Stories by Felix Desmarais

The Lakes DHB region's ventilation capacity has more than doubled thanks to an innovation to convert anaesthetic machines into intensive care ventilators.

Tourism is not dead and could be the glimmer of hope for Rotorua in a post-Covid-19 world, according to officials and councillors from the region.

Farmers are "disappointed" after Rotorua Lakes Council didn't make its own submission on a policy they say could result in a six percent rates rise.

A Rotorua councillor has written an open letter of complaint to the Rotorua Lakes Council calling for the "reinstatement of local democracy".

A petition calling for all councils to defer and freeze or cut rates in light of Covid-19 has attracted more than 850 signatures since it was launched five days ago.

The chief executive of Rotorua Lakes Council says the suggestion of pay cuts for its executive team would be "immoral".

Roaming dogs are putting people at risk in Rotorua, at a time the council says there is no excuse for owners not knowing where their dogs are.

Some Rotorua Lakes councillors are calling for a council-wide voluntary pay cut as the economic impacts of Covid-19 begin to bear down.

The centre - similar to others around the country - was activated when the country entered a state of emergency.

Rotorua Lakes Council has admitted editing the public record of a meeting on the eve of the Covid-19 lockdown. Video

Recycling other than glass will be dumped into the landfill, Rotorua Lakes Council has confirmed.

Rotorua Lakes Council says no public matters were edited out of its recording of its pre-lockdown meeting. Video

Despite pleas from some, many Rotorua councillors are not in favour of a rates freeze in response to Covid-19.

A Rotorua Lakes councillor claims homeless people moved out of a central-city park were "doing nothing wrong".

Despite being a "social animal", Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick has gone into voluntary self-isolation amid an escalation of measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The mother of a teenage boy who was told to shave his moustache or be suspended from school will call for a review of the rule.

Twelve of Rotorua's lakes failed a key water quality test in 2018/19, but the regional council says they are currently safe to swim in.

A Rotorua Lakes councillor says New Zealand Police are "missing in action" and need to "step up" to enforce safety in the city's business district.

A "junket" to Ashburton and increased funding for an iwi partnership group sparked a verbal to-and-fro at a Rotorua Lakes Council meeting.

The response aims to avoid a 'one-size-fits-all' solution to homelessness.

Plans to discharge 20 million litres of sewage into Lake Rotorua has prompted a call for the lake to be given personhood to protect it.

The Rotorua Aquatic Centre 50 metre pool grandstand has been demolished following the discovery of "structural issues ... beyond repair".

On the shores of Lake Tarawera, Tūhourangi Tribal Authority ancestors would welcome the Rotorua region's earliest tourists. That land is likely to be returned to their descendants.

New data suggests most people do not feel Rotorua is moving towards its 2030 goals, and only 30 percent of people feel they can participate in decision-making.

First-time parking offenders who disputed their ticket will have their fines waived in a gesture of "goodwill" as the council acknowledges "issues" with Rotorua's parking system.