Stories by Felix Desmarais

Rotorua's recycling travels nearly 150km every day, but the council does not hold data on the emissions it creates. Video

Almost $1 million has been spent dealing with asbestos in some of Rotorua's major projects and there may be more to come.

Rotorua Lakes Council's climate action plan stated the main climate risks for the district were extremes of heat, wind, rainfall, cold and drought.

Despite high hopes for the creation of more than 1000 jobs, only two of eight Rotorua Lakes Council bids for shovel-ready funding have been granted.

Take a gander - a group of unrepentant undesirables are causing disruption near Rotorua's lakefront, holding up traffic and defecating on footpaths.

Installation of the 12m-high 3D-printed sculpture did not go exactly to plan on Saturday, with the inner helix requiring more adjustment to fit.

A Rotorua transgender man says a lack of access to gender-affirming care can result in lethal consequences.

It's more than three years behind schedule, more than $200,000 above budget, but now installation is in sight for the Hemo Gorge sculpture.

A high five between one of the oldest and the youngest Rotorua councillors sealed a unanimous decision to move the city's climate action plan to its next stage.

A Rotorua doctor says if there was one thing she could change to improve health in the district it would be warm, dry housing.

Hospital services may be compromised if medical quarantine facilities need to be used for Covid-19 patients, the head of the Lakes DHB says.

A $750,000 cash boost to council-controlled organisation InfraCore has been described as an "investment" and is not a "prop up" or bailout.

Councillor Reynold Macpherson, who was found in breach of the code of conduct, said the investigation into his actions was "farcical", but the mayor rejects that.

Rotorua will enter into a 10-year, $156 million contract with Trility to outsource its management of wastewater services.

"About as transparent as a brick wall" is how a local government expert describes processes surrounding Rotorua Lakes Council's proposal to outsource wastewater management.

Both familiar and fresh faces will be in the running to topple Todd McClay as Rotorua MP in the 2020 election.

A Rotorua councillor has been criticised for not stepping back from the decision-making table after making a public submission on a controversial sewerage management proposal.

Where can you ride e-scooters?

A bid for free parking in Rotorua's central business district has been quashed.

Rotorua is set to lose more than 3700 jobs in the fallout of Covid-19, resulting in $186 million in lost earnings, according to a new report.

All eight of Rotorua's bids for 'shovel-ready' projects have beaten 1098 other applications to reach a 'long shortlist' of 802.

Some councillors say the roughly $1.7 million in renovations is not a good look when people are struggling, but the mayor says ceiling tiles have fallen on her desk.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick has put the handbrake on discussions about free parking in the CBD for the time being.

Disability advocates are "really heartened" by a $832.5 million funding boost for disability support services in the 2020 Budget.

The councillor at the centre of code of conduct complaints says Rotorua Lakes Council's refusal to release further information on the investigation is in his opinion "cynical" and not in the public…