Stories by Laura Smith

The vessel hosted tourist cruises on Lake Rotorua for more than three decades until pandemic border closures forced it into hibernation in 2021, with 15 staff made redundant.

One councillor said his social media "lit up like a Christmas tree" with protests while another said the people should "call out" "horrible comments" about the event.

A woman allergic to wasps can now come and go from her property without fear of being stung after a 90cm wasp nest was removed from neighbouring vacant land.

The agency has about 900 homes in Rotorua and is making a major push for another 500 in two years.

Lynne Coutts says she is allergic and could experience severe swelling if stung.

Photos of maggots on the carpeted floor of Rotorua's Spa Lodge kicked off a series of events that led to the former backpackers being shut down, new documents reveal.

"The hall will need to be removed," a sign on the door reads, but the council now says it's still deciding.

With homeless people being asked to leave reserves, does Rotorua need a night shelter again?

A Rotorua resident has spent his own time removing masses of rubbish from a local stream.

A small Rotorua school that fought plans to allow higher buildings in its neighbourhood after finding human poo, drug paraphernalia and sanitary pads on its grounds is celebrating a win.

Rotorua and Tauranga's councils have thousands of parking spots, but down the road these numbers will change.

Iwi fears sewerage scheme could pollute sacred lake.

Kingsley Ridings stepped on corroded metal at the ramp and has had four surgeries since.

The owner of Rotorua's iconic Lakeland Queen paddle steamer has been given six months to move.

Rotorua's council has permanently removed its after-hours dog drop-off box from the Rotorua Pound for health and safety reasons.

It comes despite the council looking to put off work to spread costs over longer.

The paddle boat was once a common sight on the lake but has been sitting on dry land for the last three years. Local Democracy Reporting's Laura Smith finds out why.

From serving at McDonald's to the civil service, Fisher Wang is now set to guide a new generation on local politics.

The government is investigating whether four accommodation providers in Rotorua are complying with tenancy laws - including Spa Lodge.

It comes as they face a bill for a sewerage scheme they must legally connect to.

A fire allowed to burn for hours, a door with four locks, holes in the walls and scattered rubbish - these are some of the living conditions at Rotorua's Spa Lodge described in a council assessment.

The council issued the lodge two dangerous building notices within a week.

"I am resisting the urge to say 'I told you so'," one councillor said.

Hundreds of Rotorua dog owners face $300 fines as the council cracks down on residents "unwilling" to register their pets.

Rotorua's council is moving to shelve controversial plans to put sportsfields and housing on a golf course as part of a $62 million proposal, with nearly $190,000 already spent.