In this week’s edition

Iwas hoping to arrive at this new job in a polar blast, a metre of snow on the mountain and a horde of happy skiers soaking their tired toes in the hot pools. But a flurry of flakes on the Kaimanawa Range is still a good omen.

As a Taupō local of seven years, it’s a privilege to be taking up the role of editor with a thriving local newspaper like the Taupō & Tū rangi Herald.

There’s no great secret to community newspapers, we are simply here to tell everyone what’s going on and to celebrate success.

And everyone’s got a story to tell. Having started a few days early to take in the Stella Business Awards on Saturday night, it was inspiring to see the lengths some people have travelled to keep their livelihoods alive during a tough couple of years.

You can read that story on page 15.

Meanwhile, up the road in Reporoa, locals are determined not to let their community suffer at the hands of thieves.

There’s lots of words for thief; yegg, abactor, marauder, jack roller, prigger, but there’s no good reason for it and my money is on the locals to solve this problem.

This story is on page 1 and 3 if you haven’t read it already.

If you are a biblioklept and have just pinched the local paper out of a letterbox, believe me, someone’s watching you.

Even a plunderer of papers will appreciate our terrific tumbler on page 16.

Emma Tindale is a Tauhara College student who’s about to backflip her way to Bulgaria for the world age group championships.

These stories are just a small selection of this week’s local news, so put your feet up, make a Milo and enjoy.