COMPETITION: Do you have Rotorua's best Christmas tree?
Hi neighbours,
With just a month until Christmas, we at the Rotorua Review have decided to get into the Christmas spirit by going on the hunt for the city's best Christmas tree.
Let's be honest, the city's public tree last year left little to be inspired by.
The council has promised to spruce it up this year, but we feel the best trees are probably the ones you guys all have in your own homes.
And it Doesn't have to be a traditional tree- we'd be keen for people to think outside the box.
In Hamilton they run a competition every year called Trees of the Meteor with people making trees out of all types of materials.
The 2014 winners made their tree out of badminton shuttlecocks and was an absolute stunner.
So get your creative decorating caps and send us your photos.
* To enter email a high resolution photo (1MB or more) to nicola.brennan@fairfaxmedia.co.nz by December 15.
We will run people's photos each week in the lead up to our last issue this year in the paper, on Neighbourly and Facebook.
A winner will be determined by a combination of public and Rotorua Review staff votes and will receive a $50 Prezzy card.
Haven Falls Funeral Home Ki Rotorua
Haven Falls are very blessed to be opening their new branch in Rotorua.
Located at 271 Old Taupo Road, Rotorua these facilities offer a large chapel, dining hall and extended off road parking.
We invite you at anytime to pop in and speak with one of our team members and have a look around the facilities offered.
We operate 24 hours 7 days a week.
0800 428366
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Warnings about scams
This Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may rush or threaten you to act immediately.
🔍 Requests for personal info: Be cautious if you’re asked for bank details, passwords, or sensitive information.
🔍 Unusual payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
🔍 Unverified contacts: Emails, calls, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Stop and think before sharing personal details or making payments.
✅ Don't click on any links until you know that it is safe.
✅ Verify the source: Contact the organisation directly using official channels.
✅ If something’s not right, it's OK to hang up, walk away, ignore it and move on.
If you wish to report a scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online via 105.police.govt.nz/use-105.