The Tauranga Eastern Link's recently opened Pāpāmoa East Interchange during construction. (Source: Bijou Johnson)

NZ's most road-tolled region faces more tolls under 10-year deal

The region already has two of New Zealand’s three toll roads, including the Tauranga Eastern Link and Takitimu Dr.

Thursday 7:44pm

2:26

Police say Jeremy Robertson, pictured, is in his 50s and is of solid build.

Man sought over mother's death 'most likely' dead, police say

Karen Gilbert-Palmer, 74, was found dead at her Pahiatua home, with her son Jeremy Robertson the only person of interest.

Thursday 1:53pm

Police at an accident scene.

Driver charged over fatal 2025 crash with bus in Rotorua

The crash, which occurred on Te Ngae Road at around 9.20pm on November 6, killed 23-year-old Teleia Thompson, who was a passenger in the car.

Thursday 8:01am

One dead, two injured in Bay of Plenty crash

One dead, two injured in Bay of Plenty crash

The crash occurred on the Te Puke Highway around 7.15pm yesterday.

Thursday 7:23am

Tauranga City Council has decided to close Ōtūmoetai Pool, Greerton library and Pāpāmoa library on Sundays.

'Shocking situation': Two Tauranga libraries, pool lose Sunday hours

The changes, part of the 2026/27 annual plan, reflected lower use on Sundays and aimed to keep “rates increases as low as possible while continuing to deliver essential services”.

Wed, May 13

Rumaki Cafe executive director Miraka Davies

Rotorua cafe to operate fully in te reo Māori: 'A precious taonga'

Rumaki Cafe will operate as an "immersive te reo Māori space", with customers encouraged to speak the language while ordering and interacting inside.

Wed, May 13

Police at an accident scene.

Two women arrested after 'wrong way' driving spree in Tauranga

A vehicle was reported to be driving dangerously, including on the wrong side of State Highway 2.

Tue, May 12

Rotorua Lakes Council changed its mind on the Pūwhakamua parolee site in Ōwhata, but the Environment Court has doubts.

Rotorua parolee rehab site faces court, funding risk despite council U-turn

Rotorua Lakes Council changed its mind on the Pūwhakamua parolee site in Ōwhata, but the Environment Court has doubts following the loss of Corrections funding.

Mon, May 11

Maria Wortman-Dabrowska said it was a "proper shock" to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2014.

Dancer's back pain became 12-year cancer battle, now she needs treatment in China

The 56-year-old plans to undergo CAR-T cell treatment in China later this year.

Mon, May 11

A yellow-bellied sea snake on Hōkawai Beach near Ōpōtiki.

Second sea snake found on Bay of Plenty beach shocks dog walker

The man thought the serpent was an eel before realising it was the rare, venomous species after another sighting earlier this week.

Fri, May 8

Ten-year-old male hunting dog, Marley, was euthanised after being impounded for not being registered.

Homeless woman's dog put down despite public offers to pay fees

Tauranga City Council has defended euthanising 10-year-old Marley, who was impounded for not being registered.

Fri, May 8

Police say the incident began about 8.50pm on Wednesday near Seaview Rd in Whakatāne, when a person got into the parked camper and drove off, unaware its owner was asleep in the rear.

Woman charged after camper stolen with man and cat still inside

A Whakatāne man woke to his camper being driven away with him and his cat still inside on Wednesday.

Fri, May 8

The attack occurred on Tuesday when Taiatini Nelson, a long-time lover of horses, was riding along the Bay of Plenty beach on his horse Hero — something his wife Aimee said he did regularly.

Horse badly injured in attack by two dogs on Bay of Plenty beach

Taiatini Nelson urged his horse Hero into the sea to escape a prolonged attack by two off-leash dogs at Pāpāmoa Beach on Tuesday.

Thu, May 7

A yellow-bellied sea snake found in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. (Source: DOC)

Highly-venomous sea snake washes ashore alive in Bay of Plenty

The yellow-bellied sea snake was discovered on Ōhope Beach.

Mon, May 4

Some Tauranga families are taking loved ones out of the city for cheaper burial and cremation options. Councillor Glen Crowther blames Tauranga's fee structure for the trend.

'Vicious cycle' driving Tauranga families to Waikato for cheaper cremations

The council, which owns and operates Tauranga’s only crematorium, has proposed to drop its adult cremation fee by about $200, to $777.

Sat, May 2

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale at the community meeting hosted by the council to provide an update on the rehabilitation of Mauao.

Mt Maunganui landslide: Restoration of Mauao to begin next week

The mountain has been closed since January 22, when six holidaymakers at the campground at the foot of the mountain were killed in a landslide.

Fri, May 1

April 2026
Port of Tauranga.

Croatian deported for role in $20 million cocaine bust in Tauranga

Four foreign nationals were arrested in October 2017 after attempting to import the Class A drugs concealed in the hull of a container ship.

Thu, Apr 30

Woman charged over fatal crash with bus in Rotorua

Woman charged over fatal crash with bus in Rotorua

The crash on Te Ngae Rd in November last year killed 23-year-old Teleia Thompson, who was a passenger in the car.

Thu, Apr 30

The Tarena St property is lower than surrounding sites and receives run-off during heavy rainfall.

'E. coli floating past our back door': Homeowner pleads for flood help

The homeowner says testers told her they had never seen an E. coli reading so high at a residential property.

Thu, Apr 30

Karen Wardill, pictured with her husband Greg, started a petition calling for a crackdown on dangerous driving in Mount Maunganui..

'Dangerous and noisy': Mount residents push for boy racer crackdown

Resident Karen Wardill has more than 1250 signatures for her petition calling on authorities to crack down on "boy racers" cruising main streets at the Mount.

Thu, Apr 30

A hikoi through Whakatāne showed the level of support for preventing the development, prior to the hearing on February 10.

Housing development approved to go ahead beside urupā site

The housing will be developed on less than half of a 26.9ha Whakatāne District Council-owned block next to the official urupā site.

Wed, Apr 29

Spider webs cover a lawn in the Karapiro area of Waikato.

Why spider webs have blanketed towns across the North Island

An arachnologist says the gossamer threads coating homes and reserves across the region are harmless — and a sign the season is changing.

Tue, Apr 28

Video posted on social media showed flames towering into the sky from the blaze, near a local BP petrol station.

Five men charged after alleged meth lab goes up in flames in Taupō

Video posted on social media showed large flames towering into the sky from the blaze.

Mon, Apr 27

Part of the Tasman's Great Taste Trail had been damaged by storms in 2025.

Part of NZ Cycle Trail network to get $800,000 repairs

The funding will go towards three Great Rides – the Hauraki Rail Trail, Waikato River Trail, and Tasman's Great Taste Trail – following significant storm damage.

Sun, Apr 26

intersection of State Highway 36 and Leonard Rd in Ngongotaha.

'Devastating': Two killed, one badly injured, in crash near Rotorua

Police said members of the public rushed to help and did what they could while emergency services responded.

Sat, Apr 25