Rotorua Tourism June 2016

A New Zealand Herald Commercial Publication

Tuesday, June 6, 2016

RotoruaNZ.com/live

IMAGINE... THE PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, BRING UP A FAMILY, AND ENJOY A LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE. IMAGINE ROTORUA

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RotoruaNZ.com

Imagine

I

ROTORUA

t’s a vibrant, thriving city, conveniently located in the central North Island.

Renowned as a magical holiday destination by generations of Kiwis and international visitors, the opportunities it provides as a potential lifestyle choice are often underestimated.

Imagine being part of a community of people who have made a conscious decision to bring up their families in a clean, outdoor environment, with a true Kiwi lifestyle.

Rotorua is a truly diverse district, rich in history and culture, and home to a dynamic community of people.

We choose to live here because of the style of life that Rotorua’s location and natural resources offers.

Together we aim to make it the perfect place to live, bring up a family, and enjoy everything that this little piece of paradise has to offer. Our motto is: tatau tatau — we together.

Imagine having a job that gives you work satisfaction, but also having the time and the energy to spend with your family.

The cornerstones of the Rotorua economy are forestry and wood processing, tourism and hospitality, and agribusiness. If you are engaged in one of these industries, have you thought of working here?

Growth is also happening in other sectors, including geothermal, construction, education, health, manufacturing, trades, IT, transport, professional and social services.

We are also fortunate to have

many training schemes and quality learning programmes available for people of all ages.

This combination of career, education and lifestyle opportunities creates a truly excellent ‘working environment’.

Imagine easy access to a range of leisure activities.

Rotorua’s forest and lakes provide hours of enjoyment, and all within a short drive of the city.

The forest is enjoyed by large numbers of mountain bikers, walkers and horse riders all year round and the lakes are central to a variety of summer activities.

Sporting codes and other leisure activities abound and a range of modern venues attract high-quality sporting, cultural and art events.

Imagine a life where 1.5 hours of driving is the total you might do in a working week, rather than just one trip to work.

The time taken to drive to and from work in Rotorua forms a very small part of the day’s activities.

It is totally feasible to fit in a bike ride, a run or some time playing with the kids before heading off to work.

And the evenings, well … we leave that to your imagination.

Imagine owning your own home right now and not having your lifestyle constrained by mortgage payments.

Houses in Rotorua are still very affordable at an average price to income rating of 3.31.

For $350,000 you can buy a three

to four bedroom, two-bathroom house on an 800m2 section.

In the Auckland metro area, an average house price of $820,000 pushes the affordability rating to 9.26.

The lower cost of owning a home in Rotorua means more disposable income to invest in your lifestyle now and for the future. How affordable is your home?

Imagine a choice of education options that reflects your family’s needs and values.

Rotorua is well-supplied with highperforming primary, intermediate and secondary schools, including Maori immersion, Catholic and other Christian character institutions, single sex and co-educational facilities.

For those requiring private secondary schooling, our central location enables easy access to a choice of schools in Tauranga,

Cambridge and Hamilton.

Rotorua and Tauranga are also the home of the fourth largest industry training provider in New Zealand.

Imagine living in Rotorua!

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OUR PEOPLE

The decision to move was heavily swayed by a desire to live closer to the outdoor facilities they love.

Sheldon is an avid longdistance trail runner, including ultramarathons, and has recently joined the local Trail Running Club.

The whole family enjoys water-skiing and wakeboarding, which has become a whole lot easier now they can get to the lakes in 10 minutes after work.

For us, it’s about lifestyle.

It ticks the boxes for work and play, and it’s also close to everywhere.

Stacey and Sheldon McEwen, and their sons, of Sequoia Eatery

RotoruaNZ.com

There’s no place Rotorua is famous as a tourist destination, with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year enjoying the pristine environment, the thermal landscape and the strong Maori culture.

But what’s it like when the visitors have gone — to be one of the 65,000 locals who call Rotorua home?

We asked three families to share with us their experiences of living and working in Rotorua.

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A forest of opportunities ention the Redwoods in Rotorua and most people’s thoughts will turn to the magnificent 55,000ha Whakarewarewa Forest which dominates the landscape in the eastern suburb of Lynmore.

It is home to some of the best mountain biking in the world and a recreational area that hundreds of thousands visit each year.

Tapping into this jewel are Stacey and Sheldon McEwen, who, with their two young sons, have chosen to make Rotorua their home and the towering Redwoods (sequoia) the backdrop for their new venture, the Sequoia Eatery.

This family have lived in Rotorua for less than a year, having packed up their lives in Napier in August 2015.

In that time, they have found and bought a house, moved city, settled children into school and kindy, renovated a building, recruited staff and opened their stylish cafe´ .

Sheldon is an avid long-distance runner, including ultra-marathons, and the whole family enjoys waterskiing and wakeboarding, which has become a whole lot easier now they can get to the lakes in 10 minutes after work.

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Work, life, fashion n 2007 Nerida Johnstone, her husband and three young children packed their belongings and left Wellington to experience a life in Rotorua.

The move enabled them to set their own pace, enjoy life and watch their kids grow up with Rotorua’s scenic backdrop.

Having previously studied fashion design, Nerida used her move to Rotorua to return to her first love of art, and completed study in sculpture and a casting internship.

A year ago, she launched Henare, producing spectacular handmade jewellery pieces.

OUR PEOPLE

RotoruaNZ.com

5

I really like Rotorua for being uncrowded. I love walking around the lake and walking to and in the Redwoods. It’s all so convenient as I live in the centre of town. I’m not a really sporty person but I love going for peaceful walks.

I’ve been rafting with my friends, which was amazing.

I’ve also been to the hot and cold streams in the bush which I loved.

I want to do more outdoor activities – these are the sorts of things I couldn’t do in Korea where it’s so crowded and people work such long days.

Anna Song, business manager, ANZ Bank

like our home Since then, the venture has grown to supply select stockists across New Zealand and even a New York Gallery.

With the launch of the new website and online store www.henare.nz, and a showcase of her jewellery at Melbourne Fashion Week 2016, the future is looking bright.

A

Investing in a Rotorua future nna Song is a South Korean-born Kiwi whose formative years were spent spanning two different countries.

After completing her degree in Wellington, Anna lived and worked in a number of industries in Wellington and Seoul.

This breadth of experience has set her up well for her current position as a business manager for ANZ in Rotorua, looking after a portfolio of more than 300 small and medium businesses.

Anna moved to Rotorua in 2015 because she had fallen in love with the city and the potential of a better quality of life.

She could have selected anywhere in New Zealand to live, but was swayed by Rotorua’s ‘unique authenticity’ and ‘intimate quality of life’.

In the short time she has lived in Rotorua, she has already established solid business connections and strong friendships, something she found more elusive in the bigger city environments.

She enjoys the convenience of Rotorua, the beauty and tranquility of the lakes and forests, and the potential that the district offers.

■ As you read through our magazine, you’ll hear more about the work/life balance of these and many other locals, as they talk about lifestyle, employment, education and real estate opportunities.

The hustle and bustle of the city had become too much.

We wanted a life that centred on raising the kids in the best possible environment.

I can remember when they first arrived that they couldn’t believe the amount of grass and open space.

We immediately knew that we had made the right choice.

“I can go running to soak in the amazing views, play squash at the local rugby club and walk my dog at two dog parks without having to use my car.

Nerida Johnstone, Henare jewellery

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DINING

RotoruaNZ.com

Follow the golden brick road Eat Streat (str-eat — get it?) has become the place to go for quality, al fresco dining in New Zealand.

Whether you’re after authentic Kiwi cuisine, Middle Eastern meals, Italian, Indian, Thai or something else entirely, there’s a good chance you will find the perfect meal in the heart of Rotorua.

Locals are very proud of the unique $2 million facility, which has received national accolades for its design and construction.

It features a whole block of quality restaurants, cafe´ s and bars, either side of a covered central walkway.

The dining strip was designed to complement both the city’s main boulevard — Tutanekai St — and the stunning Rotorua lakefront and is a key part of Rotorua Lakes Council’s inner-city revitalisation project.

It also aligns with the Rotorua’s timber initiative, WoodFirst, and was built using locally sourced materials.

Eat Streat’s 13 restaurants and cafes can extend their outdoor dining areas into the central spine, with retractable roofing making for an all-weather dining experience.

The unique geothermal heating under the terraces and enhanced lighting enables the area to remain warm and inviting even during cold or wet winter days.

There are so many wonderful tourist attractions that I feel like I’m on holiday at the weekends.

I go to Eat Streat, I go to the lake — it’s wonderful.

I think the locals sometimes take it all for granted!

Anna

RotoruaNZ.com

DINING

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PHOTO: David .nz

Rotorua’s Night Market started in 2010 and has become a city institution.

Running from 5pm every Thursday night on Tutanekai St, this is a must for locals and visitors.

Boutique-style shopping showcases the best the region has to offer — arts, crafts, local wines and fresh produce from regional growers.

This is also the perfect place to sample a spectacular variety of delicious ethnic cuisine.

Whether you’re after Croatian treats, Mexican treats, Indian curries, Indonesian hot pots, French pastries, handmade Italian pasta or, of course, Kiwi kai, the market will have something to tempt tastebuds.

The Night Market is extended over the warmer months to more than 45 stalls arranged around a live music hub, with entertainment by local musicians.

This relaxed ‘family zone’ includes seating, groovy bean bags, a reading space with free take-home books, games, bike racks and even more food.

Le davidle.co

Night fever

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ARTS

RotoruaNZ.com

Art for heart’s sake R

otorua’s vision to 2030 contains an exciting strategy to support creative communities. This includes strong financial assistance through ‘per cent for arts’ funding.

One per cent of the city’s annual capital expenditure is diverted into a creative pot, which enables rapid growth in the city’s visual arts, performing arts and creative industries.

Children’s Art House The Rotorua Children’s Art House officially opened in March 2016 in the beautiful grounds of the Government Gardens.

A variety of art lessons are on offer to children from pre-school to teens.

These include after-school visual art, music and raranga (Maori weaving) classes as well as a range of school holiday programmes.

Sculpture Symposium The first Rotorua Sculpture Symposium was held in 2014 and resulted in the installation of 17 pieces themed The Returning Soldier as an art trail around the City’s Sulphur Lake.

This tranquil setting was historically an area where convalescing soldiers relaxed while undergoing treatment at the old sanatorium, and is now commonly used by walkers, runners and family groups.

The symposium will be happening again in 2016, with the creative theme of The Energy Within.

Public Art Permanent art installations including murals, sculptures, carvings and memorials are dotted throughout the city, reflecting the diverse artistic

talents of our local community.

Art is also integrated with architectural features, such as street furniture, lighting and water features and planted elements.

Fashion Design Rotorua is home to a number of talented designers including Adrienne Whitewood, Kharl William Wirepa, Henare Jewellery and Leilani Rickards.

Whitewood’s work is heavily inspired by Maori art, history and tikanga (culture) and her vision is “to create an emotional connection to indigenous design.”

She completed a fashion degree at AUT then showed her first collection at New Zealand Fashion Week.

In 2011 she won the Supreme Award at the Miromoda Maori Fashion awards, which saw her head to a successful showing at Melbourne Fashion Week.

She now works full-time in the industry and her designs are being sold through her Rotorua boutique ahu and online.

Wirepa followed his dream of becoming a fashion designer by studying through Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua and at the same time launching his label KW, which specialises in glamour dressing, creating limited ready-towear collections and one-of-a-kind evening wear.

He has been a regular at New Zealand Fashion Week and won many prestigious awards including the Miromoda Maori Fashion Supreme Award in 2014.

Wirepa sells his clothes nationwide and also works on creative projects such as the Bay of Plenty OHO Fashion Show.

Above, The Returning Solder sculpture trail wends around the city’s Sulphur Lake; below, the Children’s Art House offers lessons from pre-schoolers to teens; bottom, murals, sculptures and carvings are dotted around the city.

Arts Venues Rotorua is endowed with top-class facilities for sporting, performing arts events and exhibitions/ trade shows.

These include the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, the Energy Events Centre, two amateur theatres and several sizable school performance venues.

The city attracts an exciting programme of shows and concerts.

Visual arts venues include galleries, the Rotorua Arts Village and Rotorua Museum.

The vision and courage needed to put this policy in place is starting to pay off.

Visitors and locals alike are enjoying the murals and sculptures, etc, this fund has actuacted.

To have dedicated funding gives stability and creates trust; the ability to plan ahead and create partnerships.

A modern city engages and celebrates art and culture, and we are doing just that.

James Pickernell, artist, resident

EVENTS

RotoruaNZ.com

Tulip Fest

Get into it!

2016

2017

JULY Nduro Winter MTB Series, 3 July National Boxing Champs, 19-23 July

Blue Lake Rowing Regatta, 21-22 January Blue Lake Multisport Festival, 28-29 January

AUGUST Nduro Winter MTB Series, 7-8 August The Complete History of the Royal New Zealand Navy, 16-20 August Tough Guy & Gal Rotorua, 20, 27 August Hinepau — Capital E National Theatre for Children, 21-22 August Kurungaituku Netball, 26-27 August SEPTEMBER Kurungaituku Netball, 2-3 September and 10-11 September Nduro Winter MTB Series, 4 September Royal NZ Ballet — Giselle, 5 September NZSO: Swing into Spring, 7 September Silver Ferns v Jamaica, 10 September Beyond the Barricade, 22 September BoP Steamers v Auckland, 25 September

Round the Lake Marathon

FEBRUARY Tarawera Ultra Marathon, 6 February Rotorua Bike Festival, 10-19 February MARCH Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon, 5 March Rotorua Walking Festival, 18-19 March APRIL XTERRA, 8 April MAY 52nd Rotorua Marathon, 6 May Targa Rally, 12-14 May Rotorua Bike Festival

OCTOBER Tulip Fest, 1-9 October Rotorua Ekiden, 8 October CRNZ Blue Lake Regatta, 8-9 October The Gruffalo, 19 October

Tarawera ultra-marathon

NOVEMBER Tarawera Trail Marathon, 12 November NZ MTB Orienteering, 18-20 November Rotorua Running Festival, 26-27 November DECEMBER Weetbix Tryathlon, 11 December Rotorua Half Ironman, 17 December JANUARY Bay of Plenty Steamers at the International Stadium

Ekiden team relay, around Lake Rotorua

Royal NZ Ballet’s Giselle

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ADVENTURE

RotoruaNZ.com

Moving to the big Wide Open W

alk into the Wide Open headquarters in Rotorua and you would be forgiven for thinking you’re visiting a high-tech office on the US West Coast.

The space is fresh and modern, the walls are decked with highperformance bike parts and action photography, and the staff are young and animated.

This is the home of one of Rotorua’s quietly up-and-coming small business success stories.

It is run by Matt and Alice Whitaker, a dynamic husband and wife team who have for the past nine years made Rotorua their home.

They moved here with their fledgling business in search of the dream that was becoming elusive in Wellington — a piece of land and an outdoor lifestyle.

They now live with their children on 8000sq m in a residential park just outside Rotorua.

Wide Open is a bike component wholesaler, providing mid- to highend products for road and especially mountain biking.

Their market is bike retailers all over the country who stock the brands they import, including bike parts and accessories like helmets and clothing. Customers are looked after by sales staff operating out of Rotorua.

Matt says, “It’s great having the airport and plenty of flights in and out to access Wellington and the South Island.

Rotorua’s central location makes it ideal too for sales trips round the North Island.”

As well as operating a national distribution hub, they also have a local workshop where they custombuild wheels and do suspension servicing.

Matt has been mountain biking since he was 13 and this passion eventually led to five seasons in California working as a bike mechanic for a professional downhill team.

Almost on a whim, he started a business with another Kiwi who was racing in the States, importing handlebar grips into New Zealand.

The business started very much part-time, and for four years Matt also worked on building sites for four days each week, with a hammer in one hand and a phone in the other.

“Signing up a couple of big brands prompted Matt, and within a year Alice, to enter into running the business full-time.

The couple are still fully involved with the business, but now employ four other staff members.

A significant part of their work is relationship-building, with Matt attending several international trade shows and distributors’ meetings each year.

The company also exhibited at the world-famous Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival in Rotorua in March, which included hosting a number of international guests from big-brand companies.

“The people we brought over loved it all, including Rotorua. They all went out riding in the forest every

morning and were buzzing with what was on offer.” says Alice.

The Whitakers enjoy mountain biking as a family, but also make time in their busy working lives to take advantage of Rotorua’s convenient location to Mt Maunganui and Coromandel to indulge Matt’s new passion, surfing.

With beaches close by, 18 lakes on tap and skiing just a couple of hours down the road, Rotorua really is a place for outdoor entertainment.

When asked what little gems they would recommend in Rotorua, Matt is quick to answer: “The Ciabatta Bakery on White St.” Alice laughs. “We tend to do the tourist stuff when we have visitors, but we still regularly use the gondola, the luge and visit Waikite Valley Thermal Pools with the children. We enjoy Eat Streat too.

“If you have visitors, they are just blown away by the variety of experiences and the laidback nature of this place.”

What does the future hold for this enterprising family?

“Since we moved to Rotorua, there’s been a lot of growth in the mountain biking industry, and it has been very beneficial to have built up our business here.

“It’s just amazing how populated the forest is and if you pull up at the mountain biking car park, it is full of families and people who are relatively new to the sport,” says Matt.

“Events like Crankworx also provide great opportunities for us and for the city.”

Would the Whitakers recommend Rotorua as a place for their friends to live?

“We don’t have to sell the benefits of Rotorua as many of our friends from out of town love visiting.

“They love the riding, the culture, there are nice places to eat, plenty of things to do.

“They can see there have been some really positive changes in Rotorua and the place is definitely moving forward.”

We don’t have to sell the benefits of Rotorua as many of our friends from out of town love visiting.

They love the riding, the culture, there are nice places to eat, plenty of things to do.

They can see there have been some really positive changes in Rotorua and the place is definitely moving forward.

Matt and Alice Whitaker

Matt and Alice Whitaker say Rotorua, with events like Crankworx (below) and its biking expo (bottom), is the perfect base for their business — and lifestyle.

ADVENTURE

RotoruaNZ.com

11

Listen to the local...

Ben Fraser, Rotorua Daily Post

Tak Mutu is a Rotorua adventure tourism stalwart. Locally born and bred, he is the face of the dynamic Multi Day Adventures and the world-renowned event Crankworx Rotorua.

Having the time of their lives Tak’s infectious belly laugh and easygoing personality are a familiar part of the Rotorua mountain biking landscape and the rapid growth of his multi-faceted business, currently employing 42 staff across three companies, is a much-lauded local success story.

Tak knew from an early age that he would end up running a business.

“I made that call when I was 5 years old. My very first day of school, I dressed myself in a shirt and clip-on tie, because I wanted to be a ‘business man’ … one day.”

Tak trained in adventure tourism at Waiariki Institute of Technology and spent five years river guiding and instructing. He went on to become a tour guide, travelling and working all over New Zealand for the adventure tourism company he would later go on to own.

Tak was also travelling throughout Australia and New Zealand playing waterpolo and fin swimming, a member of New Zealand squads in both sports.

Tak and his brother Tu took over MultiDay Adventures in 2011.

“I knew there was a peak I could reach in terms of positions in adventure tourism and it was a natural progression for me to move into the business side of things, so that’s what I did. Funnily enough, I now try to avoid a shirt and tie as much as I can.”

The original business of MultiDay was running guided adventure tours for students from international schools across Asia.

The point of difference is a highly personalised service with guides looking after groups, from picking them up at the airport, through to leading their adventure activities.

The company owns all its own equipment and it was the availability of this and on-tap expertise that prompted them to also set up a business in the luxury tourism setting,

a market that they have been focusing on ever since.

This side of the business also involves guiding clients on trips and activities throughout the central North Island.

As Tak says, “It’s a wonderful sector of tourism. You don’t necessarily get the same numbers through, but the trips that you end up doing are fabulous, dream trips.”

This business has grown rapidly through positive word of mouth endorsement and the development of strong relationships with inbound agents.

In 2011, the company established Mountain Bike Rotorua, hiring out mountain bikes from a small building, with a generator for power and a small fleet of bikes.

Tu became the sole charge, jack of all trades — servicing bikes, taking bookings, and doing the accounts and marketing.

Five years later, the business employs 12 or more staff and hires out 150 bikes a day in the peak season.

This arm of the company also has a strong web presence and social media following.

Then there’s the events side of things. Having just bought a house, had a new baby and delivered a fantastic Crankworx 2016 in the space of a few weeks, you might imagine that some downtime would be in order.

Not for the indefatigable Mr Mutu.

Planning is already well underway for next year’s Crankworx event, and the team recently put on a strong presence at the TRENZ Tourism Expo in Rotorua.

Tak sees the company’s expertise as being the adventure side of tourism and the Maori cultural aspect. The Mutu brothers were brought up with a strong understanding of their heritage and Maori values.

Everything they now do reflects

Crankworx put Rotorua in the international spotlight. There’ll be a second mountain biking spectacular in 2017.

their culture. This includes running between three and four hundred marae stays each year for the backpacker/youth market, with the aim of creating an authentic, intimate experience for clients, but also employing locals and generating income for the marae.

The benefits of locating an adventure tourism enterprise in Rotorua are self-evident, but what about the personal benefits for those working in the business?

Tak is a walking advert for living in Rotorua. “Compared to everywhere else I’ve seen in my extensive travels round the country, Rotorua is a good place to do business cos it’s an easy place to live.

“I’ve bought a warm, comfortable house for under $400,000, in the beautiful area of Springfield.

“I’m part of an awesome community, close to friends, and can pedal to work.

“I can be riding on the best mountain bike tracks in the world in 10 minutes, or wakeboarding, jetskiing or fishing in 20 minutes — it’s a bit of a no-brainer really.”

Tak’s enjoyment of living in Rotorua doesn’t just end with the great outdoors. “The communities are amazing here — for example the mountain bike community, the kayaking community out at Okere Falls, the adventure tourism community and the community in my own backyard.

“The people in this town are its biggest asset. There are a lot of people with a lot of passion for what they do and the city they live in.”

Tak’s the first to admit that the

lifestyle may not suit everyone.

“If you want a buzzing nightlife so you can go out late seven days a week to a club that’s pumping, you’re not going to get that here.

“But for people who want a great day life, including awesome cafes and restaurants, a cheaper cost of living and the opportunity to be active, healthy, and enjoy the outdoors rather than working all the time, then this place absolutely makes sense.”

And where will you find Tak when he’s not out catching air in the forest?

“We’ve still got hot pools and amazing walks that people don’t know about. I play in a band with friends.

I cafe´ -hop. Between the lakes, forests, coffee and music, I don’t know how much more I can fit in. The standard of living we are able to have here is one of Rotorua’s best-kept secrets.”

Putting their best feet forward Runners and walkers can take on Redwood Forest trails (above) or go at their own pace (below).

O Puarenga parkrun

run by runners, for runners, held weekly, 8am every Saturday - all welcome!

- print out your personal barcode - join us for a run every Saturday

ne thing to pack if you’re on the way to Rotorua — a pair of trainers.

There’s a thriving running scene for everyone from the absolute beginner through to those who love to run forever.

The city is home to the long-running and internationally renowned Rotorua Marathon — it celebrated its 52nd edition in April — and hundreds travel to the city for the Tarawera Ultramarathon, which boasts distances up to 102km.

There’s the Rotorua Running Festival, Copthorne Off-Road half-marathon, Tikitapu adventure run, Tough Guy mud run and more.

The city boasts two running clubs — Lake City Athletic Club and Rotorua Trail Runners.

It’s fair to say the city is on its feet and moving.

This month there’s an event for everyone from those starting out to veterans.

Puarenga parkrun is the 14th New Zealand parkrun and sets off at 8am on June 25.

A parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5km run that takes place every Saturday at 8am and is suitable for runners of all capabilities. The only person you’re competing with is yourself.

There are almost 900 parkruns worldwide with 1.5 million runners taking part each week.

This parkrun is unique in that runners — and walkers — will go through geothermal areas.

These events started in the UK in 2004 but it took a passionate runner to get the movement started in Rotorua.

Marathoner and running coach Alison King wrote “run a parkrun” on her 2016 goals list.

Underneath it she wrote, “Start parkrun in Rotorua”.

“Even though I’d never been to a parkrun when I wrote that I knew I had to do this,” she said.

“I kept hearing so many positive stories coming out of parkruns in Australia and in the UK. “People who wouldn’t consider themselves runners turned up to parkrun week in, week out.

“I loved that it was free — less of a barrier for newcomers to get involved.

“It is such an inclusive event that families can take part together. You don’t have to register your spot each week — you just turn up with your barcode and you run.”

She ran her first parkrun in January and on the same day inquired about how to get one off the ground.

“Rotorua is a great place to live, work and play. We have so many great running trails in the forest and around the city.

“There are so many people running that you can easily find a running buddy to team up with or a group to join.”

3RD ANNUAL

TARAWERA TRAIL MARATHON & 50K POHUTU GEYSER TE PUIA TO HOTWATER BEACH LAKE TARAWERA “Tarawera 50k : the ultramarathon with geysers, waterfalls – and a cream tea” the guardian, uk

SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2016 www.taraweramarathon.co.nz

ROTORUA JOBS NZ LICENSED CADASTRAL SURVEYOR

• Award winning consultancy – engineering, surveying, planning & 3D laser scanning • Exceptional communication skills • Client focused • Innovative • Technology savvy

Applications to be made in writing to: Regional Administrator Cheal Consultants Ltd PO Box 396, ROTORUA 3040 Email: karens@cheal.co.nz

CIVIL PROJECTS ENGINEER

• 10 years’ professional experience managing civil engineering projects, with structural or geotechnical engineering highly regarded • Well-established NZ professional networks • Proactive; ability to seek out projects, cultivate clients and get projects off the ground • Excellent interpersonal/ communication and mentoring skills • Great team player and team leader Closing date: 19 June 2016.

Contact Vanessa Barter at vanessa.barter@opus.co.nz for more information.

CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST

• Vocationally registered psychiatrist to join Inpatient Mental Health & Addiction Service • Lakes DHB area includes recently upgraded Rotorua and Taupo Hospitals • Based in Rotorua; may involve clinics in Taupo • Attractive remuneration package and CME allowance For more information contact: Stephanie Wearne, Medical Staff Recruiter on stephanie.wearne@lakesdhb.govt.nz or David Chaplow, Clinical Director on david.chaplow@lakesdhb.govt.nz or visit www.lakesdhb.govt.nz

SHINE PR: INTERMEDIATE/ SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

• Rock star required to add value to clients and colleagues • Great career opportunity – professional development and diverse work • Experience, innovation, creative thinking, quality, energy and drive to succeed For a full job description and further information contact Director Jacky James on 021 577 871 and jacky@shinepr.co.nz

CIVIL DESIGNERS

TIMBER INDUSTRY PERSONNEL (Waipa Mill, Rotorua)

WIDE OPEN BRAND MANAGER

For more information go to: www. redstagtimber.co.nz or contact Maureen Smith, HR Advisor on 07 349 5831 or maureen.smith@redstagtimber.co.nz

Applications close Friday, 10 June 2016. Please contact Matt on 021 526 492 or matt@wideopen.co.nz for further information

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

CHIEF EXECUTIVE – ROTORUA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CCO

• Red Stag is NZ’s largest Sawmill producing quality timber products, and Rotorua’s largest private employer.

• The mill is currently investing in new plant and equipment to support increased production capacity expected to reach 650,000m3 • To support this expansion we will start a 3rd shift in the Secondary Processing area to work Friday through to Sunday dayshift hours • We seek qualified staff to join our weekend shift team as Machinists, Timber graders, Quality Control or experienced operators to train as Optimisation Technicians • A pre-employment medical including clear drug test result, and sound work history referee checks are required

• 2+ years’ work experience in Civil Engineering and Roading Design • Extensive New Zealand based Civil 3D/AutoCAD experience • Strong design background • Computational skills for preparation of schedules of quantities • Excellent interpersonal/ communication skills • Flexibility and willingness to go the extra mile when needed • Proactive self-starter

• Maori chartered accountancy and management consulting firm • CA qualified with at least 5 year’s accounting experience • Governance experience • High-level communication, facilitation and relationship skills • High level problem solving, analytical, research and report writing skills • Experience in financial modelling and advanced spread sheeting • Knowledge and ability in Te Reo Maori

Closing date: 19 June 2016.

Contact Vanessa Barter at vanessa.barter@opus.co.nz for more information.

Please email your CV and covering letter to info@linchpin.co.nz or contact Donyale Hema on 04 473 6400 for more information

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR

• Position in Private team, focusing on creating growth and value for SME’s, owners and stakeholders • 3+ years accounting experience, including management accounting • CA qualified (or equivalent) • Solid understanding of accounting and tax issues facing NZ SME’s • Knowledge of Te Reo and Tikanga Maori an advantage • Excellent organisational, communication and team leadership/mentoring skills

• At least five years’ experience in resource or environmental management • Proven background in resource related policy development and planning; extensive knowledge and experience working with the RMA • Tertiary qualification in Resource Management, Planning or other related discipline • Customer focused orientation with proven ability to develop successful relationships at all levels • Extensive experience in consultation to deliver clear outcomes • Strong verbal and written communication skills; attention to detail

For more information contact Michelle North, Recruitment Advisor on 09 303 0748 or minorth@deloitte.co.nz

For full job description contact Maria Green, HR Advisor on 07 351 8128 or maria.green@rotorualc.nz

• NZ distributor of leading cycle brands • Requires brand manager with experience in retail brand strategy and long term brand development • Marketing, sales strategy and sales management skills • Cycling industry environment preferred, but not essential • Highly numerate; data analysis skills

Join us to make Rotorua an even greater place to visit, live, work, study and invest.

• At Rotorua Lakes Council we have decided to merge our economic development and destination marketing agencies.

• Building upon what has already been achieved we want to work even more closely with the Rotorua business and investment community.

• You will be an outstanding leader, who can build enduring partnerships and will have a strong commercial background.

If this sounds like you, then confidential enquires and expressions of interest should be directed to our appointment partner, Larry Small at Executive Appointments Ltd on 09 308 9325 or cv@eal.co.nz

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

• Highly successful manufacturer of coatings, chemicals and aerosols • Seeking proactive, solutionsfocused hunter with the tenacity to hit sales targets • Proven background in business development • Previous mid to senior roles in sales, marketing and account management • Strategic planning skills • Confident negotiator with ability to ‘close the deal’

Applications close Friday, 17 June 2016.

Please email your CV and covering letter to Heather Turner, HR Advisor on heather.turner@damarindustries.co.nz

EMPLOYMENT

RotoruaNZ.com

15

Job options and salaries on rise R

Tourism is one of many areas offering increased job opportunities in Rotorua.

otorua is on point. A number of factors are driving population growth, real estate prices and increased investment in the key sectors of agribusiness, forestry, geothermal, and tourism.

In the context of Auckland and Christchurch, Rotorua’s housing is affordable, yet still up a promising 12.4 per cent compared to a year ago.

A reasonably priced house is only attractive if there is confidence in the job market to accompany it.

And according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Bay of Plenty is the top performer of five regions showing growth around the country. The number of job vacancies advertised is up 15.2 per cent on a year ago.

“Our experience certainly confirms this,” reports Kellie Hamlett, director of Talent ID Recruitment, a Baywide human resource and recruitment firm.

“Over the past six months, applications to key roles within forestry, finance and tourism were up 30 per cent, with an increased number of candidates applying from outside the region.

“This has resulted in some very

satisfied employers who are benefitting from the fresh perspective, skills and experience these new team members bring.”

High-calibre candidates are having an impact on what the region is paying.

According to the Seek employment website, there was a 7 per cent increase in salary levels in the Bay of Plenty region in 2015.

The cost of living in Rotorua was reported to be 32 per cent less than Auckland.

Factor in the reduced travelling time and it’s a no-brainer for most.

“Living in the Bay doesn’t necessarily mean taking a huge drop in pay,” says Ms Hamlett.

“I always tell our candidates that they can have both a fantastic career and lifestyle here — a salary package that includes a better quality of life.”

The future looks bright for this regional city, with employment, investment and visitor arrivals all forecast to grow.

Listen to the Local: turn the page for a Rotorua resident’s story of why she came to the city to live and set up her business.

This is the best place I’ve ever worked by far. The business community is very welcoming and the potential for business in Rotorua is very high.

Young people may not think there are many jobs, or as many opportunities, but in smaller cities you can get connected more easily and people are warm and very willing to help.

ROTORUA JOBS FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT

IT’S BETTER IN THE BAY

BOOKKEEPER (X2)

• Commercial role – timber processing sector • Part time hours supporting work life balance requirements • Accounting based qualification required or applicable experience within a similar role

• Take control and ownership of your own future and earning capacity • Be your own boss, build your brand and influence • Find your balance between work and life - right here in Rotorua

• Established Chartered Accounting Firm.

This company is a ATO • You will need to be tertiary qualified with a minimum of Diploma of Business in Accounting • Sound previous working history within a New Zealand based company

PART TIME

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

SENIOR CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT • A big 4 company and registered ATO • Based locally in the heart of Rotorua • Sound previous experience in a New Zealand based corporate is desirable

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

TECHNICAL WRITER

JOB COSTING ADMINISTRATOR

• Engineering qualification is essential • Previous experience writing procedures for robotic equipment in New Zealand • Large leading company in transport manufacturing industry

• Strong focus on alpha/numeric imputation and reconciling of job cards • Large leading company in the transport manufacturing industry • Diverse workload requiring a candidate with the ability to problem solve on the spot in a lateral way

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT

DIESEL MECHANIC

PRODUCTION MANAGER

• Accounting career in a commercial sector • Join this global and strategic company for exposure in national and international accounting • You will need to be degree qualified with interest in further study towards ACA or CA. This company is a registered ATO

• Highly innovative global company • Mechanical experience is a must, from either a commercial or service sector • Mechanical Trade Qualification is essential

• Chemical or food production management experience with a LEAN focus is necessary • Site and staff management leadership/ mentoring is an essential skill

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

Apply now – recruit@talentid.co.nz www.talentid.co.nz

Anna

16

EMPLOYMENT

RotoruaNZ.com

Listen to the local...

Kellie Hamlett owns the Talent ID recruitment and human resource consultancy. Rotorua born and bred, she travelled and worked throughout Europe before setting up her consulting business back in her home town.

Kellie Hamlett’s busy life includes running a business, raising a toddler and competitive riding around the North Island.

You can have a career — and a life Why did you decide to set up a business in Rotorua?

Spending time overseas was fantastic and I loved every minute that the opportunity provided. However there is no place quite like home, and Rotorua was the obvious place to head back to.

The central location and economic climate, coupled with my family being close by, all meant that it was the perfect place to launch my business.

I believe that being based regionally means we are able to provide more personalised, professional, one-on-one service to our clients and candidates alike.

Rotorua has proven to be a good choice, as nine years on the business has grown significantly and the region is proving to be a real hot-spot for talent relocation.

Tell us something about your business here? What are you working on at present?

We like to stay ahead and are always looking forwards and keeping on top of recruitment and human resource trends. We are currently working on two exciting projects – one is an app which will mean that candidates get instant notification of current roles available and the second is a new website. Watch this space, #BetterintheBay Why is Rotorua a good place to base a business? Would you recommend that others set up business here?

We love Rotorua. For us, it’s all about the lifestyle on offer here. As strong advocates of the region we tell candidates that not only can they have a career they’ll love, but a lifestyle which is the envy of all their city-dwelling friends.

Rotorua is a particularly attractive option for those who love the outdoors and for those who

want to have more time to spend with family.

The other great thing is that there is a strong support network of some amazing small- to medium-sized businesses. You’d be surprised by the breadth and depth of business here.

Which suburb did you choose to settle in?

We live in Hamurana, which is a rural area 11km from the CBD. We have been fortunate enough to have bought some land, which probably equates to the cost of a small flat in Auckland. It is also only a short commute to Tauranga where we have an office.

What are some of your favourite activities/interests in Rotorua and why?

Having both a toddler and a business means I am very busy. However my other passion is competitive riding and so when I get the chance I love to ride and train my horses, and compete around the North Island.

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Family time is important and we use the lakes, beaches, and forests and get out mountain biking whenever possible.

I love the fact that you can be in the Redwoods within 10 minutes of finishing work.

You can be in the middle of the forest and see no one at all. It’s very tranquil and refreshing at the end of a working day. We really are spoilt for choice.

Why would you recommend people move here?

In the past, Rotorua has often been overlooked — but what I always tell my candidates is that you don’t have to sacrifice salary or your career to have a life.

You can have it all right here.

RotoruaNZ.com

EDUCATION

17

A

nimation College is the only tertiary campus in New Zealand that offers degree and diploma level courses in 2-D and 3-D animation.

Animation is all about creating characters that convey real emotions, mimic life and evoke empathy in the viewer. It is a way of telling stories that inspire, influence and entertain.

The college has been running for more than 25 years, and last year took the exciting step of setting up its first satellite campus in Rotorua.

At this early stage, the Rotorua college is focusing on teaching a 2-D animation course, which includes both manual and digital elements.

The first year of teaching has gone so well that the school is already looking to expand the number of courses available.

The current mix of students includes school-leavers and adult students in their 30s and 40s, from across the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. Students tend to be passionate about drawing, comics or gaming.

Their futures lie in animation, illustration, game design, app design, film, graphic novels, cartoons and comics, either working for studios or remotely over the internet for clients, pitching for work outsourced via freelancing platforms, or over social media.

Nigel Ward is the lead tutor on the Rotorua campus and an ex-student of the college.

He has been animating for as long as he can remember, including

The schools my children have attended, and in particular the teachers and coaches, have played an important role in encouraging my children to thrive academically, culturally and in the sports arena.

We have been very fortunate and made many connections and life-long friends through Rotorua’s great school systems.

Nerida

working as an intern in a studio, freelancing round the world and now teaching at the college.

As he says: “The raw talent coming out of high schools is crazy. We are now offering a pathway for students to use their skills and creativity in industries that are big growth areas.

“Peter Jackson brought a lot of attention to the industry in New Zealand, but there’s still a lot of room for more talent.

“In Rotorua there is also the Maori side of things. It’s a different medium for keeping traditional stories alive.

There’s also a gaping hole for contemporary storytelling in a Maori setting.”

The Animation College has in the past year bought out Ames IT and merged campuses in Auckland.

Courses available there are gradually being introduced to Rotorua, starting with certificate and diploma courses in computer technical support.

These Microsoft-approved courses lead on to careers in IT as helpdesk and computer technicians.

The art of emotion

18

EDUCATION

RotoruaNZ.com

Waiariki’s new $12 million tourism and hospitality centre (exterior above, interior below), will offer real-life training in modern surroundings.

O Unity is strength at Waiariki campus

n May 1, Waiariki Institute of Technology and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic merged to create a combined institution that will better meet the needs of students, communities and the many vibrant industries that contribute to the growth of the wider Bay of Plenty region.

Steven Joyce, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, approved the merger of the two highperforming institutions.

The Waiariki campus in Rotorua is well-regarded for providing quality learning opportunities across a number of disciplines, including adventure tourism, tourism management, nursing, social work, forestry, engineering and agriculture.

The new combined institution will take learning to a new level in the Bay of Plenty, by providing a wider range

Bart Vosse

of programmes for a greater number of students.

An exciting project about to start

at Waiariki is the development of a new $12 million tourism and hospitality centre.

This will feature a 100-seat demonstration kitchen theatre, three commercial kitchens, specialised barista lab, and a restaurant.

“It’s very timely, given the phenomenal tourism growth regionally and nationally. Also, with Government expectations on producing successful graduates with high employability, the new building means we will be able offer real-life training for our students in more modern facilities,” says Bart Vosse, the institute’s head of tourism and hospitality.

“The kitchen demo theatre will allow us to realise our dream of being able to bring the community into our learning environment and go back to a model where we offer night classes, workshops, upskilling, guest lecturers and industry presentations to celebrate all that is tourism and hospitality.”

The centre will become the main training hub for popular culinary arts, tourism, travel, and hospitality programmes which are currently spread throughout the campus, with classrooms and training kitchens bursting at the seams.

Teaching kitchens, a hotel training reception, and a climbing wall befitting the modern adventure tourism student will merge seamlessly with an atrium, staff offices and classrooms.

A 50-seat restaurant will be located on the top floor with views out to the bubbling mud pools of Whakarewarewa.

“Although we’re delighted to have such a wonderful new home,” Mr Vosse says, “the focus will remain on what will happen within those walls: quality education.

“The new facility will be larger but the focus is to have a stronger community engagement and more high school presence to expose the next generation of learners to our environment.”

The new centre will replace a block of the campus’s original prefabricated buildings which have served as classrooms since the institute’s beginnings as Waiariki Community College in 1976.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for November.

EDUCATION

RotoruaNZ.com

Getting the best start F

rom pre-school to secondary, tertiary, special needs and beyond, Rotorua offers excellent educational opportunities.

It is easy for students of all levels to excel within our education system, which features smaller class sizes and a greater opportunity to access many extra-curricular activities. Our schools also provide cultural and sporting pursuits during and outside school hours.

Rotorua has 90 licensed early childhood services in the district, providing an early start to the formal education of more than 3400 children each year.

The area has 13 urban primary schools and 11 rural primary schools offering easy access to quality education throughout the district.

The city has three urban intermediate schools, offering children access to high-class preparation for their secondary school education.

It has six urban and one rural secondary school, offering a wide range of high-quality curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

Quality tertiary education opportunities include Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Te Wananga O Aotearoa as well as a number of private training organisations.

Leading training organisations represented in the district include EmployNZ, New Zealand Apprenticeships, Teach NZ, and Trade and Commerce Training For Industry.

19

We moved to Rotorua in August 2015 and our 7-year-old settled so well into primary school.

We found the school so welcoming and the transition was very smooth.

The kids can bike to school, or walk on the walking school bus.

They hang out with all the neighbourhood kids.

It feels really safe — like a real community.

Stacey

Rotorua’s schools provide cultural and sporting pursuits during and outside school hours. Smaller class sizes are popular with many parents.

All of these institutions offer full, part-time, adult education and educational block courses in a wide range of subjects including commerce, industry, health, forestry and wood processing, tourism, arts, Maori culture, as well as a full range of apprenticeship courses.

There are a variety of up skilling and training development providers within the district or nearby that offer

on- and off-site short courses and fulltime programmes.

The city’s five urban secondary schools all offer courses in English as a second language.

Western Heights High School, John Paul College, Rotorua Lakes High School, Rotorua Boys High and Rotorua Girls High School, Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the Rotorua English Language Academy

have banded together as Education Rotorua, under which they will promote Rotorua as a premier destination for foreign students.

All seven institutions have signed a memorandum of agreement in standards of operation and home stay for international students learning English as a second language. Overseas students who come to Rotorua for English language studies have unlimited choice of where to go for their university studies as they are not formally linked to any university.

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0800 924 274

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20

INNOVATION

RotoruaNZ.com

IT’s all go in Traditional industries like forestry and dairy remain cornerstones of the local economy.

Several small and medium-sized businesses on the leading edge of their fields are now kind of work/life balance that is the envy of many around the world. their preferred locations. We asked some locals working in the

Building a business and a lifestyle Leon Thomas (right) of Digital Elements moved his family to Rotorua from Wellington eight years ago.

He is a talented graphic designer, with 18 years senior experience working in the television and film industry.

Leon’s forte is motion graphic art, which means he’s a very clever graphic artist with the ability to make presentations that are totally interactive.

For instance, he has done a lot of work for Lockwood Homes around what makes their componentry special.

“I’m building an entire house piece-by-piece in 3-D and then we’re going to animate it actually building, so the clients get to see what’s so different about the Lockwood system.

“My specialty is turning such information into a visual display rather than a static presentation.

“I’ve also done visual presentation contracts for Weta Digital, animations for Te Wananga o Aotearoa and the NZ Kidney Foundation, and safety and training videos for NZ Police, Ministry of Justice and the EQC Earthquake Commission.”

Leon continues to provide services for clients across New Zealand and overseas from his home office.

“Because of the type of work I’m doing, I can pretty much work anywhere.

“So if someone had the same sort of business as mine I would say, ‘Look Rotorua is a fantastic place to live from a family point of view’.

“We couldn’t afford to buy a house anywhere else, but we’ve bought this house which is massive in this day and age.

“I still like Wellington but it’s just too expensive — Rotorua wins because of what I can do and provide for my family here.”

Creating a worldwide future Chris Parnell (left) originally hailed from Kawerau and grew up in the Western Bay of Plenty, but his wife was a Rotorua local and now Chris also calls the city home.

After working as marketing manager for Blokart land yachts for several years, he chose to retrain as an adult and enter the world of graphic design.

His CG Design company has evolved into a bespoke digital creative agency which delivers everything from logos to entire rebrands, websites and now apps.

“The biggest area of growth right now for us is in web design, using the versatile Setseed platform designed by our UK developer and business partner.

“Our platform has built-in features like blogs, live chat, newsletter systems, and shop systems, among others. It’s a white label system that people can take and develop the way they want, under a monthly licence fee.

“Although we’re based here, we’re dealing with people in the United States, the United Kingdom, Latin America and Europe.

“Location doesn’t matter — the technology enables a global business.

“I communicate with our developer most evenings over Skype and it gives us an incredible 24-hour time frame where we can build stuff effectively overnight. We discuss things at night and by the morning a bunch of stuff has already been implemented.

“Even though there are only three of us, we are competing with the big agencies on big projects by using amazing technology to manage scale.

“Our biggest challenge at the moment is working out how to manage our own growth.

“We are getting worldwide interest for the stuff we’re doing, and it’s the internet that has opened the door. It means people like me can be based here and my longterm goal is to stay here.

“We’re starting to get really successful, but that doesn’t mean we have to ship off to Tauranga or Auckland and do the same thing there — we can do it right here; we’re already doing it here.

“This place has so much going for it. I’ve travelled the world a little bit now and how many places in the world sit on a semi-active volcano crater, surrounded by lakes?

“And it’s not just the tourism, it’s the people and the value that everyone can bring to the party.

“We’re actually so richly-resourced, not only in the history and forestry areas, but in the people. There are some really smart people here.”

We’re dealing with people in the US, the UK, Latin America and Europe.

Location doesn’t matter.

RotoruaNZ.com

INNOVATION

21

Rotorua But in recent years the IT and technology sectors have become increasingly relevant. based in Rotorua, showcasing classic Kiwi know-how and initiative while enjoying the Players in this industry can largely work anywhere, freed by the internet to choose technology sector why they have chosen to base themselves in Rotorua.

Finger on the digital pulse

We have great community, low commuting times, costeffective living and working and I think the majority of the people here have a great attitude which is important.

Unlike Leon and Chris, Rachel Warrender (right) is a Rotorua local. Her online marketing business Dubzz contracts to more than 100 companies across New Zealand, helping them to market online, and was recently a finalist in the Westpac Business Awards.

“We help businesses market themselves using the online space,” she says.

“A lot of business owners, managers and marketing managers don’t have the skills — they might have a marketing background or a business background but they don’t know how to run online Google ads or how to manage social media for business and things like that.

“We work with them to help them utilise the online space to grow their business.

“For some businesses, it’s training, but we also work with businesses as if we are the marketing team.

“We have clients across New Zealand. Tourism businesses in particular really see the value in what we do. They know their customer is potentially on the other side of the world.

“Other industries are a bit slower to get up with the trend and the value in online marketing.

“However, we have customers in pretty much any industry you can think of.

“Rotorua is conveniently central for visiting clients; has cheap rents compared to other places, and there is a good business community here, with Chamber of Commerce and Rotorua X supporting business growth.

“You can work remotely, so someone sitting here building an app could be competing with someone sitting in Silicon Valley.

“We have great community, low commuting times, costeffective living and working and I think the majority of the people here have a great attitude which is important.

“And we’ve got amazing forests and lakes, and the beaches and the snow are close. You get the best of both worlds — a great lifestyle and great business environment.”

Taking the long way home Of all these IT professionals, Adam Ellis (right) has probably travelled the farthest to get to Rotorua.

“I’ve spent my whole life roaming,” he says. “My father was a project manager for Shell Oil and we travelled and lived all over the planet.

“For me there’s always been a deep-down desire to give something back to the community I’m in, so as soon as I moved to Rotorua I joined a day care centre committee and started trying to work technology into the centre.

“I realised I get a huge satisfaction from helping children and this was the catalyst for setting up the Nga Pumanawa e Waru project.

“Essentially the project is about how we affect student outcomes and achievements in Rotorua through e-learning. My dream is to put a device in the hands of every child and to create a ubiquitous learning environment where any child has the ability to learn from anywhere, anytime.

“This learning continues to happen outside school and the school day.

“The team working on the project includes experts in technology, measurement, education and community engagement.

“Our work is heavily supported by technology stakeholders — Apple, Samsung, Hewlett Packard and Vodafone. Noel Leeming have employed a teacher fulltime to be connected to us. Funding for the next three years has been provided by the Next Foundation.

“We are putting in place a New Zealand first for e-learning. If we nurture 13,000 learners in our district to be ubiquitous learners, what effect will that have when they become part of the future workforce in an environment where ubiquitous working is a reality — working anytime, from anywhere?

“If we have some great connectivity out of this district and into the rest of the world, there’s nothing stopping people having a fantastic lifestyle, yet being able to work from wherever they are in the city.

“I think we’re going to breed that culture moving forward, starting with our children.”

You might expect that this wanderer would be tempted to hit the road again, but Adam is too fond of Rotorua to leave.

“I love it. It has absolutely everything I dream a city could have — it has pristine lakes, the Redwood Forest, we can mountain bike when we want.

“Where else in the world could I be where, when I’ve had enough of the office, I can get in my car or on my bike and be in the forest in 10 minutes; absolute serenity. In terms of access to and from anywhere, it’s close enough to Whakapapa, close enough to the Mount.

“For me it’s the best city in the world, bar none. I honestly feel that — it’s everything for me.”

22

REAL ESTATE

RotoruaNZ.com

Homes not to be sniffed at

by Steve Hart Editor, NZ Herald Homes

A

Our sous-chef has moved down from Auckland with his young family to work for us.

He admits that they didn’t think they’d ever be able to buy a house in Auckland.

He’s only been here eight months and now they’ve bought a house.

How awesome is that?

Stacey

ucklanders looking for a change in lifestyle, away from clogged motorways and the ever-hotter housing market, are chilling out and heading to what is popularly known as an international playground offering great fishing and inland adventures.

Among them are Aucklanders Mike and Alison Hover who have stepped off the SuperCity merry-goround to retire in Rotorua.

Mike and Alison are not new to all that Rotorua offers, having visited the area frequently before opting to settle there this year.

“Rotorua runs a bit off the radar when you compare it to places like Tauranga,” they say.

“So when we sold in Auckland and decided to make the move, Rotorua was where we wanted to end up.”

It can make good sense to sell in Auckland and pick up a relative

bargain in Rotorua.

Rotorua average house prices were 16 per cent higher in March 2016 than in March 2015, hitting an average value of $305,000, according to Quotable Value.

“The financial side of it was appealing,” say the Hovers. “But it was definitely the lifestyle choice that was most attractive.”

Locals are starting to see their homes rise in value to above 2007 levels — the last market peak — and are increasingly making the decision to sell.

“The number of sales has definitely increased, prices are going up and listings are becoming more scarce,” says one estate agent.

Rotorua is an ideal spot for hardpressed first-time homebuyers too.

Caitlyn DeSanges and Dylan Paterson are thrilled with their new Pukehangi house.

Caitlyn says that finding the right home was a long process, and they counted themselves among the lucky to find a property after a yearlong search.

Among the reasons people are

heading to Rotorua include great fishing on the lakes, a growing mountain biking scene, kayaking and forests just minutes from the city centre.

Another bonus is that the area is relatively flat, and on your doorstep are Taupo and Mt Maunganui.

Thankfully, the number of building consents is on the up.

During the first three months of this year more than $11 million worth of residential building consents were granted in Rotorua — up 38 per cent on this time last year.

Rotorua councillor Charles Sturt says there are still “two years supply of sections on the market”.

Travelling distance from home to work can be as little as 10 minutes, which really helps work/life balance.

Compare that to the hour or more Aucklanders can spend getting to work.

Steve Lovegrove, his wife Melanie and their three daughters moved to Papamoa and began commuting to Rotorua, but quickly

enrolled their three daughters in a Rotorua school.

It soon became apparent that wasn’t practical, and after two weeks they started renting in Rotorua while they looked for a house to buy.

“We wanted to be part of the community here.

“It’s a small city with a big town feel, people know people, and it’s very important to be part of the community.”

“For me Rotorua was really attractive. I love mountain biking and I’ve been coming down here for about 25 years.

“I’m not a race-level mountain biker, I just love getting out in the forest and enjoying the trails.

“And there are heaps of things to do for the kids in Rotorua.”

What about the smell of sulphur?

Locals claim that after a week in the city you can’t smell it.

But when it comes to a whole new way of life, enjoying the great outdoors and having more time to spend doing what you like best — Rotorua is not to be sniffed at.

Listen to the local...

James Alexander is a licensee salesperson and auctioneer for Ray White Rotorua. He and his family have lived in Rotorua for just over two years, having moved from Waipu in Northland. The move was primarily driven by a passion for mountain biking and the desire to bring up their son in a vibrant, energetic community with lots of get up and go.

’A close community set for rapid growth’ What appealed to you about moving here?

Various reasons, but mainly the mountain biking.

The tracks here are the best in the country, some of the best in the world.

Both my wife and I are obsessed by mountain biking.

Rotorua is a city that feels like a town; it has a close, warm community yet still provides great opportunities and is all set for the rapid growth we are seeing now.

Things are really happening here.

Which suburb did you choose to settle in?

We picked Lynmore as it was the closest suburb to the forest. We wanted to ride from home and into the woods every chance we get. It’s also a family-orientated suburb with a good standard of schooling.

Lynmore School has a stunning reputation.

What is your professional background?

I’ve been a salesman for over 27 years, with nine years in real estate,

six years as an auctioneer. My wife Paula has had various management positions over the years, ran a motel and currently volunteers part-time as a tour guide at the Rotorua Museum, as well as assisting me with real estate and raising our son.

What is good about your role?

Making a positive difference to people’s lives by moving them in and out of property. It’s a big thing in people’s lives. It’s a thrill to be instrumental to that. I enjoy the fact it’s challenging and forever changing.

What are some of your other favourite activities/interests in Rotorua and why?

We also enjoy exploring the secret nooks around the lakes — hidden hot pools, etc. The restaurants are also a treat — there are so many and of such a high standard.

Why would you recommend people move here?

Bang for buck. You get a pretty cool house here for your money. But more than that, you get to live in a worldclass holiday destination and enjoy

the benefits every day.

Did I mention the traffic? There isn’t any! You can be anywhere in Rotorua in about 10-15 minutes — it’s the icing on the cake.

In addition, you have surfing just 40 minutes away, skiing just two hours away and superb trout fishing and lake sports just 10-15 minutes away.

We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. You gain that elusive work/life balance here without having to battle for it. It’s here all around you.

FROM THE COUNCIL

RotoruaNZ.com

23

A place like nowhere else S

Steve Chadwick Rotorua Mayor

o many places lay claim to being unique, but there really is nowhere else like Rotorua.

Surrounded by forests, lakes and geothermal resources, Rotorua’s natural environment offers an unparalleled lifestyle and its central location means that so much of the North Island is close by.

A really dynamic and culturally rich group of people call Rotorua home and together we are creating a vibrant community in which we value an excellent work/life balance and a great standard of living.

We’re inviting you to come and experience Rotorua, stay a while and maybe call it home too.

There are so many great reasons that we call Rotorua home.

For a start, we have so much going on.

From world-class mountain and adventure biking and hiking trails, to fantastic hot springs and spa attractions, a great night market, a thriving cafe´ and restaurant scene, excellent public arts and cultural facilities, as well as historical and

For a style of life we think is second to none, and a creative and multicultural community that is focussed on a future we can all appreciate, look no further than Rotorua. family oriented attractions, there is something for everyone, young and old to enjoy all year round.

New Zealanders are fortunate to live in paradise and yet so many of us forget that fact.

In Rotorua you can be reminded of just how good we have it: no traffic jams, no exorbitant parking fees and transport problems, and no long commutes to work.

In fact we have a great public transport system and an extensive cycle network, so much of the time you can leave the car at home.

In Rotorua homes are still affordable.

Unlike the main centres, we have a great variety of existing housing at very competitive prices and new builds are once again on the rise.

At a time when many people are finding it impossible to even consider owning their own home it is nice to know that in Rotorua you can still find a place for you and your family to spread out, without taking on major financial burden.

A key part of creating a fantastic work/life balance is, of course, ensuring we have great work opportunities, and in Rotorua we are making sure that economic development is a primary focus.

Our major industries, like forestry and tourism, remain strong and continue to provide a diverse range of primary and supporting employment positions, but growth sectors like the geothermal and IT/ technology industries are now providing jobs in exciting new fields.

Carrying this forward, we intend to make sure Rotorua continues to grow both as a destination and as a regional economic centre that can provide world-class job

This is not the last word...

Dave Donaldson (orange helmet) and mates enjoy the Rotorua lifestyle.

Well-placed for a buoyant future

W

ith an excellent strategic location, a fantastic climate and a dynamic population that is forging ahead with business development, it is an exciting time for Rotorua, and I firmly believe the city is perfectly positioned for a very positive future.

Growth in the district remains strong, with gross domestic product growth consistently above the New Zealand average in the year to March 2016.

Adding to this trend, the iwi economy is expected to flourish in the post-Treaty settlement environment. Local iwi have a strong connection to this land, and with this bond comes a long-term vision that will bear fruit for future generations.

Rotorua is within three hours of half the population of New Zealand, just one hour from the country’s largest port, and an easy drive or flight away from an international airport —

opportunities to all those who live here.

In this regard, education is a key player, and Rotorua is proud to host some very established and accomplished educational facilities.

From our primary and secondary education providers, who help to shape our future generations, to the newly-formed tertiary organisation formed by the merger of Waiariki Institute of Technology and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Rotorua is leading the way in helping Kiwis to find careers in a variety of trades and fields.

We also remain at the cutting edge of new and growing industries.

For many years we’ve been known as a tourist and holiday destination and Rotorua is still eager to welcome you for a great getaway.

But we are also a great place to live, work and invest in.

For a style of life we think is second to none, and a creative and multi-cultural community that is focussed on a future we can all appreciate, look no further than Rotorua.

Dave Donaldson Deputy Mayor, Lead, Economic Growth Portfolio

which means we are in a great place to do business nationally and overseas.

Our location also means that we are less prone to threats from coastal change and rising sea levels that will potentially affect other regions in New Zealand over the longer term.

A pleasant climate, easy access to lakes, forests and other natural resources all make for an enviable lifestyle that is second to none, so it is easy to see why so many people are choosing to live, work and invest in Rotorua.

We think the future of our city is so bright that we are planning for it now, with an emphasis on accommodating growth, improving infrastructure and facilities, and maintaining the quality of living that

our residents expect.

With this in mind, our Economic Growth Advisory Group is developing strategies that focus on three key areas — business development, investment attraction, and tourism growth. This includes creating a new Council-controlled organisation to coordinate and streamline our economic development projects.

Underpinning our growth plans is a drive for sustainability which is helping to promote innovation, with particular progress being made through our ‘Wood First’ policy. This encourages the use of timber wherever possible, thereby supporting one of our cornerstone industries.

We also remain firmly committed to tourism and to being New Zealand’s premier visitor destination, with a target of $1 billion in visitor expenditure by 2030.

Allied to this, Council is pressing

ahead with a major revitalisation of our inner city that has already seen foot traffic up and increased card spend, together with a renewed vibrancy and positivity among our retailers.

We have also embarked on the development of an extensive urban cycling network which will be a catalyst for more people to choose to walk or cycle.

In addition to Council-led projects, a range of investors are demonstrating their faith in the district’s future having chosen Rotorua as a location for the confirmed development of an upmarket hotel and spa complex, a world-class education facility, a shopping and entertainment complex and an upgraded mountain bike hub as part of a future Waipa Valley development project.

In Rotorua we are building a buoyant future. Why don’t you come and see if your future is here too?

It could well be the beginning of a whole new life — for you.

If you’re inspired by the idea of living and working, or living and studying, in Rotorua, take a good look at the information at: RotoruaNZ.com/live Or pick up the phone and speak to one of the friendly Customer Solutions team at Rotorua Lakes Council.

They will be happy to answer your questions, put you in touch with specialist recruitment companies and real estate agents, or arrange for you to speak to some of the many people who have already made the move to Rotorua.

Contact: Rotorua Lakes Council 1061 Haupapa St Rotorua District Council Ph 0800 ROTORUA Why not take time out, pop down and have a taste of the Rotorua way of life?

Take part in a sporting event, or just enjoy soaking up the ambience for a couple of days.

Come visit us. We know you’ll love it!