I'd like to thank all Rotorua community partners and stakeholder groups for their valuable contribution to community wellbeing over the past year and invite them to engage with council with collective vision and energy in 2014. Finally I acknowledge the work of our emergency services and medical personnel in keeping us safe over the holiday season. New Zealand is on track to record the lowest road toll since the year I was born (1950).
That right there is cause for celebration.
Senior Sergeant Brendon Keenan, Rotorua road policing manager
Rotorua police wish everyone a happy and safe New Year.
Drink driving is a continued focus for us at the police and we work with the wider community to make the roads a safer place. We want to make sure people are out there enjoying themselves, and able to enjoy themselves, but we also want to encourage people to have plans in place. Look after each other and look out for those who you are with.
The police see safety as a community partnership, we want a safe Rotorua but we can only do that with the people and working together. Around 50 per cent of offending is alcohol-related, so be aware of your limitations. Don't be so focussed on the event and day but aim to have a safe 2014. Poor decisions on one night can have consequences that you will have to live with.
Ngahi Bidois - Rotorua Daily Post columnist
Nga mihi nui o te tau hou 2014 ki a koutou katoa.
My whanau and I would like to wish you and your whanau a safe, enjoyable and successful New Year. 2013 has been another very good year for us. We have been blessed abundantly and were also privileged to contribute to the success of many people worldwide.
When I consider what keys in my life have contributed to the successes I enjoy they can be summarised as follows: a faith in God, my amazing wife, father and extended whanau, great friends, working smarter and harder, having unrealistic dreams alongside smart goals and maintaining an attitude of gratitude. You see, there was a period in my life where I had no faith, no hope, no job, no dreams, no goals, no money or assets and very few friends.
Each year I reflect on that time and it helps me to remember where I have come from. As I write this my daughter is playing Taylor Swift's song Lucky one on the stereo. I guess I am one of the lucky ones. However, I have found that the smarter and harder I work - the luckier I get. May you have a 'lucky' 2014 too.
Dr Mazen Shasha, Rotorua Hospital head of Emergency Department
Christmas and New Year is a time for holidays, family togetherness and fun.
It can also be a very busy time for the emergency departments of Rotorua and Taupo Hospitals. We see a number of needless incidents over the holiday period including accidents and injuries, violence and even deaths which are often caused by over indulgence in alcohol.
Excessive alcohol consumption causes immense harm to adults and children and results in increasing presentations at emergency departments on a daily basis. At Christmas and New Year this can be worse as families struggle with seasonal stresses.
Please be super careful when you are driving, especially overseas visitors who are used to driving on the other side of the road. And don't forget to click your seatbelt.
New Zealand is a beautiful country and we are very lucky here to have no war or civil unrest as there is in countries like the Middle East where I come from.
Let us celebrate with our families all the good things we have to be grateful for. Let's enjoy life without over indulging in alcohol.
Happy New Year and ease up on the drink.
Kingi Biddle, Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking runner-up
I live in a homestead that has been in our family for generations. My great grandfather Tuoro Pango brought his daughter and family from Ohinemutu to Koutu to live. On his passing my grandmother Aniani Biddle took over the reins and raised her family in an area populated with whanau members and their families.
In 1979 when she passed, my father and mother Robert and Linda Biddle became the heads of the household. They raised their children and grandchildren in a place they could call their own.
Now my wife Wendy and I have the keys to the house and will raise our children and mokopuna until we hand the keys over to them.
Our job is to look after this legacy so that they will have a place to call home.
Everyone has a legacy, whether it be a homestead, a compassionate heart or a happy smile.
My wish for 2014 is that we each find that special gift we have and use it so that our children, grandchildren and descendants may one day take over the reins and ensures that it endures way into the future.
What a wonderful world it would be.
Jordi Webber, Titanium member from Rotorua
Four years ago, in my 6th form year at high school, I made this little quote: Live For A Reason, abbreviated to L4AR.
At first, I just used to draw it in my books, or on the sand at beaches because it looked cool.
But over the past two years, I have been bringing the words to life, I have been searching for the Reason. What is my reason? To be a musician? An actor? The next Prime Minister? Or discover a cure? Over the past year and a half I have picked up a few fans and a following through my involvement in Titanium. I have been overwhelmed by the support, letters, fan mail, compliments and praise I have received. This is when I clicked, my reason is to inspire.
I will continue to follow my passion, find success and build hope for those wishing to follow a similar path as me.
So in the new year, think of your passions, your strengths, the direction you want to go in, and your hopes. In all you do, and the places you go, your actions will move someone around you. Take it, apply it, find it. Live For A Reason.
Turanga Merito, performer
Someone once told me life slows down as you reach your 30s, and as we come to the conclusion of 2013, I can't help but think that the 'someone' was wrong.
What a full-on year - I feel a painful but beautiful headache approaching my brain as I recall some highlights for you.
The highlight for me was definitely X Factor NZ. The crew, the cast, the top 13 I got to vocal coach, was a dream come true.
I feel blessed to say the least - from there Stan (Walker) asked me to go on tour with him (silent scream) - then he flew me to Sydney to do backing vocals for him, and we warmed up the stage seconds before Beyonce - one of my idols stood in the same spot.
I'll never forget those four days for the rest of my life. Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park was extra special this year - the 20th anniversary so we went all out to make it fresh, relevant, and family friendly - I'm proud of the result.
New Year's resolutions are to get my restricted license, successfully cook a loaf of rewana bread, perform with a kapa haka group (I've missed it), remain gluten free, own a goldfish and not have it die on me (lost two this year - seriously I don't know what happened - I fed 'em everyday).
Thank you to my family, Mum, Dad, my six sisters, and my brothers for your support. At the risk of sounding cliche your unconditional love has pushed me through the hard times. Thank you to Rotorua, all my supporters and loved ones, I'm so proud to come from here - especially now that Stevie Chadwick is the mayor. I have always loved and respected her passion and dedication to the community - plus she's got awesome hair!
Happy New Year, love and hugs to everyone from me.
Ollie Shaw, triathlete
The beginning of each New Year brings the opportunity to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead. It's a great time to set yourself goals that will help encourage and motivate you to achieve what you want, whether that be in your workplace, at home or leisure activities.
Planning to get fit for a certain event is a great way of setting yourself a goal with an end target.
First, select an event that you would really like to do. Rotorua has many to choose from and some of my favourites include the Rotorua Bike Festival, Xterra New Zealand, the Rotorua Marathon, and the Rotorua Walking Festival.
Secondly, make a plan for how you are going to achieve your goal. It needs to be realistic and specific for what you want to accomplish.
Lastly, get out there, follow your plan, and enjoy the year ahead. I'm sure I'll see many of you out in the awesome Rotorua trails while I am working towards achieving my own goals. Happy New Year.
