The Christmas season is alive and well in Tauranga with a swag of festive events planned for the next few weeks, beginning this weekend with the first of the region's Santa parades in Papamoa. It's superhero themed and these kids are getting ready with their costumes!

The Special Housing Area in Omokoroa was officially launched with a ribbon cutting, speeches and blessing. When completed it would have 240 affordable homes available for purchase.

Trish Rae from Waipuna Hospice and Rose Sievers from Farmers talk about remembrance trees, a way to raise money for much-needed hospice services.

Ross Stanway is set to retire after a stellar career in real estate.

Edna Lennane turns 100 today and she's still going strong.

A group of seven young karate exponents have finally achieved the ultimate in the martial art - achieving their black belts.

Police have swooped on Greerton, Tauranga, today after a robbery of the Greerton Liquor store. Officers were busy talking with victims inside while others searched the streets for the offender.

Three teens have done their bit for the community by helping wrap presents for the children of the Tauranga Community Foodbank clients.

The Tauranga Sunshine Dance Club have kept sequence dancing alive and well in the Bay for 25 yeras. We caught up with the club to tango.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate principal Lisa Morresey is urging parents to discuss cyber safety with their children.

A female cyclist has been killed in a crash involving a truck at the Sulphur Point on ramp to the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.

The Celebrity Solstice cruised into the Tauranga Harbour today, being the first cruise ship to dock overnight at Mount Maunganui.

Tauranga man Brett Morrison pays tribute to his late wife Sarah with by installing a beachside picnic table, after a little bit of divine influence.

Biosecurity at the Port of Tauranga was highlighted as part of an awareness week using sniffer dogs including beagle Lilly in public demonstrations of their skills.

Fourteen sheep were killed in a dog attack, with the owner describing the scene as being "like a nightmare". The sheep were killed at their Brookfield home and discovered by their horrified owners.

NZ First leader Winston Peters visited the Western Bay of Plenty, picking on one of the community's hottest debates - the Katikati bypass proposal.

The race was on at Omokoroa No 1 School mower race day and gala event, with lawn mowers prepped and primed to take the ultimate glory. We were there to capture the action.

Tauranga couple Alla and Mark Kirkham are still reeling from experiencing the 7.8 Kaikoura quake and say they are hugely relieved to have finally made it to safety.

We visit the Tauranga Community Foodbank to find out what goes into an average parcel and discover it's more than just bread, sugar and butter. Bring on the fresh avocados, salad, spreads and breads.

A glimpse into the driverless car that took on the Tauranga Eastern Link today. Minister of Transport Simon Bridges is buckled up in the back.

Car maker Volvo and NZTA are set to carry out New Zealand's first public road demonstration of an automated vehicle in normal traffic conditions on a 15-kilometre stretch of road in Tauranga today. We get a sneak peak of a car before it hits the roads.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges will never forget the shaking of aftershocks or seeing firsthand the immense damage caused by the South Island's earthquake this week.

Ken Evans, whose son Grant was killed by a drink driver, is calling for harsher punishments for those caught driving drunk.

New Zealand's major transport conference, TRAFINZ, kicked off in Tauranga this week and highlighted an uncertain future.

Omokoroa No 1 School Gala and Mower Race Day mums Liz Wilde and Ange Batt get busy ahead of their event, which is one of several that helps fill the 'winter slump' ahead of the Bay's busy summer season.

Tauranga City councillor Steve Morris has filed a notice of motion for tsunami sirens under urgency as pressure mounts following Monday's tsunami scare.