Kristina Crouch and Kereti Rautangata at Dancing for Hospice. Photo / Andrew Warner
The Rotorua Daily Post is taking a look back at the stories of 2019. Here's what made headlines in August.
Councillor Charles Sturt might look like a shadow of his former self but he was more than prepared to take on another Rotorua Lakes Council election challenge.
But something recently changed and the highly experienced councillor who has served the city for more than three decades has done a u-turn on his decision.
Read more:
Rotorua district councillor Charles Sturt reveals why he's bowing out after 30 years
An Antarctic blast has hit the Bay of Plenty, with snow falling in Mamaku near Rotorua this morning.
Some Mamaku residents woke up to a white layer carpeting the landscape after the temperature in the village dropped to 0.6C between 6am and 7am.
Read more:
Let it snow! Antarctic blast hits Bay of Plenty, snow falls in Mamaku near Rotorua
With the death of Munir Kadri, Rotorua has lost one of its long-time surgeons and specialist urologist, Indian community leader and internationally recognised photographer.
His death draws the curtain on a life that spanned 91 years, during which, as a 12-year-old, he walked in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi crusading for India's independence from British rule.
Read more:
Obituary: International photographer, long-time surgeon and community leader Munir Kadri remembered
You're better off buying a house in most Rotorua suburbs than renting, according to new figures.
A breakdown of where it's cheaper to buy than rent, carried out by OneRoof and its data partner Valocity, has showed Rotorua is the third most affordable property ownership city in New Zealand, behind Invercargill and Whanganui.
Read more: New figures reveal where it's cheaper to buy than rent
After all the nerves, excitement, and relief, Rotorua's Harcourts Dancing for Hospice participants now wear wistful smiles after a rollercoaster 15 weeks.
About 2100 people donned their sequins and bow ties for Saturday's spectacle at the Energy Events Centre.
Read more:
Rotorua's razzle dazzle: First sold-out crowd lifts Harcourts Dancing for Hospice
There were hugs, cheers, singing, speeches, cakes, and visitors from far and wide at the Rotorua Museum and Bath House building's 111th birthday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones brought two gifts from central government: $15 million from the Provincial Growth Fund and $5 million from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
The money will be put towards restoring the museum.
Read more:
Rotorua Museum $20m: 'We can now start the rebuild'
Police seized more than 60kg of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $36 million after carrying out a search warrant in Rotorua last night.
Rotorua police area commander Inspector Phil Taikato said police had executed a search warrant at a property in Fairy Springs about 10pm.
The search found at least 20kg of the drug, he said.
Read more: 60kg of methamphetamine worth $36m seized in Rotorua raid
Two new purpose-built ambulance stations are to be built in Rotorua that will mean faster response times to emergencies.
The two new stations and a community hub, which the current station at Pererika St will become, would cost $3.5 million to build and fundraising is under way.
Read more:
Rotorua ambulance: $3.5m for two new stations will reduce response times
"It was manslaughter or at least involuntary manslaughter."
Those are the words of the late grieving husband of a woman killed by a fallen tree in Rotorua's city centre.
Keith Butterworth wrote a scathing affidavit about his feelings towards the Rotorua Lakes Council and Rotorua police about the death of his wife, Trish Butterworth, on January 5 last year.
Read more: Tree death: 'Council did not do their job', says the late husband of woman killed by fallen tree
For five years Patrick Montgomery was unaware he had a rare cancer after both his specialist and GP failed to pass on the message.
After he was finally told - following failures across both the public and private health systems - a scan showed the cancer had spread. But in another failure, a radiologist didn't pick it up in a scan.
Read more:
Medical failures: Rotorua man Patrick Montgomery not told he had cancer for five years
