The first day of tour where we are staying one night in Tokaanu then a week in Thames, and a week in Rotorua was very eventful and frightening.
Artificial intelligence could deepen inequality and create ‘AI-poverty traps’ in developing nations, write economists Dr Asha Sundaram and Dr Dennis Wesselbaum in their paper ‘Economic development reloaded: the AI revolution in developing nations’.
Imagine waking up to the soothing sound of a river flowing gently into the sea, the air fresh with a salty breeze, and a symphony of birds to serenade the morning. This idyllic scene isn't a far-off dream but a reality at the Waikanae River Mouth Freedom Camping Area. In this blog post, we'll guide you through everything you need to know about this idyllic camping spot, how to adhere to the rules and set your self up for a wonderful (but brief stay).
Festival headliner trio 19-Twenty will perform Saturday night.
The New Zealand Blues & BBQ Festival is already making noise, with early bird two-day passes selling out before the deadline, proving there’s a hearty appetite for this epic three-day celebration of incredible blues music and mouthwatering food, returning to Rotorua this 28-30 November.
Iconic hamburger brand, Wendy’s is gearing up to fuel the passion of fans, followers, and friends of the One New Zealand Warriors with the unveiling of its limited edition Feed the Faith menu. Available now at all Wendy’s NZ restaurants until 10 August, the Feed the Faith Sweet & Smoky BBQ range is set to be the ultimate pre- and post-game ritual that Warriors fans will remember long after the official whistle blows.
AUCKLAND, 28th May 2025: Keep your energy levels up and winter bugs at bay this winter by embracing nature’s own medicine – fresh seasonal produce.
Rotorua is standing out from the rest of the country, according to the latest Infometrics Quarterly Economic Monitor, with the district recording positive movement across several key areas, despite a challenging national economic environment.
Photo by Jeanne Rouillard on Unsplash
“It’s astounding this has happened for a third time in a row. Hundreds of entries have poured in from Aotearoa New Zealand artists at all stages of their careers, exceeding all our expectations. This reflects the vibrancy of the nation’s art scene and the essential role art plays in our society, as well as the importance of our philanthropic partners who enable us to offer such generous prizes.”
Embarking on a unique voyage as we attempt to narrate what we hope will be the most captivating road trip for Gem, my spirited Border Terrier, and Bones, aka Tony Cutting (me), her devoted human companion.
This is not your ordinary tourist tandem but a dynamic team with a quest to rhapsodise (speak or write about with great enthusiasm and delight) the lesser-known corners of New Zealand.
Entries are open for New Zealand’s ultimate season of photography—enter your best work, be part of the country’s most popular exhibition and earn votes in the People’s Choice award.
WRITTEN BY JAMES FRANKHAM
A group of female Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes has graduated from a New Zealand Olympic Committee run programme working to develop female leadership within sport.
The Wāhine Toa Leadership Programme was launched in New Zealand in 2017 (previously referred to as Women’s Sport Leadership Academy) and has helped around 50 female Olympians transition from sport performance to leadership roles including coaching, governance and change management.
Join ESR, and you’ll join a diverse and talented team working together to protect and enhance the well-being of people living in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) is the New Zealand government research agency dedicated to the health, well-being, and safety of our communities. ESR uses world-leading science to monitor disease, test food and products, safeguard our water, support the justice sector, and more. By joining forces with experts and iwi, ESR is tackling critical issues to ensure a better Aotearoa for all.
Like many people, I feel deeply spiritual and believe that when we ‘pop our clogs’, it is not the end. What helps us to understand more about what might potentially happen are those stories from people who believe that they have experienced an (NDE) or Near-Death Experience.
Hunters around the country have their fingers and toes crossed for some foul weather this weekend with the game bird season getting underway.
Fish & Game New Zealand chief CEO Corina Jordan says a good breeding season means Opening Weekend looks promising for hunters.
The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī has appointed jazz performer/composer and film composer Andrew Faleatua as the 2024 NZSM/Creative New Zealand Jazz Composer-in-Residence. This six-month position, funded by a Creative New Zealand grant, provides a composer with a salary and research grant to develop a significant album of new work.
An exhibition looking at the lives of Marlborough women during World War 2 opens at the Marlborough Museum this Friday 26 April to coincide with Anzac Day.
Homefront Heroes – Marlborough Women during the Second World War explores topics like rationing, spinning and knitting for soldiers, and voluntary work in the Women's War Service Auxiliary and will run until 4 August.
New research sheds light on the biggest concerns for parents, with more than 93% worried about threats to their children’s financial security in the future…
New Zealand Police have joined international authorities to bust open a significant cybercrime operation, which targeted thousands of people worldwide.
Under Operation Camperdown, New Zealand Police, working in partnership with Europol, this week executed the New Zealand phase of a multi-national operation targeting the phishing as a service platform, LabHost
Whittaker’s is delighted to add a new Mango & Coconut 250g block to their permanent core range, a paradise of flavours inspired by mango sticky rice dessert.
Crafted with Whittaker’s caramelised white chocolate, chewy mango fruit pieces and toasted coconut, this combination is a tropical chocolate heaven.
Whittaker’s Chief Marketing Officer, Soraya Cottin, says it’s exciting to release such an innovative new flavour to sit alongside the more classic flavours in Whittaker’s permanent core range.
Community events have got more fun with a new play trailer available to hire for free to delight and inspire tamariki and whānau.
The towable trailer, Kia Kaha (which translates to ‘stay strong’), is full of a wide range of play equipment kindly donated by organisations in Horowhenua and encourages unstructured, imaginative and active play to support healthy communities.
The Big Dutch Day Out is a prime event on the Dutch Community’s agenda of annual festivities. And not just for the yummie Gouda cheese, croquettes with Zaanse mustard and salty herring. One of the two highlights of the day will be the opening of the ‘Origins’ Art Exhibition, in the Māpuna Kabinet art gallery. The other, is the official unveiling of a huge 2 metre by 2 metre colourful model of De Heemskerck – the ship that brought Abel Tasman to Aotearoa in 1642.
A new report underscores Rotorua's position as a leading international destination for spa and wellness tourism, drawing attention to the city's rich geothermal resources and diverse offerings. With global interest in health and wellbeing continuing to increase, the report predicts visitor spend by Rotorua spa and wellness holidaymakers, could jump from the $277.6 million spent in 2023, to $408.2 million in just a few years.
The Coaltown Museum, located in Westport, has undergone a significant update and is proud to unveil its new identity as The Museum of Kawatiri, the second experience centre to open along the Pounamu Pathway. Promising an enriched journey through the cultural and historical treasures of the region, the transformation highlights the collaborative efforts of Pounamu Pathway and The Museum of Kawatiri Trust alongside the creative brilliance of Wētā Workshop.
Fringe in the ‘Stings brings Heretaunga to life in the spring! Fresh, bold, local and strollable, FitS is the little festival of arts with a big heart, based in Hastings. There’s something for everyone, from baroque to burlesque, puppetry to punk, comedy to cabaret, all at low low prices — meaning you can see a whole range of shows without breaking the bank!
The new documentary film "Climate Commons” offers a fascinating and hopeful glimpse into the stories of climate action in Aotearoa. From indigenous solutions to community action and grassroots initiatives, the film showcases diverse approaches that blend scientific knowledge and practical wisdom.
Last Sunday, Gem and I travelled up the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula to the stunning little settlement of Coromandel town..
The drive from Thames to Coromandel took about an hour, but was very picturesque. The road up was a bit dodgy (skinny) with loads of vehicles towing large caravans or Boats along the way. I was happy Roxanne (The Caravan) was resting back in Thames for this trip.