Rotorua district councillor Maureen Waaka is recovering in Auckland City Hospital after suffering a stroke.

A Rotorua 17-year-old used gang slogans as he sexually violated a teenage girl - treating her "like a piece of meat", a court has heard.

A Rotorua carer stole more than $2000 from a pensioner who trusted her with her bank card, a court has heard.

Hundreds of people have farewelled a 14-year-old girl killed in a fire at a Rotorua factory after a party.

Rotorua resident Bulla Grace had been drinking alcohol when he decided to put a pan of oil on the stove, causing a fatal fire, the Rotorua Coroner has been told.

Heading to the Monster Truck Show in Napier Shane McKay couldn't believe his eyes as he saw his beloved stolen speed boat being towed in the opposite direction.

Large water rats are chewing their way into homes terrorising residents bordering a water drain running through a Rotorua residential area.

The devastated family of a 10-year-old Rotorua boy electrocuted in an accident in his family home on Monday are struggling to come to terms with his death.

A man who raped a young woman at Rotorua's skate park nearly seven years ago has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Police yesterday descended on a rural Rotorua property as part of the investigation into the murder of roadworker George Taiaroa a month ago today.

Police have confirmed their search of a rural property west of Rotorua today was linked to the fatal shooting of roadworker George Taiaroa last month.

A female scooter rider has died in a crash at Rotorua this morning and a second serious crash was being attended by emergency services in Putaruru.

Rainbow Springs is great for a family 'splash out', says Dionne Christian.

A Rotorua woman has been sentenced to four months' jail after her pitbull attacked a toddler - "degloving'' the child's forehead.