RotoruaNZ

What's better than having one national award-winning toastie in your hometown? Having TWO, of course! The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover has announced the winning sammy makers and they're both in Rotorua. Okere Falls Store earned the Supreme Award for their 'Figgy in the Middle' creation that uses a very interesting combination of ingredients (dill pickle cheesecake whip??). This is the second time the Store's Rich Johns has nabbed the top spot with his concoction – a competition first. With more than 100 votes ahead of the second-place holder, it was a clean sweep for Capers Café + Store to win People's Choice. Their hoisin glazed pork belly toastie, aptly named 'Brotha 'Mmmm', was created by young apprentice chefs Zion and Jesse. Congratulations to our deliciously creative foodies! If you're keen to try these mouthwatering treats, get in quick as they won't remain on the menus forever. McClure's Pickles #RotoruaNZ #FoodieScene #RotoruaProud #Capers #OkereFallsStore #ToastieTakeover #Winners

We're humbled and honoured by this piece written by James Doolan for HM Magazine describing the mahi we're undertaking to establish #Rotorua as a world-class destination once again. We have a strong leadership team and board (tagged below) with a unified vision and plan - everyone here works their 🍑 off to reach those goals. We've very proud of how far we've gotten, we appreciate the support of our council and our board, and we look forward to the work ahead. Articles like the one James has published not only show others what can be done, but also help us see what others see, because we've been entrenched in this work for several years now and sometimes it's difficult to see the changes taking place. It's that whole trees vs forest thing, you know? We're all about collaborating, too, so if something we're doing inspires you, fantastic. If you have ideas, please share. If you have questions, feel free to get in touch. He waka eke noa - We're all in this together. Rotorua Lakes Council Tania Tapsell Andrew Wilson Marisa Balle Justin Kimberley Vanessa Wallace Graham Brownrigg Tim Cossar Chris Auld Keri-Anne Tane Marisa Bidois Paul Button Sarah Meikle #RotoruaNZ #RotoruaProud #WorldClassDestination #Leaders

Carrying on with celebrating our locals, 60 – yes, SIXTY – finalists in 16 categories have been announced for the 2024 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards. From a business leadership perspective, it's always great to see who makes it into the Emerging Business Leader category. With our regional tourism organisation hat on, we love seeing the number of tourism, hospitality and event organisers across the entire list of finalists – including Mountain Jade who won the Supreme Award last year and is a finalist in the Retail category sponsored by Deloitte. Within the category we've sponsored again this year, Manaakitanga Tourism and Hospitality, we'd like to congratulate finalists Whakarewarewa - The Living Māori Village, Elite Adventures, Te Puia | NZMACI, and Black Label Barbecue (Shaun & Alia Branson). You're all worthy of an award and we wish you luck! #RotoruaNZ #RotoruaBusinessAwards #BusinessLeadersAndExemplars #RotoruaProud

Last night the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua was buzzing, hosting the annual Harcourts Dancing for Hospice fundraiser that brings together our vibrant community to showcase local talent and inspiring initiatives. This event is one of our city's most-anticipated! Twenty local non-professional dancers mastered new dance styles, including Latin and ballroom, all to support Rotorua Community Hospice. This event is more than just a night of entertainment; it's a celebration of our community's spirit and generosity. A huge congratulations to everyone involved for making this event so spectacular year after year! #RotoruaNZ #EnergyEventsCentre #CommunityPride #SupportLocal #HarcourtsDancingForHospice #Fundraiser

August is seedling season! 🌱 As gardeners prepare for kōanga (spring), Scion and 17-year-old Elisa Harley hope to see Elisa’s innovative biodegradable plant pots in garden centres soon. For the past year, Scion has been working with Elisa to see her company, Enivo Pots, succeed in using underutilised primary industry waste to create a replacement for the 350 million plastic pots used every year in NZ. Enivo Pots, based in Wellington, has already been recognised with multiple innovation awards, including Te Arahanga Primary Industries Award. In 2023 Elisa was honoured as Youth Wellingtonian of the Year. It’s a fantastic to see one of NZ’s top research and innovation organisations support young entrepreneurs particularly when it’s related to helping NZ transition to a circular bioeconomy. Discover how Elisa and Scion are working to create a greener future. ⬇️ https://rb.gy/kht2dh #RotoruaNZ #Scion #Sustainability #EcoFriendly #GreenInnovation

🎬 Chill&Chat Episode 4: Say hi to Lyn, the Office Wordsmith. Lyn Maner is our Marketing and Communication Executive and she has a talent for turning words into magic. Originally from the US, she moved to New Zealand 18 years ago and made Rotorua her home. Bringing her radiance, humour, and kindness to RotoruaNZ, she’s not only incredibly funny and caring but also a phenomenal writer. Her words have the power to inspire and connect with everyone. Show Lyn some appreciation in the comments (pro tip: watch out for spelling errors)! #RotoruaNZ #ChillAndChat #Marketing #MeetOurTeam

Congratulations to Capers Café + Store for taking out the People’s Choice Award for The Great New Zealand Toastie ’24 Takeover! If you haven’t yet sampled their entry, called ‘Brotha Mmmm’, you are seriously missing out. 😋 Created by two young apprentice chefs, Zion and Jesse, the toastie features succulent pork belly and delicious toppings, cheeses and more. Brotha Mmmm is also a finalist for the Supreme Award. 🥇 #RotoruaNZ #CapersCafe #CallingAllFoodies #AwardWinningRotoruaCafe #TheGreatNewZealandToastieTakeover

We’re pleased to share a wonderful piece written by Tatyana Leonov for the The Sydney Morning Herald – Sunday Travel, highlighting the wonders Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa here in #Rotorua. Tatyana beautifully captures the essence of Wai Ariki, blending traditional Māori healing practices with modern wellness.  If you’re curious about what makes this place so special, check out her full article below. #RotoruaNZ #WellnessJourney #RotoruaHotSprings

Record entries for Run the Forest - $2.5 million boost for Rotorua economy! More than three thousand people will be lacing up their shoes to run, jog or walk through Rotorua’s tourist hot spots this weekend. 2024’s Run the Forest, presented by Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, is set to get underway from 8am on Saturday (10 August). This year’s event has seen record growth – with 30% more entries than last year and around 91% of participants coming from out of town. “Last year we sold out, so this year we added in more capacity, and we've sold out again. The high entry numbers are proof the event – and, by extension, Rotorua – has well and truly bounced back from COVID. There’s so much vibrancy in our city and this run really celebrates how unique it is,” says Event Director Helene Nicholson. Around 2730 of the 3000 participants will be travelling to Rotorua for the event. Nicholson says they’re coming from all over the globe. “In New Zealand we have entrants from the Kari Kari Peninsula in the far north to Invercargill in the deep south. Many more are coming from overseas, including runners from Uruguay, Canada and across Europe.” “Rotorua’s natural appeal and our one-of-a-kind course make this a run like no other. Participants make their way past natural wonders like geysers and through wonderful cultural centrepieces including Te Puia and Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village … it’s pretty special.” Entrants can choose to run or walk a range of race options – the 21km Pohutu Geyser Trail, the 10km Geothermal Traverse and 7km Redwoods Trail. First held in 2018 with around 1200 participants, the event has grown significantly over the years. 2023 brought with it an estimated $2m economic boost to the local economy and an estimated 7,500 bed nights. “This year we’re hoping to top those figures – there’s a lot of buzz and excitement in the city as we prepare to welcome participants and their supporters” says Nicholson. Partnering with Run The Forest made sense to Wai Ariki general manager Debbie Robertson, who is expecting a boost in manuhiri to Wai Ariki this weekend. “The event is a great way to get people to Rotorua in winter and Wai Ariki is the ideal place for them to rest and relax after their big day out on the trails of the Whakarewarewa Forest." Nicholson says it’s been great to have people from “all different ages and stages” sign up to the event – the youngest participant is just six years old. The oldest is 80. “This event is about having fun. In the middle of winter, sometimes you need something to look forward to that pulls you out of the funk, and there’s no better way to do that than by taking a run through world-class scenery and a weekend away.”

Rotorua, it’s time to vote for your favourite local business. Ranging from The Pet Vet to Profiles Gym Rotorua to Rotorua Musical Theatre, there are 22 nominees for the New Zealand Media & Entertainment (NZME) People’s Choice Award in this year’s Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards. Vote here by Wednesday, 14 August: https://lnkd.in/gUqrnBTR. Pictured below is Mountain Jade who took home last year's Supreme Overall Award and the Deloitte Retail Award. #RotoruaNZ #RotoruaBusiness #BestOfTheBest #PeoplesChoice