Latest fromBay of Plenty

Claire Trevett: Coming soon - Simon Bridges 2: back in the hot seat
When your party falls to its worst result in 20 years, a coup is not "panic" - it is CPR.

Worth the risk? Experts predict Auckland's lockdown exit
Is it worth risking cases going back up if it means ending lockdown?

'Test immediately': Businesses outside Auckland linked to Covid case
A bakery in Mt Maunganui and a petrol station in Tauranga were visited by a Covid case.

Local Focus: Kia kaha te Wiki o te reo Māori
Rotorua is at the forefront of reo Māori integration. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

'It was like an investment': Anaru Palmer shares his te reo Māori journey
Anaru Palmer says those keen to learn te reo Māori should "give it everything".

'Enough's enough': Aucklanders in lockdown eye Tauranga properties
REINZ: Tauranga has reached yet another record median house price of $970,000

'If you're that ballsy, then front up': Māori flag designer
Linda Munn was absolutely disgusted someone complained a Rotorua kuia was flying her flag.

Te Pāti Māori petitions to reinstate names - what's the Bay's?
The petition calls for towns, cities, places and the country's names to be restored.

Te Rawhitiroa Bosch: 'With another language comes another worldview'
Te Rawhitiroa says his life would be 'pretty vanilla' if te reo Māori wasn't a part of it.

Our first level 2 prosecution: Man refuses to wear face mask
The man allegedly refused to wear a mask or leave the mall, prompting police intervention.

Shock and awww: Mum had no idea she was pregnant until baby arrived
Karla Akuhata thought she was having period pain. Then her baby's head popped out.

'They call me the miracle guy': Mr Whippy beats rare kidney disease
"For some strange reason, the kidneys decided to work again."

'This is my home': Whakatāne resident 'Crazzy Horse' keen to keep living in driftwood house
Man, 67, lives in a driftwood structure at the head of the Whakatāne River.

Commissioners' plea: Housing shortfall a challenge too big to face alone
Tauranga City Council's commissioners have pleaded to the Government for help.

Mask or pass? Students decide as schools return
Face-to-face learning at schools and early childhood centres is under way in the Bay.

Damages reduced to $12m against grower who smuggled kiwifruit into China
Billions of dollars of future exports at risk by the actions of a Bay of Plenty grower.

Cat curfew? Ban proposed as dead sea birds pile up
The Western Bay Wildlife Trust is urging people to keep their cats inside at night.

Man set son on fire, admits attempted murder charge
A Bowentown father has admitted attempting to murder his son after setting him on fire.

'Paralysed' until level 2: Businesses hopeful for alert level change
The announcement will be made at 4pm today.

'Difficult and upsetting': Delta outbreak changes funeral landscape
Funerals and tangi can go ahead under alert level 3 but there are tight restrictions

Local Focus: Rotorua cafes and takeaways welcoming level 3 with gusto
Move to level 3 includes fear of another MIQ in Rotorua. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Another ram-raid at Whakatāne Michael Hill Jewellers
Police found the vehicle of interest a short time later.

Rubbish dumpers' mess cost ratepayers thousands
Disposal costs for dumped rubbish is costing Bay ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars.

Persistent ash emission from Whakaari/White Island volcano
Ash emission has been occurring at the volcano since early this morning, Geonet says.

'Appalling and disgusting': Officers bitten, spat on, pinned by throat in moving car
A Tauranga man bit a police officer, pinned him by his throat and spat at police.

Council pleads guilty to discharging harmful substance
The district council pleaded guilty and faces a maximum fine of $600,000.

'Rest in love': Vigil held after Rotorua child's death
'There was a heaviness over the whole town,' a neighbour says.

Local Focus: How this lockdown is impacting differently than before
Rotorua Canopy Tours has been impacted by Covid again. Made with funding from NZ On Air.