Editorial: Bright start to 2014

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, depending on your perspective, but one thing is certain about 2013 ... we all got a year older.

For many of us at the Rotorua Daily Post, it was a fantastic year. Not only did we launch our new-look, morning-delivered compact newspaper to a warm welcome from readers and advertisers, but our efforts at improving the paper were handsomely rewarded with a Newspaper of the Year gong at last year's Pacific Area media awards.

And it wasn't the only accolade: Janine Davy was named advertising manager of the year, while chief photographer Stephen Parker won multiple awards including Senior Photographer of the Year at the Canon Media Awards.

But while it was a very good year for the Post, it was also a great year for Rotorua. Yes, we saw more than our fair share of tragedies and disappointments, but we also saw a renewed sense of optimism and vigour.

As I noted in a recent editorial, Rotorua is going through a renaissance of sorts.

There are new faces leading our council, along with a new way of examining Rotorua's issues and new plans for shaping our future.

The first few months of the year, with so many wonderful events, are always a time of excitement in our city, but this year that fervour seems even greater.

Perhaps it has something to do with the impressive, new-look Eat Streat, or the growing buzz about the upcoming Bayleys National Sevens.

Or maybe it's the blooming positivity of 2013 continuing to boost our spirits as we move into a new year and a new era.

Happy New Year, Rotorua.