Letter writers tackled lack of housing for Maori and also the real reasons for empty shops and declining patronage in the CBD.

We asked four people at the Grey Power meet-the-candidates event what they look for when choosing their councillors.

COMMENT: Things are about to get desperate for Rotorua's 130 homeless families housed in motels as the town prepares for the tourism season.

A letter writer is appreciative of the incredible care she received at Rotorua Hospital.

Street view: What age do you think kids should be allowed on social media? 150916sp4.JPG I think it's all an educational journey

I have now come to terms that I have to have two wheelie bins and a crate - for the next 15 years, whether I like it or not. As

Be out and about for the people. - YVONNE WHITNEY, 34 Western Heights. We need more buskers, more street performers, more entertainment

Teachers are - in my view - some of the hardest working and undervalued people in New Zealand. Sure, they get more official holidays

I disagree with RLC's Strategy/Partnership Leader Jean- Paul Gaston's belief that the changes to the CBD over the last three years

With the local body elections fast approaching I am becoming increasingly concerned with the number of people who believe they are

Well I for one am excited about my new rubbish and recycling bins arriving - as we report today, they will start being delivered this

This may be old hat to some but watching the All Blacks' haka in their latest test match versus Argentina made me very proud to be

Street View: Where were you when you heard about 9/11? 120916sp1.JPG I was 3, so I don't remember. KATIE STEVENSON, 18 Holdens Bay 120916sp2.JPG I

Kelly_Makiha_FEB16.eps Homeless people used to be a rarity. I remember as a kid, a homeless man turned up in my hometown of Timaru

The Minister for Education dropped a few bombs on teachers, parents and our children recently. The first one is a funding proposal

COMMENT: Funding for schools should be focused on what matters most: education.

Heath Ledger was a good looking and talented actor, father and son who seemingly had it all. Yet he died, as too many do, far too

Kelly_Makiha_FEB16.eps Election season is a funny old time and brings out the best and worst in us. The best - because suddenly

For almost 30 years, Rotorua people have had to fight to be on a level playing field with other popular tourist spots, but that is

WELL, that was a wake up call - quite literally. While plenty reported sleeping right through it, plenty more in Rotorua were rudely

Over the next few days, thousands of intermediate aged students will start descending on the Western Bay of Plenty for this year's

LEARNING: Visiting a kindergarten in Fiji was a real world learning experience. Confession time - my child is one of those who skipped

Innocent until proven guilty. It's a fundamental tenet of our justice system. But it seems there are varying shades of grey when it

Kelly_Makiha_FEB16.eps There are some stories you write as a reporter that you'll never forget. This year will be my 20th working

Housing. It's been a topic that continues to plague the government in this their eighth year of sitting in the power seats. It's their

When the subject of gangs in our community comes up it's easy to dismiss it as something that doesn't affect us. We hear of violence

There's very little that can't be done online these days - from banking to dating to the weekly grocery shop. So perhaps we shouldn't

Up until a day or so ago I had no idea who Markus Zusak was. If he had sat down next to me and started yarning I would have thought

What are the annual events in your life? I am not just talking about your birthday, Christmas Day or New Year's Day because everyone

THE THREE "Te Arawa endorsed" candidates for the upcoming Rotorua Lakes Council election have been publicly revealed. And the story