John Key took over Paengaroa School's school assembly yesterday - to the delight of the 226 children in attendance.

Tauranga is set to reap from a $14.6 million investment in cycleways, following an announcement from Transport Minister and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges

Chef Yuba Bhandar will prepare dinner for a fundraising event for the Nepal quake relief

The "B Team" get some practice in before the NZ Gourmet BBQ Champs to be held at MT Maunganui this Saturday.

Nikki and Kristie are two sisters were not expected to live past 18, but now at 24 and 31 the pair are using their story to help raise money and awareness to help others suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Tauranga SPCA highlight a shocking case of animal cruelty in which a dog was thrown off a highway bridge into a river.

Night Owl cinema and Baycourt Theatre are taking people back to a forgotten film era of silent movies.

Mobil One, the blue penguin, was released early on June 17 after weeks of rehabilitation at Oropi Native Bird Sanctuary after being caught in the April 28 oil spill. Video: Bay of Plenty Times

Bayfair Baywide rugby Saturday June 13

Bay of Plenty Polytech brought puppies to students to help reduce students.

Carving instructor Peter Smith, former student Maia Ririnui and Year 12 student Quin Matenga explain the importance of carvings created and left for students at Tauranga Boys' College.

Week 6 of Baywide rugby highlights

Tauranga couple Gill and Mike Godfrey have been breeding ragdoll cats for the past 10 years. They now have 90 cats living with them in their Te Puna home.

The first sod at the site for Tauranga's Hairy Maclary attraction has been turned, as works make way for sculptures of the mischievous dog and friends.

Two Bay women have won their categories at the New Zealand National Amateur Pole Performer competition. Kirsty Carter took away the performer (or beginner) level award while Jenny Benfell won the intermediate level award at the competition in Christchurch.

We catch up with one of the victims of the recent Mobil oil spill in Tauranga Harbour - a little blue penguin named Mobil One

Tauranga model railway enthusiasts are close to finding a home after nearly 30 years being shunted around different locations in the city.

Tauranga documentary maker Joanne Rye-McGregor has produced a series of documentaries about new settlers in Tauranga, including Jamaican-born Javon Bark.

Hector Fitzsimons, a Bethlehem College student, has won himself a viola scholarship

Eight fire fighters stopped off in Te Puke as they continue to run from Bluff to Auckland to raise funds and awareness for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand

Footage taken from a helicopter flying over the tornado-torn parts of Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty.

29 Western Bay college students got the rare chance to watch a 33 kg Mako shark being dissected at the Waikato University's Coastal Marine Field Station at Sulphur Point yesterday. The opportunity was offered to the students by the University's House of Science director Chris Duggan.

Mt Maunganui Intermediate principal Lisa Morresey talks about the damage caused to the school after a mini tornado passed through the area.

A mini tornado extensively damaged homes, business and a sports stadium in Mt Maunganui about 8.45pm yesterday. Bay of Plenty Fire Service Area Commander Murray Binning said daylight should reveal the extent of the damage from the twister. Eight houses were left uninhabitable, but residents escaped injury.

Two RNZAF Iroquois helicopters fly veterans around the Bay of Plenty as part of a farewell tour by the helicopters before they are retired.

Tornadoes smashed through Mt Maunganui last night, damaging homes, ripping roofs from buildings and sending trampolines and outdoor furniture flying. ASB Baypark Stadium also lost parts of its grandstand roof. Firefighters responded to numerous calls about roofs being ripped of houses around Lodge Ave and Links Ave. Mount Maunganui Intermediate is closed after announcing that it had suffered "considerable damage".

The Royal New Zealand Air Force brought the Iroquois helicopters to the airport for show.

The last of New Zealand's Iroquois helicopters on show at Tauranga Airport.