Our Stories
Get to know your community, from your local butcher to our city’s mayor.
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I Am Rotorua – Paul Laing
Friday, July 4, 2025
When Tauranga resident Paul Laing suggested taking a new job in Rotorua and moving here, his family was surprised – and let’s say, a bit sceptical – as they couldn’t see why he’d leave Tauranga behind. But in Paul’s view, he wasn’t leaving anything behind, he was moving toward a lifestyle he was only experiencing on the weekends.
I Am Rotorua – Alice Barrow
Thursday, July 3, 2025
To say she’s a horsey girl might be putting it mildly. Born and raised in Rotorua, Alice Barrow has been riding since she was 9, started competing just four years later, and has been involved in jumping and hunting clubs ever since. For her, the closeknit horse community and Rotorua’s natural, open spaces are everything an equine lover could ever want.
I Am Rotorua – Paul Hickey
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Even if you haven’t been in Rotorua for long, chances are that you’ve either met, seen or heard the voice of Paul Hickey, radio announcer extraordinaire for The Hits Rotorua.
I Am Rotorua – Danni Cripps
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
For outdoorsy, adventure-loving Danni Cripps and her partner, shifting to Rotorua from Auckland just made sense. They were already spending most weekends here, so why not eliminate that drive?
I Am Rotorua – Dallas Hawe
Monday, June 30, 2025
Having grown up in Ōhinemutu and being surrounded by the wharenui in his own backyard is what Dallas Hawe (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Tamateatūtahi - Kawiti, Ngāti Rongomai) says inspired him to begin his whakairo (carving) journey. “I wasn't really an artist, but I think just being around it all the time and being interested and always being fascinated by whakairo and all toi Māori, I was determined to learn.”
I Am Rotorua – Ben Sandford
Friday, June 27, 2025
Sports have played a huge part in my life and I want to ensure that other people, especially in Rotorua, have the opportunity to participate in sport and get all of the benefits from sport.
I Am Rotorua – Liam & Johnelle Dijk
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
A mission to create more access to organic foods and products and educate others about organics, is what drew former Tauranga couple Johnelle and Liam Dijk to relocate to Rotorua and purchase Brown Owl Organics. They also knew living costs are more affordable in Rotorua.
I Am Rotorua - Glen Law
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Glen Law teaches Year 8 students at Mokoia Intermediate School.
I Am Rotorua - Paul Stewart
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
"My job is my passion, I love what I do,” says Paul Stewart, investment advisor at Craigs Investment Partners.
I Am Rotorua - Scott Graham
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
When asked why he chooses to live in Rotorua, Scott Graham says, “To be honest, the Rotorua life chose me! I was born and bred here in the beautiful geothermal tourism capital of the world.
A new chapter for Māori arts and cultural excellence
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Last week, a powerful new chapter began for Māori arts in Aotearoa with the launch of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) Foundation – a charitable organisation created to protect, grow, and pass on the richness of our country’s Māori traditional knowledge through genuine partnership.
I Am Rotorua - Kaycie O'Connor
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
When we asked Kaycie O’Connor to tell us about her passion, she said, “Taking steps into different paths and seeing where they lead! Rewind the record. I've worn various hats, each involving dipping my toes into something different!
Rotorua businesses back local women’s footy from the first whistle
Friday, June 13, 2025
Just days out from one of their biggest matches yet, Lakes FC’s Senior Women’s teams have scored some amazing support from two proud Rotorua businesses. Polynesian Spa has signed on as the Primary Women’s Sponsor, while The Pet Vet Rotorua is backing the teams by sponsoring their warm-up kits.
I Am Rotorua – Shaq Stone
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
You’d think that it would be just sports people that come in, but it's the complete opposite, we have people who come in just to have them time, alone time, stress release, and it helps a lot with mental health. That’s another benefit, not only physically but mentally.
I Am Rotorua – Isabel Talabis-Ronquillo
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
My husband and I migrated from the Philippines 15 years ago, and have been here for eight of those years. We love Rotorua. Just the fact that you can do all the things like biking, and we are into disc golfing at the moment. We have been doing that every morning for the past three months. The lakes are just there and I love how you can just feel the culture more here than anywhere else.
I Am Rotorua – Toni Austin
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
I actually moved away from Rotorua like seven or eight years ago, I think, and personally, I’m just born and bred Rotorua, I am a Rotorua girl. So when I moved away, I really really missed it. Although it was cool to go away, it made me appreciate Rotorua more and I am really happy.
I Am Rotorua – Kane Radford
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
“Me and my family moved back to Rotorua about four years ago now, basically to start working in the family business that’s been in Rotorua for 30 years, Radford Roofing, and to start following in dad’s footsteps – and to progress our family forward and have a much better lifestyle.
I Am Rotorua – Isabel McCandlish
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
My family lives in Holland but I have lived in Rotorua forever, my whole life. I was in property management prior to this and just the connection of bringing people into their own homes has inspired me to become a real estate agent, and I have managed to secure my first 2 sales which has been exciting!
I Am Rotorua – Keegan Mitchell
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Keegan Mitchell loves to run! You’ll often spot him early in the morning running through the city centre – and probably lots of other places around Rotorua too. He started up a run club, Good Day Athletic Club, hoping to inspire others to give it a go.
I Am Rotorua – Merenia
Monday, June 9, 2025
I have always been creative and have had quite a few endeavours that I’ve pursued in my life but I never knew I was good at cake art. I have five kids and it’s expensive to buy cakes for five kids so I gave it a go and I was really good at it. From there, whānau started asking and it was a domino effect. I was home based and for nine months I just worked really hard and gained a really great portfolio and a lot of customers.
