Paul Hickey: Lack of crimefighter cred detected

Karena and Kasey Bird will be guest chefs at one of The Hits live broadcasts at Central Mall. Photo / File

I'm a huge fan of crime novels and TV shows, perhaps secretly still harbouring that 6-year-old boy's desire to be a hotshot detective.

I do marvel at the job our local police do, especially when it comes to gathering evidence from potential witnesses.

I quite often see their requests for people who "may" have seen something at a certain time in a certain place, and have wondered how people can remember things that they weren't actually paying attention to.

And this week I was in a position to help. But in all reality I couldn't.

There was an attack on a woman just around the corner from my house on Saturday night, and the 20-minute period police want info about, is the exact time frame I drove past and through the area she was attacked.

Now I consider myself a pretty observant bloke, but for the life of me I couldn't remember anything specific about that drive or point in time.

I'm disappointed I wasn't able to provide any info, but at least my long-time scepticism of some of these out-there witness requests was firmed up in my own head; and my decision to become a radio host instead of a detective was also confirmed to be the right move.

I'll stick to my books and the box.

I'm looking forward to a couple of broadcasts from outside our Hinemoa St studios over the next few days.

With Mother's Day this weekend, it is time to give away our Mum's Package that includes a $500 shopping spree at Rotorua Central Mall and a night of pampering at Millennium Hotel Rotorua. The Hits will be at Rotorua Central tomorrow with the draw just before 1pm, so tomorrow morning is your final chance to shop and text to enter.

Then on Monday, we'll be back there again presenting a special cooking demonstration with Masterchef NZ winners Kasey and Karena Bird around lunchtime. Come and see them at work in our specially prepared area thanks to Smith City and The Warehouse, and then there will be a book signing with Paper Plus at Rotorua Central with their new book For The Love Of. I promise to stick to the microphone and away from the kitchen.

I want to finish on a real positive - last weekend's 51st Lion Foundation Rotorua Marathon.

What a buzz to be involved from start to finish on what was a long day for many people. From the nervous anticipation early in the morning, to the stirring cultural performances to farewell the competitors, the smiles, success and satisfaction as distances were completed, and the special arrival of local legend Colin Smythe, it was a very special day. And just seeing so many locals out supporting the thousands who were taking part reinforces the true community spirit that exists in our city. Well done, us.

Paul Hickey is the host of the locally based 9am-3pm show on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM. Follow on Facebook The Hits Rotorua and on Twitter @paulhickeynz.