Five months after abandoning the build, the council has not decided what to do with it.

OPINION: There's a lesson for councils in the public reaction to waste collection changes.

Local first or regional front? Mayoral forum debates how to approach new Govt.

Cancian defended himself in the civil court case heard in the High Court at Tauranga.

OPINION: He says he's been there, done that - but we can't rule out a new leadership tilt.

PLUS: Living on the Te Papa peninsula? See maps showing new height limits in your street.

Complainer says a forced apology would be a 'pyrrhic victory'.

'I don't want it to get turned into a race or racism issue, I don't need any more of that'

One mayor admits some disappointment, but the other says he isn't.

Legacy issues, elected member behaviour, the process of change blamed for downturn.

'If I don't want a big bin, why should it be forced on me?'

'But the big issue will be, will people be hooning around and causing mayhem?'

Buses, traffic, kids: 'They are just trying to jam too much into a little road.'

Ratepayers would be 'horrified' at paying the cost of governance failure, says councillor.

'I'm just absolutely gobsmacked at how little rights you have as a ratepayer.'

Bay of Plenty readers have their say.

The complaint was laid the day after an emergency meeting over tensions in the council.

'When you are so publicly exposed you become very, very vulnerable.'

The number of abuse incidents on council workers has soared.

A challenge to the decision, however, is likely.

Neighbours say the tree has supplied them with avocados for years.