Damage from vehicles to the berm on Harbour Dr in Ōtūmoetai.

'Pattern of behaviour': Burnouts, drug use on Tauranga waterfront

Resident Matt McHardy said drug use and dealing happened in cars parked on the grass verge across from homes, at all times of day.

Saturday 6:00am

Byron Smith is refusing to let a cancer diagnosis and intense upcoming surgery stop him from living life.

Brain injury, now cancer - Tauranga man faces 'mother of all surgeries'

A cancer diagnosis eight weeks ago has left Byron Smith facing a major new obstacle.

Saturday 6:00am

Jason Butler with his daughter Maata and mokopuna

Charge laid over disappearance of Jason Butler – family issues plea

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson said it had been a long and extensive investigation while the whānau waited four years for answers.

Fri, Oct 17

Waterlines on the hull of this boat show how far out of the water it is as an extra low tide leaves it sitting on the river floor at its Whakatāne berth.

Silt build-up makes Whakatāne berths unusable – boaties

A Whakatāne boat owner says he's had about $30,000 worth of damage to his boat due to build-up around council berths.

Fri, Oct 17

Police say children were involved with drug dealing in Ōpōtiki

Police say children were involved with drug dealing in Ōpōtiki

Police said at one address, children and young people were present and implicated in the supply of cannabis, which was of "serious concern".

Thu, Oct 16

Police were first called to an address on Sabana Pl, in Tauranga's Bethlehem, after a person reported a relative being shot at by an individual shortly after 8am.

Sponge rounds and Taser stop armed, fleeing driver in Bay of Plenty

Police were first called to an address in Bethlehem after a person reported a relative being shot at shortly after 8am.

Thu, Oct 16

The proposed location of the new liquor store on Hinemoa St.

New liquor store for Rotorua CBD halted after more than 700 objections

Senior Sergeant Samuel Parata said police evidence suggested the liquor store would worsen harm in an already high-risk, high-deprivation area.

Thu, Oct 16

Invercargill City Council has a close race on its hands for the final seats.

What happens if votes are tied in local elections?

Westland’s mayoral race is separated by just four votes.

Tue, Oct 14

Whakatāne Hospital.

Hundreds of pregnant Eastern BoP women forced to go to Tauranga to give birth

"Trying to reassure a mum in full-blown labour in an ambulance, it's like a two hour ride or even more, it's just the impact on me has been quite emotional," one midwife says.

Tue, Oct 14

Former Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos is Whakatāne's mayor elect, with former mayor Victor Luca tailing by 96 votes and Philip Jacobs, who also stood on a platform of cutting spending, trailing in fifth place.

Whakatāne opts for Nandor Tanczos and his 'nice-to-have' approach

While rates rises have been blamed for at least 31 regions ditching their mayors, Whakatāne has opted for a mayor more welcoming of nice-to-have projects.

Mon, Oct 13

Why chip seal practicality beats out asphalt popularity for road maintenance

Why chip seal practicality beats out asphalt popularity for road maintenance

NZTA said it didn't make its decisions based on ride quality or customer perception but on what was the best asset-management decision.

Mon, Oct 13

Police were alerted to a 69-year-old woman being assaulted on Hinemoa St shortly before 4pm yesterday.

Public assist woman after 'callous' assault in Rotorua

After seeing the assault, members of the public quickly intervened and provided immediate care for the 69-year-old woman.

Fri, Oct 10

Whakaari-White Island erupted in December 2019 resulting in the loss of 22 lives and many severe injuries.

Whakaari eruption survivor recalls being hit by steam, rocks

Jesse Langford, whose parents and sister were killed in the disaster, was 19 at the time of the disaster and suffered burns to most of his body.

Thu, Oct 9

One of four election signs belonging to Whakatāne mayoral candidate Wilson James that has been adorned with a Wilson Cast Away movie replica volleyball.

Wilson! Mystery prankster adorns election signs

The replica volleyballs on Whakatāne mayoral candidate Wilson James' signs appeared to move from one week to the next.

Wed, Oct 8

A roof damaged by winds in Awakeri, near Whakatāne on Sunday afternoon.

Properties damaged, roofs lifted in reported tornado near Whakatāne

Fire and Emergency NZ said it was called to reports of a tornado going through several properties on State Highway 30 in Awakeri at around 2.45pm on Sunday.

Sun, Oct 5

Emergency services were notified of the crash on Thornton Rd near Matatā at 9.20am on Sunday.

One dead, four injured in two-vehicle Bay of Plenty crash

Emergency services were notified of the crash on Thornton Rd near Matatā at 9.20am on Sunday.

Sun, Oct 5

Whakaari-White Island erupted in December 2019 resulting in the loss of 22 lives and many severe injuries.

Whakaari coronial inquiry: NZ didn't seem ready for disaster, court told

"Perhaps the suffering of those impacted that day could have been avoided," counsel for the survivors and families of the deceased said.

Fri, Oct 3

The two-hour time limited side of Tauranga's Fifth Ave is mostly free of cars.

Empty streets, fewer sales: Tauranga businesses hit by new parking rules

Tauranga City Council introduced paid on-street parking in the city centre fringe on August 18.

Fri, Oct 3

Ballot boxes (file image).

Ruapehu candidate gives up campaigning after 'brutal' online abuse

"It's stopped me going anywhere on my own and I’m scared of leaving my car in the main street. I’ve given up campaigning," a candidate said.

Fri, Oct 3

Lucas Pl residents are disappointed with how a new housing partnership has played out.

Outrage after Rotorua council's new pensioner housing partnership

Under the partnership, residents will be required to sign a new tenancy agreement with Emerge, which includes raising their rent to market rates from February.

Thu, Oct 2

Tim David of Australia (L) celebrates their win with team mate Marcus Stoinis during the Chappell–Hadlee T20I Series - New Zealand Blackcaps v Australia.

Black Caps beaten by six wickets in first Twenty20 International

Mitch Marsh lit up a bitterly cold night at Bay Oval by hitting nine fours and five sixes as Australia surpassed New Zealand's total of 181-6 with 21 balls remaining.

Thu, Oct 2

All areas of Kawerau have been subject to strong chemical smells over the past week.

Chemical smell in Kawerau linked to wire and cable thefts

The current theory is that the thieves are using fire to strip the cable down to its valuable metal.

Wed, Oct 1

September 2025
Rachin Ravindra

Ravindra in freak training accident ahead of Aussie T20 opener

A training mishap has also hit the tourists ahead of the trans-Tasman series beginning at Bay Oval tomorrow.

Tue, Sep 30

Woman facing murder charge after Bay of Plenty incident

Woman facing murder charge after Bay of Plenty incident

A woman has been charged with murder after one person was killed and another injured following an incident inside a vehicle - which then crashed - in the Bay of Plenty on Saturday.

Mon, Sep 29

Victims of fatal Bay of Plenty incident knew alleged offender - police

Victims of fatal Bay of Plenty incident knew alleged offender - police

One person died and another was injured by a third person while in a vehicle near Matatā, in an incident police have described as "shocking".

Sun, Sep 28