Latest FromRDP - Whakatane regional news
![Light plane crash in Bay of Plenty](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Light plane crash in Bay of Plenty
A light plane has crashed in Pukehina, Bay of Plenty. Police said the aircraft hit the ground and rolled.
![Sarah Walker's Olympic dream over](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Sarah Walker's Olympic dream over
A crash in practice has put an end to Sarah Walker's hopes of qualifying for the Rio Olympics.
![Moko 'locked in bathroom for two weeks'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Moko 'locked in bathroom for two weeks'
The mother of a 3-year-old boy who died after torturous beatings at the hands of his caregivers has spoken out about her son's death.
![IVF 'guinea pig': I nearly died](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
IVF 'guinea pig': I nearly died
Sandra Crashley claims IVF pioneer Patrick Steptoe experimented on her and without consent "took half of my ovaries".
![Car stolen with toddler inside, police say](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Car stolen with toddler inside, police say
A toddler has been reunited with its caregiver after it was inside a car stolen in the Bay of Plenty.
![Call for protests after death](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Call for protests after death
The Sensible Sentencing Trust, "outraged" by the manslaughter charges faced by Moko Rangitoheriri's killers, are calling for people to protest.
![White Island erupts overnight](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
White Island erupts overnight
The eruption on the volcanic island appears to have deposited material over north side of the crater floor.
![Crash victim was on trial for sex offences](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Crash victim was on trial for sex offences
A former Whakatane man has died in a motorcycle crash while in the middle of a High Court trial where he faced 49 sex offence charges relating to young girls.
![Underage teen sex case that rocked town](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Underage teen sex case that rocked town
Teen sex is again in the spotlight after a group of boys were spared convictions for sex with underage girls. Some say they should never have been charged.
![Judge: 'We all make mistakes'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Judge: 'We all make mistakes'
A judge has described the behaviour of a group of young men who had sex with underage girls as "human nature" and said the law may need to be revisited.
![No convictions for underage sex](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
No convictions for underage sex
Five men charged with unlawful sexual connection with girls aged between 14 and 15 have been spared convictions.
![Armed siege: Accused pleads not guilty](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Armed siege: Accused pleads not guilty
The man alleged to be at the centre of an armed stand-off with police at Onepu near Kawerau earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
![Teen died in fire after falling asleep while cooking](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Teen died in fire after falling asleep while cooking
Teenager who tragically died in a house fire last week missed celebrating his 20th birthday by three days.
![Plucked from mall for NY Fashion Week](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Plucked from mall for NY Fashion Week
In just two weeks Makeda Soper-Wirangi went from working at her local mall to walking in fashion's biggest shows.
![Twelve questions: Laughton Kora](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Twelve questions: Laughton Kora
Laughton Kora is one of four brothers in the band Kora, he sang on Dotcom's album, acted in Coverband, and this week is in the Auckland Arts Festival
![Watch: Walker's heartbreaking crash](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Watch: Walker's heartbreaking crash
Silver medallist's Olympic campaign has been delivered another devastating setback after training crash results in double fracture.
![Fisherman impaled by marlin](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Fisherman impaled by marlin
A fisherman has been flown to Whakatane Hospital after being impaled by a marlin's bill.
![Arrests likely after office attacked](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Arrests likely after office attacked
An attempt to firebomb Social Development Minister Anne Tolley's office to protest the TPP is likely to result in arrests, she says.
![Boy thrown from blaze boat](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Boy thrown from blaze boat
Eight-year-old Felix Swane said he wasn't scared but he was "very, very cold".
![Boat owners devastated by fire](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Boat owners devastated by fire
Whakatane is gathering around the Taits whose passenger boat went up in flames on Monday afternoon.
![Passengers took to rubber duckies to escape](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Passengers took to rubber duckies to escape
A witness who saw the ferry on fire off the coast of Whakatane said everybody got to shore safely.
![Kawerau model: I'm a total foodie](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Kawerau model: I'm a total foodie
International model Danielle Hayes isn't bothered by comments made over her "too thin" frame.