Free programme to give Rotorua kids confidence and skills in open water swimming
25 Feb, 2021 08:28 PM
3 minutes to read
Shauni James is the Rotorua Weekender reportershauni.james@nzme.co.nz@thedailypost
Rotorua youth will be able to feel more confident when braving the elements of open water swimming thanks to a free programme.
The Kauria Te Moana programme aims to help young people to learn open water safety skills which they will put into practice at the Banana Boat OceanKids event at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) next month.
Last year the event was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions,.
Kauria Te Moana is free and for 7-to-10-year-old Rotorua children who successfully apply.
Rotorua to get first reusable glass-bottle milk factory by June
19 Feb, 2021 10:03 PM
5 minutes to read
Building is well underway on Hamish Hodgson s reusable glass bottle milk factory on his Hamurana farm. Photo / File
Building is well underway on Hamish Hodgson s reusable glass bottle milk factory on his Hamurana farm. Photo / File
Construction on the region s first-ever swap-a-bottle fresh milk factory in Hamurana is under way with residents poised to get a taste as soon as June. Rotorua man Hamish Hodgson s reusable glass milk bottle factory Volcanic Creamery on his Hamurana farm is on track to be up and pumping in the next four months.
From left, Riki Ellison, Marcus Vandergoes and John Pearman on Lake Okareka collecting samples.
Photo: Supplied
Scientists from GNS Science, the Cawthron Institute, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago in conjunction with Te Arawa Lakes Trust are currently taking both sediment and water samples from lakes Rotorua, Ōkataina and Okareka to provide a full 1000-year history.
It is part of a project called Lakes 380 - Our lakes health - past, present, future which aims to find out about the health, wellness and history of around 10 percent of New Zealand s 3800 lakes which are greater in size than a hectare.
Long weekend: Rotorua pumping as Kiwis explore their own backyards
1 Feb, 2021 04:50 PM
7 minutes to read
The Brownes from Auckland, Ester, 6, (left) and Jamisen, 9, and Doves from Rotorua, Evie, 9, and Vince, 5, at Okareka. Photo / Andrew Warner
Rotorua Daily Post
Rotorua restaurants, bars and mountain bike trails were packed throughout the long weekend, but business leaders remain in the dark about what the next few months will look like as tourism dries up. Accommodation bookings in the city were looking strong and business was pumping this long weekend with Waitangi weekend expected to bring the same joy.
Ambrosia duty manager Tom Lindley said, despite the recent Covid-19 scares in Auckland and Northland, the restaurant was pumping on Friday and Saturday nights.
What s your secret backyard favourite spot? The 28 pools on the lake’s edge of Rotorua at the Polynesian Spa. The acidic waters help relieve tired, sore muscles, while the alkaline waters make your skin silky soft. This place nourishes and rejuvenates and helps you to deeply unwind, relax and feel pampered. Another fave spot is Lake Okareka - the lake is peaceful and at nighttime there are spots where you can see glow worms in caves if you head out on a paddleboard tour with the Paddle Board and Kayak Rotorua company. What s your favourite place for a pie/coffee?