Editorial: It will all be right here in new year

Well, tie me to an ant hill and smear my face with jam, it's almost the end of the year.

Never quite got to realise all my goals for 2011. We almost certainly couldn't.

Managed to maintain a few, and have made preparations to roll some commitments over to 2012 - we know this as the "don't cramp my style" effect.

It's looking like the new year will bring fresh opportunities to better oneself though by planning another resolute course of action, so there's hope, always hope.

Plotting the course for 2012 shall take a few more days though.

One could never make a foolproof plan with four full days until New Year's Eve - current events can change matters.

News and events can be a dynamic force, able to remould people and offer new perspectives.

Therein lies what we embrace as a challenge.

One resolution Rotorua can consider for the New Year is appreciating and supporting live performance more.

We have exciting line-ups in store next year, and it begins with 2011 Rock the Lake this weekend. The Lakefront Mardi Gras is a fun-packed way to ring in the New Year with family and friends - TV celebrities, local talent and fireworks.

The Raggamuffin festival promises two days of live reggae, funk, dub and hip-hop toward the end of January. Some big stars are going to be making their way to Rotorua to entertains crowds that keep growing by the year.

And to think, soprano Kiri Te Kanawa has chosen Rotorua as her only North Island venue in April.

If we were fortunate to be able to attend all of these, in the first quarter of 2012, we may need to resolve to take it easier on oneself, to make the schedule less demanding, to make way more for the rest of the year.

And there hasn't even been mention made of the local stage productions that have been receiving favourable accolades from any sectors of the Rotorua community.

Spoilt for choice in Rotorua, stuck for a decision, a plethora of talent to entertain oneself - one would be hard pressed to leave town for the holidays next year and see the rest of the country.