Latest from Rotorua

'Exemplar for the country': Historic iwi agreement reshapes water use
The partnership secures 60% of Rotorua's drinking water and returns ancestral land.

'Dying needlessly': Iwi monitors call for action on low cancer screening rates
'People don’t have to die from diseases like that if they’re caught early enough.'

'I wasn't prepared to wait': Youngest Govt MP on seizing his big opportunity
'I thought, I'm 26 years old, but I'm going to give this a crack – this is my home.'

'Ecstatic' reunion: Cat found after year-long disappearance
Twelve months after going missing in Hamurana, Franco the cat turned up.

'Horrible': Memorial for deaf, blind man killed in alleged hit-and-run is destroyed
The family says the roadside memorial was their way to cope with the tragic loss.

Earthquakes every six to seven minutes detected under Mt Ruapehu
Volcanic tremor remains low; Mt Ruapehu is at Volcanic Alert Level 1.

Wellington Opera brings historic tale of Rotorua soldier to life
The opera 'Mate Ururoa' tells Captain Roger Dansey's true story.

Rain train: Weather watches keep rolling in for Bay of Plenty
Heavy rain watch for Bay of Plenty from 1pm Friday to 5am Saturday.

New sculpture for Tauranga: Artist chosen for bold six-figure CBD artwork
Paul Darragh's piece comes after 7m steel sculpture installed in Red Square last year.

'Risk to the public': Police search for wanted man
Huirua has connections to the Eastern Bay of Plenty region.

How a routine traffic stop exposed a Snapchat rapist who attacked a 13yo Rotorua girl
Police suspicions were raised by the age gap between 13-yr-old girl and older man in car.

Truck driver back at work and walking again after surviving fatal crash
He had nine surgeries: 'There was nothing left - no bones or anything left in my foot.'

The rise of Rosmini's 'Horse': Young star gallops to scoring benchmark
Braden Morley scored 30 points in Rosmini’s 40-7 win over Massey High.

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans
The change is part of the agency scrapping hundreds of social houses.

Bid for inquiry into Ōhinemutu sewage spills fails
A cracked pipe last month led to sewage spilling into a geothermal pond in Ruapeka Bay.

'I'm proud of you': Sister's final message before fatal crash
Lily Arabin, 34, died in a car crash on the Tauranga Eastern Link on June 26.

Man admits having $20k of stolen goods in mysterious arson case
William Tidd tried to sell the stolen items hours after the incident.

'Social dysfunction at its worst': Two people sentenced over Rotorua teen prostitution ring
Judge says Clayton Fox was by far the most culpable in teen prostitution ring.

Flooding closes BoP road, over 100mm of rain recorded
All heavy rain warnings have been lifted for the region, but more rain and hail possible.

Music teacher's playwriting debut brings theatre 'whodunit' to life
Matthew Sheard’s play The Beast of Burden debuts at Rotorua Little Theatre this month.