Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post and the Bay of Plenty Times
Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post focussed on human-centred stories. Identifying as a third-culture kid she is passionate about empowering young people to believe in themselves, embracing indigenous values to reverse climate change, hauora in public policy, and planting your feet in the grass when the universe won't stop serving lemons. Born in Malaysia, grew up in Wellington, but feeling most at home when there's thunder and lightning in Hamilton, she is excited to discover Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty region.
!['Storytelling at its best': Delegates get sneak peek at Matariki drone light show](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'Storytelling at its best': Delegates get sneak peek at Matariki drone light show
Meetings delegates treated to Matariki drone show
!['Huge opportunity': Rotorua hosts major events trade show](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'Huge opportunity': Rotorua hosts major events trade show
'It’s just so good for us as an industry to know each other.'
![Activist tells of racism, acid attacks and needing a soldier protect her at school](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
Activist tells of racism, acid attacks and needing a soldier protect her at school
'If you people are willing to do all this to keep me out, I should be here.'
![Firefighting family following in father's footsteps](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
Firefighting family following in father's footsteps
'I mean, we love doing it. We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t want to.'
![Thunderstorms set to hit Bay of Plenty; drivers warned to take care](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
Thunderstorms set to hit Bay of Plenty; drivers warned to take care
MetService has issued a weather watch.
!['He shouldn’t have died like that': Family dog fatally mauled in street](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'He shouldn’t have died like that': Family dog fatally mauled in street
Owner feels at fault for small pet being out but says dangerous dogs shouldn't be roaming.
!['We have more work to do': Use of traditional Māori healing soars – ACC](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'We have more work to do': Use of traditional Māori healing soars – ACC
In 2020, 472 people made claims for rongoā healing. In 2023, 6103 did.
![Bayley Martin to take on fittest on earth at CrossFit Games](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
Bayley Martin to take on fittest on earth at CrossFit Games
Rotorua CrossFit Champion heading to world games.
!["Sustainability ... is important to me": Local designer to represent NZ at global sustainability congress](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
"Sustainability ... is important to me": Local designer to represent NZ at global sustainability congress
Taupō-born designer heading to Global Sustainable Development Congress in Bangkok.
!['You don’t treat a picture, you treat a patient': Rotorua doctor honoured for services to radiology and education](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'You don’t treat a picture, you treat a patient': Rotorua doctor honoured for services to radiology and education
Making pictures with ultrasound: Barbara Hochstein recognised in King's Birthday Honours.
![Budget 2024: 'I want my taxes to go to making sure kids don’t starve'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
Budget 2024: 'I want my taxes to go to making sure kids don’t starve'
What Rotorua locals and leaders want from Budget 2024.
!['We managed to save a life': Linesmen recall rescue of woman from sinking car in floods](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'We managed to save a life': Linesmen recall rescue of woman from sinking car in floods
'As I got closer, I could see that she was starting to reach for air.'
!['I could lose them right now': Man's urgent plea to get family out of war-torn Gaza](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'I could lose them right now': Man's urgent plea to get family out of war-torn Gaza
A Palestinian man wants special NZ visas to be available during the Israel-Hamas war.
![‘Hiding in plain sight’: Call for law targeting coercive control abuse](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
‘Hiding in plain sight’: Call for law targeting coercive control abuse
Victim advocates argue New Zealand should follow the lead of two Australian states.
![A lifetime of protest: 95-year-old is still fighting for the rights of others](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
A lifetime of protest: 95-year-old is still fighting for the rights of others
His first act of protest was to learn te reo when he arrived from England in 1950.
!['Full of ideas': 11-year-old fashion designer prepares for Auckland runway](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
'Full of ideas': 11-year-old fashion designer prepares for Auckland runway
Essjay Bennett and mum Angela Doherty are off to Auckland for Dress for Success
![Rotorua real estate agent offers te reo signs in bid to encourage Māori homeowners](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=783)
Rotorua real estate agent offers te reo signs in bid to encourage Māori homeowners
'I have always believed in working from the bottom to the top.'