Latest fromWhakatane
![Truck driver speaks after fatal SH2 crash: 'I had no time to react'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Truck driver speaks after fatal SH2 crash: 'I had no time to react'
The speedway legend says his leg is 'munted' and he's 'lucky' to still have his foot.
![Watch: Impressive plumes seen from Whakaari - but what's causing them?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Watch: Impressive plumes seen from Whakaari - but what's causing them?
Social media flooded with photos of the plumes taken from the Bay of Plenty coast.
![Whakaari owners want to grant scientists access](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Whakaari owners want to grant scientists access
'If they're not monitoring that risk, that's not fair. I don't care who owns it.'
!['Beast has been well behaved': Mayor writes to ministers over volcano concerns](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
'Beast has been well behaved': Mayor writes to ministers over volcano concerns
Lack of Whakaari/White Island monitoring increases ‘existential risk’.
![Freezing! Region's temperatures dip below zero under clear skies](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Freezing! Region's temperatures dip below zero under clear skies
Central North Island and BoP feel the pinch.
!['A Pandora’s box': Fears over toxic wood waste removal at harbour site](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
'A Pandora’s box': Fears over toxic wood waste removal at harbour site
One councillor believes 'it’s quite a frightening situation'.
!['Sad day': Michael Hill Jewellers' Whakatāne store to close due to high crime](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
'Sad day': Michael Hill Jewellers' Whakatāne store to close due to high crime
The store added extra security aids including fog cannons and additional security cameras.
![White Island Tours declares insolvency, liquidators appointed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
White Island Tours declares insolvency, liquidators appointed
Company struggled to raise money to pay a fine after eruption tragedy.
![Police deployed ahead of memorial ride year on from gang president's death](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Police deployed ahead of memorial ride year on from gang president's death
A number of gang members are expected to attend gathering in eastern Bay of Plenty.
![Three people taken to hospital after tractor and car collide](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Three people taken to hospital after tractor and car collide
The road was closed due to debris and an oil spill.
!['Struggling': Poverty worst in 60 years says school principal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
'Struggling': Poverty worst in 60 years says school principal
"We were poor. We didn’t have anything, but we were never poverty-stricken."
![25 minutes to escape: The need to prepare for megathrust quake and tsunami](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
25 minutes to escape: The need to prepare for megathrust quake and tsunami
'When we have a magnitude 9 earthquake the roading network will fail completely.'
![Big Lotto win for Taupō, BoP towns in the money](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Big Lotto win for Taupō, BoP towns in the money
Powerball was not struck and has rolled over to Saturday night.
!['I’m just stunned': Council concerned residents don’t know where to go in tsunami alert](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
'I’m just stunned': Council concerned residents don’t know where to go in tsunami alert
Many submissions mentioned 2021 tsunami alert that resulted in jammed streets.
![BoP residents wake to icy temps, Minister praises restraint amid grid crisis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
BoP residents wake to icy temps, Minister praises restraint amid grid crisis
The country’s grid operator Transpower issued a warning notice.
!['Kick in the guts': Tradies 'poaching' work from locals 'rife' amid slowdown](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
'Kick in the guts': Tradies 'poaching' work from locals 'rife' amid slowdown
'A high volume of tradies [are] jumping in the ute and trying to grab some of the work'
![Homeless in Whakatāne: ‘We’ve got nowhere to go’](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Homeless in Whakatāne: ‘We’ve got nowhere to go’
“We’ve got heaps of blankets, but it is getting cold at night.”
!['Winter-like surge': Temperatures drop in region, -4.4C on Desert Rd](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
'Winter-like surge': Temperatures drop in region, -4.4C on Desert Rd
Weather remains sunny but chilly,
![Watch: Dramatic smash and grab as jewellery store targeted in daylight raid](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Watch: Dramatic smash and grab as jewellery store targeted in daylight raid
Two people have been arrested and police are looking for two more.
![Seven crashes in three years at 100-year-old bridge](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
Seven crashes in three years at 100-year-old bridge
The real worry is that I’m going to ... find someone has died in a crash.'
![No fast tracking but optimism for marina outcome](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=800)
No fast tracking but optimism for marina outcome
And jobs will follow, developer says.