The big event in China on Thursday for the visiting Tauranga delegation is the re-signing of the Tauranga/Yantai sister cities relationship. The Tauranga delegation wrapped up at the Expo pavilion in Shanghai this week and flew to Yantai on Tuesday. Mayor Stuart Crosby says the China trip is proving beneficial. Yantai is about 800km north of Shanghai on the end of the Shandong Peninsula in the Yellow Sea. It's still hot, but not quite as humid, says Mayor Stuart Crosby. "It's clear More...

People can expect a new-look water rates invoice from Tauranga City Council this week. The purpose of the new design is to clearly report to the ratepayer information about water usage and how to be more water efficient. This format is to be built on and on the next water rates bill people will be able to see a comparison of their usage with other similar sized households. The council welcomes feedback on this new form and can be contacted on 577 7000. This information from Tauranga City More...

Tauranga City Councillor Greg Brownless says the council can more effectively help save water by examining how building consent costs and other compliance costs can be reduced for people installing rain water tanks. He was commenting on Environment Bay of Plenty's water sustainability strategy which begins, "Water is essential to life, it is a resource and a life source..." He says he doesn't need to be told that water is essential to life, just how to best make it More...

Not listening to the Tauranga Historic Villagers is costing the city council as much as $100,000, says village tenant Des Ferrow. At the council's strategy and policy committee meeting on Thursday, he told them that instead of playing a role as 'friends of the village' tenants can do more - they can save the council about $100,000 a year in running costs, if they are allowed to. His main comment on the council's draft report on the historic village is that the council has lost sight of the More...

Friday is Tauranga Day in Shanghai, meaning the Tauranga delegation attending the World Expo will be attending mayoral luncheons and dinners with Chinese delegates. On Thursday Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby was starting out on his first full day in Shanghai - and looking forward to the Chinese launch of the Tauranga designed search engine Pingar, which includes a mayoral function at the New Zealand pavilion. The pavilion at the World Trade Expo. He was also backing Opotiki Mayor John Forbes More...

An argument that children and young people who observe civilised drinking behaviour are likely to imitate it in later life, failed to persuade the Tauranga City Council summer event subcommittee that a combined Sand Bar and childcare venue is a good idea. Sand Bar advocates Lise Mackie and Amy Thaler from YMCA and Clayton Mitchell. The attempt to revive the popular beach bar by Sand Bar managing director Clayton Mitchell, Tauranga YMCA CEO Amy Thaler and operations manager Lise Mackie More...

Sand Bar operator Clayton Mitchell and YMCA Tauranga CEO Amy Thaler have asked a Tauranga City Council committee to offer them a joint permit to operate at the foot of Mount Drury this summer. At Wednesday morning's committee meeting they proposed sharing the venue between Christmas and New Years. The Sand Bar has proved a popular holiday spot in summers gone by. This would entail the Sand Bar operating as licensed premises with two YMCA operated areas attached. The first area would be More...

Road works are set to continue in Willow Street this week. While the work is underway, Willow Street is closed to traffic between Hamilton and Wharf Streets. Masonic Park car park is also closed. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. Businesses on this section of Willow Street are open as usual. This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin, for the week beginning, Monday, July 19 published below. See video below of how kerbing is made. Footage sent in to Sun More...

The Local Government Commission is reminding the public that it has just over one week until the deadline for submissions closes on the proposal for authority over Waihi Beach to shift to Hauraki District Council from Western Bay of Plenty District Council. To date, the commission has received 40 submissions. The closing date is Tuesday, July 27. File More...

A large crowd turned out to a meeting in Tauranga to hear more information if they want to stand in the local government elections later this year. Tauranga's deputy electoral officer, Yvonne Tatton, says 33 people attended the meeting held at Tauranga City Council on Thursday. Among those at the meeting was former TV One weather man, Brendan Horan, Matua Residents' Association president Richard Kluit, Historic Village Radio's Bonnie Leonard and Safer Cities coordinator Mike Mills. More...