Tauranga St John Ambulance staff  say a woman who escaped with only minor injuries after being struck by a car, is extremely lucky. The 27 year old was walking along Pyes Pa Road near Kennedy Road at 10.45pm on Saturday when it is believed she was hit by a passing car. The section of State Highway 36 has a 100kmh speed limit. She was taken to Tauranga hospital. At Maketu at 5.30pm on Saturday two teenagers, one pregnant,  suffered minor to moderate injuries after their car went More...

Welcome Bay's mangroves are going to be permitted to grow for another season without facing the mulcher. The Environment BOP mulching programme has bitten off more than it can chew and the council this week admitted clearing mangroves is tougher than expected. Welcome bay mangroves are being left to grow. "A lot of progress had been made around Tauranga Harbour but it has taken longer than we expected due to the machine being slightly slower than we had anticipated, but also as More...

There's $9.5 million available for Rugby World Cup parties available to anyone who can think of a good way to spend it. The government announced the fund on Wednesday, saying the Lotteries fund is to support community events and activities for the Rugby World Cup 2011. Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says the fund will ensure some great ideas are brought to life. "The world cup is more than just the matches," says Simon, "we want to make sure our visitors get to see our country, More...

Otumoetai Football Club teams Angola and Croatia had a fun game on Saturday morning playing mini football at Ferguson Park. The Otumoetai Football Club runs its own round robin competition during term two and three of the school calendar; 208 children are involved comprising of 26 teams.  Kooper Smith from Angola is chased down the field by Oscar Porter from Croatia. Today’s player of the day was Kooper Smith from team Angola and from team Croatia Matthew More...

A Tauranga insurance broker is warning people they must read the fine print of their insurance agreements before trying to make money from renting their homes to foreigners during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Tauranga Insurance Services broker/ manager Keiran Vlietstra says many house insurance contracts won't cover damage caused by tenants unless explicitly stated. Tauranga Insurance Services broker/ manager Keiran Vlietstra is warning people rent their home during the 2011 Rugby World Cup More...

Two Tauranga teenagers, Courtney Tilby and Olivia Scott-Price, are hoping to gain the support of builders in their effort to build a house in the slums of Mexico. They have obtained a 20ft NZL Cube shipping container that they are auctioning off for a two month rental, with proceeds going towards their house-building trip. Cherie Hawkins from NZL and Kerri and Courtney Tilby.  "I know there are heaps of builders who would love to experience what I'm getting to experience" More...

A six month old Persian Chinchilla from Papamoa, called Ewok, is a finalist in New Zealand's Next Top Cat Model competition. "He is a spoiled brat but is extremely loveable," says his owner Nee Mackenzie. Ewok is hoping to become New Zealand's Next Top Cat Model. "Ewok thinks he is the alpha male in the house even though he is the only cat at home. He loves to play hide and seek. He hides under the couch and sticks out his paws. He's always ready to play and he loves to More...

Paengaroa honey products marketer Comvita produced a strong turnaround result of $5m after tax profit and a long awaited resumption of dividends totalling eight cents per share fully imputed for the year ended March 31. "We also reduced net borrowings from $30.3m to $11.5m from retained earnings, inventory reductions and the sale to Derma Sciences of the global rights to the Medihoney range to the professional market," says board chairman Neil Craig. Since 2005 the company has More...

More than 150 students on the He Ara Tika Youth Mentoring programme participated in a sports day at the Mount Action Centre on Friday. The Steamers had a great time mixing with the children and teenagers at Mount Action Centre on Friday. Described as their role models by programme coordinator Mike Borell, Bay of Plenty Steamers players made an appearance at the sports day despite training committments in preparation for the clash against Waikato on Saturday evening. Mike says the sports More...

Welcome Bay resident Paul Hignett has unveiled one of the Bay of Plenty's first solar arrays. He believes New Zealanders should be harnessing the sun's power to supply energy back to the national electricity grid. "Having your own solar power station could be a reality now," says Paul, an expert in sustainable energy and owner of PH Electric. Tauranga MP Simon Bridges at the launch of Paul's solar array. "With solar panels being reduced in price from $14 per watt to $5 More...