A tip-off by a suspicious Bunnings employee led to the discovery of a Rotorua drug manufacturing operation, a court has heard.

Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters doesn't know how Nia Glassie's mother can live with herself knowing her baby was so badly mistreated and killed.

Police are seeking public help to find a 51-year-old Rotorua woman who has been missing since last November 7.

Two people are in hospital with fractured skulls after large scale disorder erupted at a series of parties in Rotorua over the weekend.

A three-year-old boy who was diagnosed with meningococcal C has been transferred from Starship Children's Hospital to Middlemore for plastic surgery.

Two teenagers charged with murdering Roman Skorek in Rotorua's Kuirau Park in January have been named.

A law change to ban gang patches in schools and police stations could be too broad and capture people who are innocently wearing gang colours, MPs have been told.

A Rotorua man has admitted benefit fraud which lasted more than 15 years.

A hitchhiker murdered a motorist who picked him up and offered him a bed for the night after he made an unwelcome sexual advance, a court has heard.

A 15-year-old Rotorua girl who took Gavin Hayes' car for a joy ride has apologised to the 82-year-old, the Rotorua Youth Court has heard.

A former Mana Party candidate and Green Party member has appeared in the Rotorua District Court charged with assaulting a woman and possession of cannabis.

A neglected dog was left with scabies over his entire body, lost most of his fur and suffered damage to his eyes after his owner failed to get treatment for him.