Housing New Zealand apologised to a family of seven who had been living in a two-bedroom tent next to the Wairoa River, just outside Bethlehem, for five weeks as they waited for a house to become available in Tauranga. The family included five children aged from 2 to 11. Housing New Zealand offered them a four-bedroom home on February 10 after Maori MP Te Ururoa Flavell intervened.
March:
Moana radio host Pat Spellman started his campaign to make Tauranga the first bilingual city in New Zealand. Plans included making signs in public places in English and te reo Maori, and encouraging businesses to greet customers with, "Kia ora." Ngai Te Rangi chairman Charlie Tawhiao said he was behind the idea because Maori was the indigenous language of New Zealand. But less than a week later Mr Spellman said he had been verbally abused since the announcement. Mount Maunganui and Papamoa councillor Clayton Mitchell said he had received negative emails after voicing support for the project.
April:
The relative obscurity of Tauranga's historic Gate Pa battle site has been erased 150 years after the history-defining clash in which heavily outgunned and outnumbered Maori warriors repelled English troops. On April 29, 1500 people attended the dawn blessing of the pou and new flagpole at Pukehinahina Reserve, the site of the Battle of Gate Pa. Ngaitamarawaho kaumatua Des Tata said the pou and flagpole had lifted the profile of the hillside battle site where Tauranga started.
May:
Tears of joy flowed when Maketu sisters Kasey and Karena Bird were announced winners of MasterChef New Zealand 2014 and Te Puke was decked out in pink as locals came out in force to congratulate them when they hit the town on May 9. Karena said they had been preparing themselves for the public reaction, but were overwhelmed with the response. Maketu Primary also welcomed them with a haka.
June:
Todd Muller is Tony Ryall's successor as the National Party candidate for the Bay of Plenty. The Fonterra executive beat first-term Tauranga City Council member Steve Morris in the 101-delegate vote, which was described as a close race.
July:
Senior Constable Adrian Oldham and Constable Shane McCarthy were hailed heroes after rescuing a 77-year-old woman from her home following a fire - sparked by an electric blanket switch she was holding. Mr Oldham, who just happened to be passing, noticed the house was engulfed with flames and smashed a window to get in. His first attempts to drag her from the house failed as he struggled to breathe in the thick black smoke but was able to pull her free once Mr McCarthy arrived.
August:
Waihi Beach woman Cathy Franzoi, who was shot while in Papua New Guinea, said she held no grudge against the person who shot her. She was shot in the leg by a stray bullet during a gunbattle while volunteering in Port Moresby with her son, Luke. Mrs Franzoi had undergone surgery in a Cairns hospital and returned home a few days later.
September:
Tauranga woman Diane Wilson, 23, who overcame years of painful surgery to fix her face was left fighting for her life after a three-car smash. She suffered a smashed pelvis, broken neck at the base of her skull and brain bleeds and was in an induced coma in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital after the car she was driving was T-boned. She was able to go home in time Christmas.
Meanwhile, plans were under way for a controversial 75-metre waka Maori, built during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, to be brought to Tauranga's waterfront. Project manager Sally Cooke said the plastic waka would be used to establish a cultural, technological and innovation showcase centre for the Bay of Plenty. The plan was later rejected by the city council.
October:
"We just want him to come home," said the family of missing 5-year-old boy, Jack Dixon, who was swept away by a freak wave at Shelly Beach on October 1. An outpouring of community sympathy included candlelight vigils, donations, prayers of support, and extensive searches which are continuing. "Not a day goes by where we aren't looking for our precious boy, Jack," the family said.
November:
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd, 60, was arrested on November 6 and appeared in the Tauranga District Court for attempting to procure murder, threatening to kill, and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. On November 7 the charge of attempting to procure murder was dropped but he had already made headlines worldwide and created a media frenzy.
December:
About 10 people have come forward with health concerns and 229 people have been evacuated from their offices since Tauranga City Council confirmed in early December about 30 per cent of its building had tested positive for toxic black mould. Almost half of the council's 520 staff have been relocated. Emergency recovery specialist Terry Wynyard said work to clean the building and decontaminate equipment had started.
