John is a senior reporter at the Bay of Plenty Times
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Horseback protest against Bay harbour ban
Nearly 2000 signatures have been collected for a petition to keep Tuapiro horse-friendly.
Urban-rural battle looming among councillors
The regional council's representation review shows an emerging urban/rural split.
Tauranga long-line fishing bylaw challenged
Proposed new powers to control long-line fishing have been challenged.
Dog finds seal's bark worse than his bite
Face-off between seal and dog ends with win for seal in Tauranga marina.
Tauranga dog owners hooked on agility
Tux Wonder Dogs helped build interest in Tauranga dog agility club
Uni's Sulphur Point bid stirs opposition
Strong opposition has emerged to the preferred site for a university research centre.
Environment Court supports fishing ban on Astrolabe Reef
Three more marine reserves are proposed for the Bay of Plenty following a court appeal.
Sewage overflows blamed for swimming caution
Tauranga's Pilot Bay has received a surprise caution for swimming water quality.
Anger at hearing on road priorities
Deep frustration with roading priorities has emerged in hearings taking place this week.
High avocado prices predicted to drop with big crop
The avocado industry is booming, with a two-year waiting list for nursery orchard trees.
Farmers fear impacts of water limits
Interim measures to manage water in the Bay has drawn criticism from farmers.
New disease strain unleashed against rabbits
A new virus is to be introduced to kill rabbits, 21 years after the first illegal release.
New legal bid to remove Rena wreck off reef
Hapu have gone to the High Court to get the wreckage of the Rena off Astrolabe Reef.
Water contamination lessons being learned
Havelock North's water crisis has opened a Pandora's box of changes for water suppliers.
Migrant families lap up Tauranga A&P Show
The sun came out for one of the most successful Tauranga A&P shows in recent years.
Cowboy challenge comes to A&P Show
Cowboys and strongmen will add a lot of interest to this year's Tauranga A&P Show.
Myrtle rust marching towards Katikati
Myrtle rust is strongly suspected to be have found near Aongatete.
Barge set to disappear from Hunters Creek
A WWII barge that's been all washed up for about 45 years is poised for removal.
Solar energy park could power up Tauranga
A former Tauranga resident has returned with ideas to build a solar energy park.
Kiwifruit portside storage gets $11m boost
New storage at the port will keep pace with the Bay's booming kiwifruit industry.
Club of the week: Old cars spark passions
The Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club offers a lot more than tinkering with old vehicles.
Winery scouts for new front-of-house
Urban sprawl has been blamed for Mills Reef being squeezed off its Moffat Rd site.
Call for action to change attitudes to trees
A tree education and support group has been proposed for Tauranga by a former councillor.
Wet conditions raise Psa concerns
Conditions favourable to spread of Psa makes kiwifruit growers nervous.
$40m fund would help rid Mauao of predators
Eradicating rats, stoats and possums from Mauao and Kopurererua Valley ideal projects.
Fingers crossed that vulnerable Tauranga pipeline is fixed
Water supplies will be restored to Mount Maunganui provided no more problems are found.
Dreary winter on lifestylers' block ends with birth of triplets
Triplet lambs hold the promise of improving weather raising people's spirits.
Four-lane highway planned from Tauranga to Katikati
Growth pressures have fast tracked plans to boost road safety from Tauranga to Katikati.
Home brewer's ale tickles judges tastebuds
Eight years refining home brew skills rewarded for Tauranga beer maker.
Port of Tauranga named biosecurity hero
The Port of Tauranga has been honoured for helping to keep pests out of New Zealand
Controversial tree saved from chop
A street tree described as being part of an historic treescape has been saved from felling
Growers speak out over avocado thefts
The all-seeing eye of Google Earth helps thieves pin-point likely avocado orchards.
World-class marine research centre planned
Council takes next step towards getting world-class Waikato University research institute.
High Court closes door on council fishing powers
A Motiti Island's trust victory in court has been undone buy a High Court appeal
$2m to fix track on Mauao
Mauao base track to be rebuilt on harbour side to avoid unstable relic slip.
Huge growth forecasts for kiwifruit industry
Everything is looking up for the Bay's signature international crop, kiwifruit.
Tauranga salt exporter wins top prize
Tauranga company edged out strong competition to become the Bay's top exporter this year.
Battle to fell 70-year-old street tree
An application to remove a tree in Pillans Point has sparked support and opposition
Trip shortened and road made safer with new expressway
Simon Bridges has announced route for new $100m shortcut to Hamilton
Welcome Bay home destroyed in blaze
No hope of saving family homestead from being engulfed in flames
Race to save horse from tide
Bay brigade volunteers faced numerous testing scenarios in a few short hours.
Extra $1m block for heritage park
More than $1m has been spent on a 25ha site next to Papamoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park.
Row erupts at over eroding creek
A long-established Waihi Beach family is fighting a rear-guard action to secure compensation for the loss of property needed to build
Poison plans believed to have beaten Aussie invasion
Poisoning has knocked back and possibly eliminated a colony of wallabies breeding on the doorstep of Tauranga. Dama wallabies, little
Farmers and orchardists bracing for The Big Dry
Orchardists and dairy farmers are looking for a decent drenching to break what is shaping up to be a damaging long dry spell for the
Tauranga grabs Aussie exports destined for Asia
Port of Tauranga's new megaship service was expected to boost containers handled by the port to a record-breaking total of more than one million.
Fresh fields lure talented musician
One of the mainstays of Tauranga's music scene, rhythm and blues exponent Graham Clark, is quitting his mortgage and shifting to Hawke's
Marauding dog kills 28 sheep in eight days
The death toll from a marauding dog has reached 28 sheep in eight days, with Tauranga City Council mounting extra patrols and offering dog traps to concerned residents.
Memories stirred by last get-together in community hall
A community hall that has served as Te Puna's focal point for 94 years was given a final farewell on Saturday by those who had loved