Latest from Bay of Plenty

Wild weather: 7000+ lightning strikes, 8C below average in places

Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of the North Island.

Person killed in crash between truck and car - holiday road toll rises to 11

Emergency services are at a serious crash on SH29, Lower Kaimai Ranges.

Tauranga shoplifters reaching for more 'valuable' items as numbers spike

New shoplifting figures show thefts are continuing to rise in the city.

Man dies at Omanawa Falls

Police called about 2.30pm after someone failed to return to their group.

'More I did right, the less chance I had': One mum's journey out of homelessness

'I feel like I've got my life back.'

Is displaying photos of alleged shoplifters in store wrong?

"If they want privacy they shouldn't do silly things," a local business owner says.

Woman charged over death of man in Kawerau

A woman has been charged with assaulting with a weapon.

Happy Booze Year: Majority of New Year's Eve arrests alcohol-related

Police happy with overall New Year behaviour, but locked up dozens of boozed revellers.

'A hell of a lot': Pensioners shocked by $25 a week rent rise

Retirees say they'll be forced to go without when their rent goes up next month.

Christmas tragedy: Attack puts 21-year-old in hospital

Ben Osborne almost missed Christmas with his family after he was attacked

Man missing since Christmas Day found alive in car wreck

Greg Shaw, 67, was last seen in Pāpāmoa on the morning of Christmas Day.

Sunny Sunday morning, then rain, hail, thunderstorms possible

The Bay of Plenty is the area at greatest risk of hail storms this afternoon.

Summer read: Tauranga built a $2.2m cycleway. Drivers turned it into a carpark

'Honestly, we have a major problem in Tauranga'.

Severe thunderstorms dump hail and cause flash flooding

A severe thunderstorm warning has now been issued for Gisborne and Wairoa.

Developer's downfall: Former clients tell of dreams destroyed

Retirement savings in ruin, a first-home dream destroyed.

Top 10 cricket grounds: Best places in NZ to watch cricket this summer

The top three picks might just surprise you.

Presents delivered, now time for a surf at the Mount

A Mount Maunganui resident chucked on Santa's get-up for his annual dress-up surf.

Local Focus: V8 Trike Tours to make up lost ground in Rotorua

'Cruise ship operation was 80 per cent of our income'. Made with funding from NZ On Air.