White Island aerial view after the volcanic eruption. Photo / George Novak
The Bay of Plenty Times is taking a look back at the stories of 2019. Here's what made headlines in December.
The receivership of forestry company Claymark Group, which has sites in Rotorua and Katikati, has come as a shock to employees.
Claymark was placed in receivership yesterday.
Read more: Claymark Group receivership a shock to staff
The family of missing Rotorua man Kawhena Wiringi are desperately seeking the public's help to find him because he hasn't been seen for nearly three weeks.
Wiringi, 30, was last seen on November 15 at his whānau's Ngāpuna marae in Rotorua. He hasn't been seen since and his disappearance is being described as out of character.
Read more:
Family of missing man Kawhena Wiringi plea for sightings
Electric scooter company Lime is eyeing up Rotorua and Tauranga streets.
Auckland Council dumped Lime and Wave scooters from its streets last week and gave licences to operate to two new Singapore-based companies instead.
However, Lime is having "ongoing conversations" with other councils such as the Rotorua Lakes and Tauranga City, general manager Ky Hacker confirmed this week.
Read more:
Lime e-scooter company in informal talks with Rotorua and Tauranga councils
There were 47 people on or near Whakaari/White Island at 2.11pm on December 9 when the volcano erupted, spewing gas and ash into the air.
Horrifying footage of how a popular tourist spot was turned into a place of tragedy has been released in a 12-minute video by a tourist who was on White Island minutes before the eruption.
Read more: White Island eruption: Chilling video from day of eruption released
It was like a scene from Armageddon - grey, dusty and hard to breathe.
But heroic Rotorua pilot Tim Barrow from Volcanic Air says he would ignore the rules again in a heartbeat and land on a freshly erupted White Island if it meant saving lives.
It is thanks to the actions of Barrow and six other private helicopter company staff members that 10 people survived the horrific tragedy on Monday that killed at least six people.
Read more:
White Island eruption: Heroic Volcanic Air pilot Tim Barrow speaks out
Adrian Hutchings' heart beats in the body of a young girl who would have had no chance without it.
His lungs have given a 20-year-old girl the chance to go home for Christmas after knocking on death's door just months ago.
Now his skin could be a matter of life or death for some White Island eruption victims.
Read more:
White Island eruption: Rotorua boy's skin donated to help injured
An intensive care nurse who worked tirelessly for days to help White Island burns victims has died in a road crash in the Bay of Plenty.
Sheila Cheng, 50, was killed after the vehicle she was a passenger in and another vehicle collided head-on on State Highway 30, Tikitere, just after 3.30pm last Saturday.
Read more:
Whakatāne Hospital ICU nurse who cared for White Island victims dies in crash
Methamphetamine is tearing Bay of Plenty families apart - and it's grandparents who are picking up the pieces.
The latest figures from Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, a New Zealand charitable trust, show more than 900 Bay of Plenty grandparents are raising more than 1700 grandchildren who no longer live with a parent.
Read more: Grandparents pick up the pieces as meth rips apart families
John Wharekura was only 16 when he knocked on the door of Tanya Burr's Rotorua flat asking for a pen and paper in 2002.
When she turned to get it, he stabbed her to death with a carving knife. Last year he was freed from prison on parole. Journalist Kelly Makiha finds out why he's back behind bars.
Read more: Tanya Burr's murderer John Wharekura recalled to prison
More than $64,000 worth of food, presents and money was donated in this year's Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal in conjunction with The Hits Rotorua and the Rotorua Weekender for the Salvation Army Foodbank.
A total of 22,403 items were given to stock the foodbank and fill Christmas parcels for those in need throughout the appeal. Coupled with cash donations the total amount donated was $64,145.20.
Read more: More than $64,000 donated in Rotorua's 2019 Christmas Appeal!
Details revealed about five men caught up in an underage prostitution ring.