It was an absolutely stunning day at Papamoa Beach on New Year's Day. The sun was gloriously warm, beating down from a deep blue sky on to the 1000 or so beachgoers, who were having a fabulous time in the water.

With summer in full swing, it is often difficult to turn down that evening beer or wine.

This year has been a brutal year in many ways, writes Juliet Rowan.

It is hard to believe it is 10 years since the Boxing Day tsunami. Ten years since waves up to 30m high crashed over Southeast Asia, killing more than 230,000 people.

I sat down to log my favourite books and films for 2014. It's a mark of how busy the year has been that my list is so short.

Anita Moran writes: Tauranga ratepayers hope the money they dish out to the council is spent wisely.