benefits.

'Matariki is ours' - Why our newest public holiday is important for all Kiwis
A celestial navigator on Matariki, family, and how to spot the constellation

The end of MIQ in Rotorua: Sudima, Ibis, Arawa Park Hotels to reopen next week
MIQ hotels in Rotorua have hosted more than 17,000 quarantined returnees over two years.

Advocates share their wishlists for the new Māori Health Authority
'The philosophy is great. We want to see the resourcing to back it up.'

'Monstrous surprise': Why a man's heart stopped seven times
Gary Cassidy went from deadlifting 180kg to being unable to walk.

Danger zones: Warning for Mt Ruapehu visitors as eruption risk rises
Ski season visitors will need to check for hazard zones before arriving.

Councillors welcome new rules to protect election candidate privacy
Candidates' physical addresses no longer required to be displayed.

'Constant stress': The pandemic migration experience
"We always have our hearts in our mouths."

'Slammed': St John ambulance staff working at 110%
"The workload's definitely gone above and beyond what it used to be."

Meet the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours recipients
Rotorua's five Queen's Birthday honourees have led teams in a variety of fields

Lake's colourful characters come to life
A lifelong love of books has led to the publishing of the Gabby Goose stories

Buffets, bubble tea, thrills in nature: What to do this long weekend
The city's accommodation will be almost full, Rotorua NZ says.

Life 'going to change utterly': Lessons for people with long Covid
Chronic Fatigue patients say long Covid patients could benefit from their experiences.

Grant for $10k pallet stacker eases 'back-breaking' work at Rotorua Whakaora
This year has been a bumpy ride for beloved local charity Rotorua Whakaora.

On a roll: Rotorua teens to skate for NZ at Worlds
After nine years of training four local teens have scored the opportunity of a lifetime.

Lead the way: How Rotorua art will support Ukraine's animals
Hank Buissink wants to use his talent for leadlight artwork to help animals in Ukraine.

'I have trauma now': Retailers hope $6m programme will be enough to stop ram raids
Shop owners say they appreciate any help but for some it is too late.

Rohm's' dream: 'I'd like to make the world a better place'
Head boy wants to make financial freedom a dream accessible to every Kiwi kid.

'We aren't just stretched, we're bled': Frontline health workers' mental health struggles
'We didn't know what hit us. We were scrambling for weeks and weeks.'

'The first question I get asked is if I smoke': Changing how asthma is seen in NZ
Tere Piua hopes sharing her story will change public perceptions of asthma.

$350 'won't fix anything': What locals will do with cost of living payment
"It is like they are focused on spending and not earning."

Business-owning mum wants Budget to tackle housing, food costs
Locals share their spending wishlists ahead of today's Budget announcement.

Whare Whakaue construction to begin in December after $1.92m funding boost
But the new facility is not expected to be completed until April 2024.

Unfinished business: Kiwi BMX star sets new personal record
The attempt has been a year in planning and design

'I just battled on': 85-year-old reflects on life with long Covid
'I don't have time for that (Covid). I just can't cope with any more diseases.'

Family, routine and social connection: The pandemic losses still affecting older Kiwis
'We can't expect people to go back to the way they were. We're all changed from this.'

Forests for the future: The $25.5m programme hoping to help solve an industry's labour woes
The new programme aims to solve forestry sector's labour shortage with technology.

From 'vibrant human' to 'zombie': Long Covid wrecks 82yo's life
'I can feel my head all the time. Sometimes I forget words.'

'Somebody's going to die': Where ram raids have tripled in three years
Ram raid style break-ins are on the rise and youths are mainly behind the brazen crimes.

Covid generation: From open world to pandemic - how young people have coped
The pandemic scuppered plans for young people of all ages.

Sea monkeys and flexible work: How businesses are supporting a return to the office
Plus: A clinical psychologist weighs in on how workmates can look after each other

'Long overdue' $9.5m upgrade of aquatic centre gets green light
The upgrade was among $34m of residential and commercial consents granted last month.

'Things can get better': How love and family helped Sharon Grinter through the pandemic
In January 2020, single mum Sharon Grinter thought she was coming out of a black hole

In the slow lane: Driver licence test waits cause concern
Advocates concerned about impact of long licence test wait times on young drivers.

Rain warning lifted, high winds still a threat
An orange strong wind warning remained in place

'An honour': Rotorua's gift to Dr Ashley Bloomfield
When the director-general of health steps down in July, Rotorua is ready to welcome him.

'This is a Goldie': Portrait owner's quest for mystery chief
Andrew Doak believes famed artist Goldie painted this portrait of a Te Arawa koroua.

'Thank goodness': Businesses relieved as vax pass requirement ends
Businesses will not be required to ask for vaccine passes from 11.59pm tonight.

Region's 'impressive' economic growth hides city's reality - economist
Rotorua's tourism operators are still suffering, says the city's economic development arm.

'Terrible condition': Health experts warn of long Covid effects
GPs are already seeing a few cases of long Covid in the community.

Smash and grab: 'Gutted' owner's jewellery store 'smashed up'
Rotorua Jewellery store was smashed and burgled in the early hours of Monday morning.

'We're open, we're safe, keep coming': Sector's message as restrictions ease
But one Rotorua tourism operator says the changes came "too late" for their business.

'I've felt like I'm the virus': Barber refuses to pay $48k in mandate fines
His defiant stand comes as major Covid mandate changes are announced.

Oxygen and antivirals: How doctors are fighting Omicron
Medical professionals explain how Covid-19 is being treated and when to ask for help.

'Ecstatic' and 'over the moon': Rotorua ready to bounce back as borders open
New Zealand's borders will open three months earlier than planned.

'Not sustainable': Motorists not convinced about lower fuel prices
But others welcome the move with one saying the relief measures are 'better than nothing'.

Hospitals forced to cut back elective surgeries as Omicron surges
Staff workload in the emergency department has increased during the pandemic.

'A magical place': Rainbow Springs staff mourn its demise
Ray Punter says his work at Rainbow Springs over 49 years has been 'a real joy'.

'We need to get out!' Holidaymakers jump for their lives as van plummets down bank
"I can't even say I was scared because it happened so fast."

Delighted! Mayors welcome mill expansion a year after potential closure
Mayors tell us what the mill's expansion means for their communities.

'It's scary': Ukraine Russia war helps fuel pain at the petrol pump
Meanwhile, transport businesses feel they have "no choice" but to pass on the cost.

'It's been very hard': Kiwis excited to come home as borders reopen
One family says they will not let a pandemic or a tyrannical despot get in their way.

'I haven't heard anything from him': Bay mother fears for son fighting on the frontlines
But Lyudmyla Shelton believes the 21-year-old will keep his promise to stay alive.

'Unprecedented demand': 5000 RATs gone in half a day ahead of phase 3
An expert says Covid-19 is 'taking off' everywhere, including in the Bay of Plenty.

'Your house is on fire': Blaze destroys family's Mamaku home
Then the community stepped in to help the Walker family rebuild their lives.

Thousands a month: Model predicts Lakes Omicron peak case numbers
Lakes DHB says the best way to support the health system is to get vaccinated.

Reduced booster gap makes 20,000 more people eligible in Lakes DHB area
Across New Zealand, 1 million adults became eligible for their booster vaccine this week.

'A real nightmare': Used condoms, human poo and drag racing plague Lake Rotomā residents
Vandals at Lake Rotoma are making residents' lives 'a real nightmare' they say.

Mamaku's O'Sullivan dozen: 'Love is hard work but it's worth it'
Sister shares what she learned from growing up with 11 siblings.

'We don't want a war': Members of the Ukrainian community share their fears as tensions escalate
Local Ukrainians are concerned for family who could be caught in the potential conflict.

'People are afraid': Hospitality businesses face quiet streets under red
"Hopefully, we'll come out the other side."

Local leaders, expert react to Bay of Plenty cases linked to Omicron cluster
It comes as a public health expert anticipates a "rapid rise" in cases in the coming weeks

Lakes hits 90 per cent fully vaccinated, ministry announces
And 93 per cent in the Lakes area had received one dose.

Revealed: The vaccination status of our cases and hospitalisations
There have been 126 Covid cases in the Lakes DHB between November 12 and January 17.

'Genuine remorse': Drug-dealing couple's sentence reduced
Judge praises drug-dealing couple's efforts to turn their lives around.

'Frightening time': Concerned mums frustrated to find vaccination hub closed
Kids under 12 can now be vaccinated against Covid-19, if their parents can get a booking.

Will Rotorua get green light on Covid?
Rotorua businesses hope today's traffic light system decision will bring relief.

'Not only survived but thrived': Bay shoppers spend up in holiday boom
Bay of Plenty retail spending hit $57.6 million this holiday period, Wordline reports.

'Nearly there': Just under 1000 jabs to hit 90% in Lakes as Omicron threatens
The Lakes DHB population is 89 per cent double-vaccinated among eligible people.

Kiwi tourist spending in Rotorua up $8m on pre-pandemic levels
The largest tourism spend earning industry in Rotorua was retail sales.

Bay of Plenty 'heat swell' triggers MetService alert, thunderstorm watch today
And today is looking to become another scorcher.

'Please don't brush it away': Bay melanoma stats revealed
Karen Smith never gave skin cancer a thought. Then she found a spot on her back.

Bay campgrounds get summer boost even after implementing vaccine passes
Guests staying at many campsites and huts this summer will need to be vaccinated.

Bring a can, get a free ride: Zorb Rotorua's annual Can Day is back
Residents of Rotorua will be able to swap food for a free Zorb ride this Sunday.

Tourist bus fatal crash driver's appeal to stay in New Zealand declined
An immigration tribunal has decided Junwei Zhang will be deported in January.

'A second pandemic': $40m spent on mental health services
The board's chief executive says there are high mental health needs in the rohe.

'Worst Christmas': Quiet start to holiday accommodation bookings but some 'optimistic'
Rotorua's accommodation industry is facing Christmas with realism and hope.

'Important step': Nearly 200 affordable homes approved for Rotorua
Rotorua MP praises council for granting resource consent.