Opinion: Exciting weekend ahead for Rotorua

Rotorua Boys' High students perform a flash mob haka at the Night Market. Photo/File

It's a pretty exciting week for Rotorua isn't it?

The anticipation has been building for a while now, and will culminate tomorrow night as we host one of the big rugby matches of the year.

It is especially poignant as it is not just a visit by the British & Irish Lions side, but also because we are hosting the Maori All Blacks as well, on what should really be their true home ground right?

It will be the eighth time the Maori All Blacks have played here in Rotorua, and will undoubtedly be their toughest test here.

I just hope all the Kiwis in the crowd will make enough noise to compete with the visitors from the north!

As a massive rugby fan and sports fan in general, it is great to have the Lions side back here in Rotorua again.

These types of massive matches certainly leave an imprint on your memory.

In fact one of my earliest rugby memories (showing my age?) goes back to the 1983 Lions tour match against Bay Of Plenty, when my dad took me along to the game.

I remember standing right up the back of the stadium overlooking the 22m line at the city end of the field, just soaking up what a big rugby match was all about.

For the 2005 tour match I was halfway up the bank at the Pukehangi Rd end with a bunch of mates enjoying seeing Rotorua pumping.

I am sure this weekend will be no different - apart from the fact that I will be watching on TV!

I am certainly disappointed that I did not manage to get a ticket for the game, but I am sure the atmosphere watching in town will still be pretty cool.

Enjoy the game, the atmosphere of our city in party mode, and be safe!

While it just seems 'right' to be hosting the Maori All Blacks match here in Rotorua, what makes undeniable sense is that Rotorua should be the city that holds the Guinness World Record for the most people doing a haka at one time.

Not somewhere in France!

So make sure you are part of the Giant Haka with The Hits tomorrow at the Village Green.

Be there from 10.30am for plenty of giveaways, entertainment and practice, before we have a go for the World Record attempt at 12pm.

I am looking forward to MC'ing what is shaping up to be a great event.

One of the cool things we are doing at The Hits right now is our 'Rotorua Local Legends', and at the moment we are looking for the winner of the 'Good Grandparent Award'.

I must say that this category has been the hardest so far, as we had to narrow down all the nominations to a finalist list of just five people.

It was pretty special for our team to read all of the letters - in reality they all deserve the award!

However, we had to follow the process of the awards process, and you still have a few days to vote for either Maureen de Loree, Trish Spice, Pauline Deane, Garry Brake or Melissa Dye.

Get along to thehits.co.nz/rotorua to make a vote, thanks to Ngongotaha Early Learning and The Hits!

Hear Rotorua media personality Paul Hickey weekdays 9am - 3pm show on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM. Follow on Twitter - @paulhickeynz Facebook - The Hits Rotorua.