The Rotorua Daily Post is taking a look at the stories that happened in 2017. The following are some of the big local news events from January.
- Rotorua's tourism, hospitality and accommodation sectors geared up for a busy summer after a record off-season. (January 3)
- Millions of dollars worth of new developments were in the pipeline for Rotorua in 2017
including a new supermarket lakeside spa complex, and two shopping complexes. (January 7)
- Rotorua's annual road toll for 2016 was eight deaths, the highest figure in five years. (January 9)
- Building consents worth more than $121 million were issued in Rotorua last year - almost $29m more than the previous year and $47m more than two years ago. (January 10)
- Local real estate agents expected Rotorua's property market to grow in 2017 after news
average house values jumped 27.1 per cent in the past year. (January 11)
- Steve Chadwick pleaded for the return of a whalebone club, honouring late kaumatua Mauriora Kingi after it was stolen from the council chamber. (January 17)
- A call for a unified Maori vote saw the Maori and Mana parties negotiating a deal that would make Te Ururoa Flavell their Waiariki candidate. (January 25)
- Rotorua's new kerbside rubbish and waste collection schemes were expected to cost ratepayers $500,000 more than originally thought. (January 27)