Editorial: Closure at last after years of uncertainty

It's been a week in which two long-running stories have drawn to a conclusion.

Yesterday the Rotorua Daily Post reported on the settlement reached in the Oakland Estate sinking homes saga. Today we mark the sentencing of a Rotorua man who literally got away with murder for 34 years.

Two very different stories, but behind each will be many people relieved at the resolutions and glad they can begin to move on.

For the affected residents of Western Rd, Ngongotaha, it's been a tough few years. Grant Collins and Shirley Vos told us the battle over subsidence issues at Oakland Estate had taken a toll on their health. John and Eileen Grundy said they'd undergone years of unnecessary stress and strain.

The land on which their homes had been built ultimately proved to be unsuitable for those homes. The Department of Building and Housing reversed the building consents and code of compliance certificates, a decision the council initially appealed, and the case has drawn out from there.

With several parties involved - the homeowners, the developer, the engineers and Rotorua District Council - and no shortage of finger pointing it was never going to be a quick fix.

But thankfully now the issue of blame has been set aside in the interests of bringing closure.

All parties involved should be congratulated for their part in helping to bring this matter to an end.

Kudos also to the police who solved a historical murder and brought a killer to justice.

A 72-year-old Rotorua man may never see the outside of a prison again after his life sentence for the 1979 murder of Rodney Tahu.

At that age, and with ailing health, life may well mean life for Menzies Hallett.

But at least Hallett lived to see his 70s. Mr Tahu was cut down, executed by Hallett on a Turangi service station forecourt at the age of 32.

Mr Tahu's family have had to wait 34 years for answers, for justice, while his killer led a normal life.

Now, hopefully they can rest a little easier knowing that justice has finally been done.