Whakatāne District Council has voted unanimously to proceed with chip sealing Ōhope’s Waterways subdivision this summer, overriding resident objections to retain smooth asphalt streets, according to a report presented by transportation manager Ann-Elise Reynolds. The decision follows a push from 17 local homeowners who signed an open letter in February asking the council to investigate … Read more
Sixteen people have been arrested following a joint police and immigration operation that shut down 14 active cannabis grow houses across Rotorua, according to authorities. Bay of Plenty Field Crime Manager Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow stated that the multi-agency sting removed up to $6.5 million worth of cannabis from the black market. Operation Harvey Execution … Read more
A Narrow Escape on Domain Rd A Bay of Plenty father was forced to dive out of the way of a reversing vehicle after a road rage confrontation on Domain Rd in Pāpāmoa Beach yesterday afternoon. Police arrived at the scene shortly after 2pm on Tuesday to investigate reports of a dispute between road users … Read more
Tauranga City Council has completed repairs on the Mauao summit Motukauri 4WD track following severe weather in January, though a reopening timeline remains unconfirmed. Recovery manager Charlie Rahiri stated that restoration work has now shifted to the base track, Te Ara Tūtanga, as the council manages the complex, high-hazard environment created by 42 separate landslides … Read more
Whakatāne District Council recently discovered non-biodegradable items—including a Tana Umaga book, nappies, and a bike helmet—inside kerbside greenwaste bins. This contamination prevents the composting of organic material, increases operational costs, and can force entire loads into landfills, ultimately impacting local ratepayers. Why is greenwaste contamination a problem for local councils? Greenwaste is collected specifically to … Read more
Whakatōhea Mussels has been fined $135,000 for unlawfully discharging inadequately treated wastewater into an Ōpōtiki drain, causing a months-long odour crisis. The company pleaded guilty to three charges brought by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council after 79 complaints were lodged between January and March 2025. CEO Peter Vitasovich confirmed the firm has since upgraded … Read more
A Coromandel Peninsula couple secured a $4.5 million Lotto windfall this June after purchasing a ticket at Paper Power in Thames. The prize, consisting of $4 million from Powerball first division and $500,000 from Lotto first division, has prompted the winner to announce his immediate retirement. According to the winners, who have chosen to remain … Read more
New Zealand startup Materially Kiwi is in preliminary talks with automotive giants BMW, Rolls Royce, and Volkswagen to integrate its plant-based leather alternative into vehicle interiors. Founded by Shelley Houston, the company processes rejected kiwifruit—fruit deemed too imperfect for export—into a durable, plastic-free biomaterial. Currently, 80 national and international brands are pursuing partnerships with the … Read more
Health New Zealand has proposed a restructure of hospitals across the Central North Island that the Public Service Association (PSA) says will result in a net loss of 17 positions. The plan involves disestablishing 96 active roles and 30 vacant ones, while creating 108 new positions across Waikato, Tairāwhiti, Taranaki, and the Bay of Plenty. … Read more
Police have issued a fresh appeal for information regarding the death of Melissa Jones, a 25-year-old Rotorua mother whose body was discovered on the shorefront of Lake Rotorua on October 18, 2019. Nearly seven years after she was last seen, investigators remain focused on the unexplained case and are seeking public assistance to identify what … Read more