The issue of Maori representation has arisen again with a proposal for a new board to replace the Te Arawa Standing Committee, giving the iwi a greater voice on the council.

Sometimes you just want to crawl into a hole with embarrassment ...

So there we were. Me, Mrs P, a couple of little kids on bikes and a smattering of our neighbours, some with dogs, trying hard not to stare at the scene unfolding before us.

Looking at the list of marathons worldwide, Rotorua's circumnavigation of the lake ranks among the 50 longest running marathon races.