Editorial: Home's where I belong

Kelly Makiha

While there's no greater place to spend a holiday than in Rotorua, for the past two weeks I've been away visiting family in Timaru and the Gold Coast.

As Rotorua gears up for a new-look with plans to revitalise the CBD, going away was a good opportunity to take a look at other cities to see how we stacked up.

When I was a teenager growing up in Timaru, I thought the city "sucked". In my view it was boring and drab. But going back as a visitor (and without the snotty teenage attitude), it's just beautiful. It's helped by the awesome upgrade the local council has done to Caroline Bay.

This time of year is also super special for Timaru with the carnival offering free twice daily concerts (featuring some big name acts), sideshows and rides.

If I were a Timaru local now, I'd feel pretty proud of my city.

Then there's the Gold Coast.

It certainly has it all on paper but if you look closely, it's suffering a bit from what Rotorua is currently going through.

The infrastructure and buildings look tired and dated and it needs a good spruce up.

Many of the Kiwis I spoke to love Australia, but they also miss home as the shine of moving there wears off. They miss the change of seasons, the Kiwi attitude and the camaraderie that's missing from a lot of workplaces.

The cost of living is pretty high and if you ask me, food and groceries are no cheaper than here (and doesn't taste as nice).

On my first day back in Rotorua this week, I threw the suitcase inside, grabbed the dog and went for a run in the Redwoods, followed by a quick dip at Blue Lake to cool off.

Sure, the CBD might need a bit of attention, but there's no place like home.