Free parking and more events were considered as part of a major campaign to revitalise Tauranga's CBD. City business leaders met to brainstorm how to attract more people to the central city and add more vitality to the area. Mayor Stuart Crosby told the Bay of Plenty Times more than 100 ideas were brainstormed at the Tuskany Tauranga Mainstreet meeting. He supported the free-parking idea and promised to put the suggestion back on council's agenda.
Rena stoush
National MP Simon Bridges described Labour's announcement that it would demand full removal of the Rena wreck as "pointless posturing". Labour leader David Cunliffe made the announcement during a visit to Tauranga. Mr Bridges said the decision should be made by the environment court, not politicians.
Best bargain
Tauranga's Jamie Hughes was looking for a cheap car but did not expect to find one for $1. He was trawling on Trade Me for a cheap car for his wife to learn to drive in when he stumbled on the bargain of a lifetime - a late 1990s Mitsubishi Mirage listed with a $1 buy now. Stadium Cars managing director Carin Arundel was good-humoured about the mistake, but honoured the deal.
Te reo backlash
Moana radio host Pat Spellman was campaigning to make Tauranga the first bilingual city in New Zealand. But less than a week later, Mr Spellman said he had received verbal abuse since the announcement. Mount Maunganui and Papamoa councillor Clayton Mitchell said he had received negative emails after voicing support for the project.