Latest from Tauranga

'Last ditch effort' to save playcentre has happy ending
Plans to move Mount Maunganui Playcentre to a new reserve have been approved.

Pies, phones and covid pamphlets delivered to homeless
The families will receive the items to prepare them for the virus spreading.

'Budget blowouts': $4.8m in extra funding for city projects after 'delays', Covid
The provision of extra money has been considered unfair on ratepayers.

'Horrific violence': Man sentenced after tying woman in noose and raping her
Shad Undersen told his victim she was going to 'die today'.

Bill to ban conversion therapy: How local MPs voted
For one MP, the vote was a 'no-brainer'.

Jo Raphael: Your dog is better off at home by himself
OPINION: Rover should stay at home while you run your errands.

Make-up of future council in limbo after objections
Final plans for Tauranga's future council described as a 'lousy piece of work'.

Stolen cards: Tauranga drug dealer jailed after spending spree
A Bay fraudster and drug dealer has been handed a jail term of more than four years.

Tauranga-based company fined for dropping excavator overboard
The Maritime NZ investigation found several factors contributed to incident.

'Mission critical' housing development plans receive 'little support'
Council told the city's large reserves are 'under threat' from housing.

'Ready as can be': 'Racial profiling' incident at Farmers heads to mediation this week
The family of Aiomai Nuku-Tarawhiti and Shae Brown will meet with Farmers on Friday.

Mask-wearing at school 'a saving grace', Pongakawa School principal says
Students in Year 4 and up are required to wear a mask indoors at school.

'Be mindful': Oscar's dad's plea to Covid complainers after 6yo's leukemia battle
Dad says Covid-19 precautions are a "no-brainer" when it comes to protecting his son.

Tauranga man dies in motorcycle crash in Marlborough
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

The force is strong: Bay artist tapped to carve Morrison's iconic character
At age 5 he used to draw the character, now Mr G is carving him.

No trial location yet determined for those charged after White Island disaster
Possible trial locations include a Whakatāne Marae and a number of convention centres.

Tauranga water woes: More than a year to recover, tighter restrictions possible
Plans to reduce water use appear to be working but 'we're not out of the woods yet'.

'Nowhere to pivot': International student sector still haemorrhaging
'Reduction in revenue significant': Chris Hipkins on international student cash flows

Covid-19: 20 new BOP cases, 12 in Lakes, one in intensive care
The Coffee Club in Taupō has today been named a close contact location of interest.

Jo Raphael: Travel is the light at the end of the tunnel
OPINION: It's time to restore the tourism balance.

Bay of Plenty Pride celebrations will go ahead - organisers say 'we aren't going to cancel'
Organisers of the Bay's Pride celebrations say they will not be deterred.

'Basically cooking': 347 complaints of dogs locked in hot cars this summer nationally
It can take less than 10 minutes for the inside of a car to exceed 31C.

'The bottom line is that kids are happy': Schools prepare for staff shortages, class disruption amid Omicron
Schools have been told staff shortages are "highly likely" as a result of Omicron.

Parau Farms proposal prompts fears of 'ghetto' neighbourhood, lack of greenspace
About 22.4ha of land would transform into affordable housing, but not everyone is happy.

Revealed: How much you might have in unused gift cards
The average Kiwi has $72 in unused gift card credit, a survey has found.

Covid-19 outbreak: Person in hospital, three new local locations of interest
An entertainment venue and two community centres are close contact locations of interest.

'How much more adaptable can we be?': Pandemic follows school leavers to university
"Our year group has been hit a lot and now it's just flowing into our next stage."

'Huge struggle': Schools help parents tackle back to school costs
A mum has described buying school supplies for her three children as a "huge struggle".

Bay of Plenty's cafe selection a foodie's dream
Reporter Shauni James shares some of her Bay of Plenty cafe recommendations.