If i was on the fence before, I am now excited at the chance for us to stand up and make a monumental change for the future, writes Paul Hickey.

It's natural that Kiwis tend to focus on what's happening in their own country. But the millions of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria is an issue New Zealand needs to care about.

Like most people in Rotorua and New Zealand I understand the realities of cancer, and they are not pleasant.

Cousins, brothers, fathers and sons will line up alongside one another during the Te Arawa Pa Wars in Rotorua.

Paul Hickey writes: After a fair few years in radio and using a microphone as the tool of my trade, it's not often that I get the opportunity to do something new.

It seems like just yesterday we hit the streets as part of the Rotorua Daily Post and The Hits food drive, collecting for the Salvation Army foodbank.