Latest from Rotorua Lakes Council

Sewerage scheme decision drives up rates rise

Skatepark, elder housing, aquatics: What council decided in 10-year plan deliberations.

'Highly debated' holiday rental charge gets green-light

But some hosts could pay thousands less than first proposed.

'Never seen it so quiet': Developer says commercial build dry spell worst in decades

'All of these growing costs aren’t making it attractive for anyone.'

'Emotional toll': City euthanises 423 pound dogs in 10 months

Council says surrenders are up: 'Owners can’t afford to keep them or simply don’t care.'

'Taking the p**s': Charity boss hits out at op shop rubbish dumpers

Frequent clean-ups of soiled goods and rubbish are taking a toll on store team members.

Rotorua communities say council kept them in the dark on rising project costs

“All they’re doing is committing their community to abject poverty.”

Top drop: Matamata-Piako District Council a finalist for best-tasting tap water

The council is one of four finalists in the National Water Taste Test competition.

Engineer jailed over fraud linked to almost 1000 properties

It's been described as possibly the biggest-ever building industry scam in New Zealand.

'Kick in the guts': Tradies 'poaching' work from locals 'rife' amid slowdown

'A high volume of tradies [are] jumping in the ute and trying to grab some of the work'

Share the Ride gets whānau riding local forest tracks

Share the Ride, now in its 10th year, encourages more Māori to be involved in mountain bike riding in their local ngahere. Video / Te Ao Māori

'It's a sad day for Rotorua': Iconic tourism business in liquidation

What liquidators say the tourism company owes.

Councillors clash over Rainbow Storytime event, drag queen hits back at criticism

Protest and counter-action signalled for library reading session.

'All hell breaks loose': Rotorua pest specialist deals to pesky wasp nest

When the probe went down, the wasps came up.

'No robust evidence' Kāinga Ora activities impact house prices, agency says

A councillor disagrees, referencing locals’ 'terrible, sad and upsetting stories'.

'Couldn't move': Allergic woman trapped in home as 'millions' of wasps swarm

She's happy to help pay for pest management, but there's just one problem.

Finished: Te Arawa Whare Waka opening final step in revamp of Rotorua's lakefront

The opening brought to a close the five-year Rotorua lakefront development project.

'Concern and uncertainty': Will treasured community hall be demolished?

The community was told demo plans were under way but council now says it's still deciding.

87 tyres were dumped in a 'gorgeous' stream. Gary wasn't having it

He made it his mission to clean the stream of rubbish - all in one day.