Uber Eats comes to Rotorua
The Rotorua Daily Post is looking back at the stories of 2020. Here’s what made headlines in July.
July 2
The start of Junesawuber Eats roll into townwith almost 30 restaurants signing up.
Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant& Pizzeria andmamma Rosa Pizzeria& Restaurant owner Deepkumar signedup to the app describing it as a “gamechanger”.
Kumarownedrestaurants across the country that had already got on board with the delivery service and said it hadmade a “huge difference” to his takeaway percentage.
July 2
The Government announced a $55 million investment into a project that would seemore than 1000new homes built onma¯ori land and generate about300jobs.
The fundingwasannounced jointly by Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones as part of anew package of infrastructure investments, with $3 billion fromthe Covid Response and Recoveryfund being allocated across the country’s regions. The urban development project, a partnership between Rotorua Lakes Council, Nga¯ti
Whakaueandnztawasthe first shovel-ready project in the Bay of Plenty to be granted funding.
July 4
In adramatic chase of a teen burglar, police dogmccaw— named after Richiemccaw— had a large filleting knife plunged 10cminto the back of his neck.
In June, the 14-year-old offender wascalled in the Rotorua Youth Court when, through his lawyer, he entered a plea of non-denial to two charges, including burglary and injuring a
police dog. The teenwasarmed with a large knifewhenhe broke into a car at a house on Fordrdat 3amon April 17— at the timenewzealand wasinalert level 4 lockdown.
Whendisturbed by the owner, police were called and the youth fled.
During the chase the teen plunged a filleting knife into the dog’s neck. Hemade a full recovery.
July 11
Arotoruaman, whowas about to become a dad for the first time, was admitted to hospital after a freak
accident with a fish smoker left him covered in methylated spirits and on fire.
Tangaroa Yorke, a 20-year-old teacher-aide fromrotorua, was burnedwhenhis brother pulled the lid off the fish smoker and the fire “blazed out of it”.
Hespent twoweeks in Waikato Hospital and agivealittle page was setup for himas he wasthe sole earner for himand his pregnant partner.
July 12
Twopeople died after their car left the road and plunged into Lake Rotoma, near Rotorua. Emergency services were called to the scene at 12.40pmon July 11 after the car left State Highway 30, east of Rotorua.
“Two people were recovered deceased fromthe lake by the dive squad,” police said in a statement.
July 18
Just shy of 3000people attended thegood Vibes festival in Rotorua featuring Sons of Zion, L.A.B and others. Rotorua’sshow— whichwas part of anine-date tour— sold out months prior, proof of the anticipation of getting back to normality and enjoying being at a gig without having to social
distance.
July 25
As a coroner’s ruling into Riko Porter’s deathwas released, his sister shared a strong message about the dangers of alcohol.
Acoroner found that Porter died froma traumatic brain injury while intoxicated, after being hit by a car after 11.30pm onnovember 28, 2018.
Ngawiki Raupitamissed a phone call fromher brother the night hewas killed and always wonders what would have happened if she had answered. She said her brotherwas a loving and “godly” manwhodespite being “mischief” at times, had a big heart and would help feed the city’s homelessmostdays.