Latest fromTauranga

Dreading the return to work? Meet the Kiwis who escaped the rat race
Every year a bunch of New Zealanders will take a radical work leap to change their lives.

Local Focus: Bay Groms helping kids get surf smart
Three local dads are 'wicked role models'. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Water polo Olympian makes waves
Olympian and professional water polo player Joe Kayes brought his talents to Tauranga.

'We need to act now': Taskforce to tackle poverty, housing
Plan comes as solo dad and son, 5, spend a second Christmas living in a tent in city park.

Bay Dreams carnage: Footage of brawl emerges
Video of a violent brawl emerges on social media.

'Nasty little drug' not seen by New Year drug testers
"We've had not seen anywhere near as much n-ethylpentylone as we were expecting to see."

Sold out Bay Dreams festival kicks off
Bay Dreams festival-goers are streaming into Baypark.

Rap star to play Bay festival after Immigration ban lifted
Immigration clears US star to play at festival after reviewing 5 year old ban

Police investigate death near Waihī Beach after brawl reported
Police attended reports of disorder in Bowentown shortly before 1am.

Top baby names of the past 120 years
The most popular baby names in New Zealand over the past 120 years.

353 people killed on our roads in 2019. NZ's most lethal stretches revealed
The road toll rose today when a man died in hospital after a Kaimai truck crash.

Boy, 12, saves men from rip at the Mount: 'He just kept a level head'
Freddie Mitchell saved two people from a rip at the Mount.

New Year's Eve weather: Clear skies and a balmy night for revellers
Those at some popular holiday spots can welcome in the New Year with clear skies.

Building consents: Tauranga's top five 2019 builds
The first stage of the new Mainfreight facility was approved in January 2019.

Four saved in dramatic Maketū water rescue
"I had a quick look out the window and could see four heads floating."

White Island eruption: Rāhui officially lifted
The temporary ritual prohibition was lifted at 1pm today.

Sunny weather to ring in the New Year
Most of the main centres look set to ring in 2020 with fine, mild weather.

Funeral for Whakatāne Hospital ICU nurse delayed
A funeral service for Whakatāne ICU nurse killed in a crash has been put on hold.

Cemetery Circuit hometown heroes
Whanganui has proven a breeding ground for talented motorcycle racers over many years.

International racers gear up for Baypark Speedway
Baypark Speedway is hosting a round of the International Midget Car Series.

What happened next: Peter Oakes, the 57-year-old Kiwi bloke learning to swim
He's breaking down any and all stigmas that exist around learning to swim as an adult.

Local Focus: Making new friends thanks to Alzheimer’s Tauranga
Fancy cheering up someone's week? Alzheimer’s Tauranga is looking for new volunteers. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Crowned! Tauranga's biggest house sales of 2019 revealed
It has been a hot start to the summer for Tauranga's property market

Christmas Day baby 'the best present'
One mum was lucky enough to fit in Christmas dinner before giving birth.

'Mayhem' Boxing Day sales for Tauranga
Shops were packed to the brim with bargain hunters in the Boxing Day sales yesterday.

New Year's Eve weather: Outlook good for summer-starved Kiwis
It'll be a dry - weather-wise at least - welcome into 2020 for most.

What happened next: Man's life after breast cancer scare
The surgery left the Pāpāmoa resident with "Zorro"-like scars.

Ria Hall's gruelling Christmas day in hospital
Ria Hall was a New Zealand recording artist and a presenter on Maori TV's AIA Marae DIY.