Tauranga motorists spent Wednesday afternoon rushing to a select group of petrol stations, which had not yet raised fuel prices. Staff at the Gull Service Station on Hewletts Road in Mount Maunganui say they were inundated with motorists fuelling up from about midday. Gull Hewletts Road at 4pm on Wednesday. A litre of 91 unleaded has increased to $1.83 a litre and to $1.16 for diesel, the largest increase in 18 months. The Automobile Association has described the hike as an More...

Bay of Plenty small to medium sized companies are driving the growth in the Bay of Plenty’s economy, says the chairman of the Bay of Plenty branch of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. “There’s a lot of growth happening in the Bay of Plenty and SMEs are driving that, which is a very very special feature of the Bay of Plenty,” says branch chairman Will Wilson. Bay of Plenty branch of the New Zealand Institute of Directors chairman Will Wilson. The Bay of More...

Western Bay of Plenty marae are being earmarked as possible emergency centres during major disasters. Civil Defence operations manager for Tauranga and the Western Bay, Alan Pearce, says informal discussions with a number of marae in the region have taken place. “If there is a major disaster and people can’t return to their homes, we have the responsibility to provide them with accommodation.” Whareroa Marae. He says marae are already well set up, have the capacity to More...

Deepening shipping channels at the Port of Tauranga is essential to maintaining the Bay of Plenty’s competitive edge, says economic development agency Priority One CEO Andrew Coker. The Port of Tauranga is currently in a consent hearing with Environment BOP to gain permission to do the digging necessary to allow access for bigger ships. Andrew spoke at the hearing held in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday, where he explained the port is New Zealand’s largest export gateway. Economic More...

A 39 year old woman from the Avenues in Tauranga was arrested a midnight and charged with intentional damage and endangering transport. The incident occurred at Papamoa Grove Caravan Park on Papamoa Beach Road. Police say the woman damaged her boyfriend's caravan and vehicle. She will appear in Tauranga District Court next Wednesday. • At 2.50am on Wednesday morning, a 21 year old man from 15th Avenue was arrested at the Tauranga Police Station and charged with driving with an More...

Young people who have taken to assembling and drinking in Papamoa Domain are likely to be locked out at nights. Tauranga City Council is asking staff to do this after hearing from Papamoa police about what goes on there. Police are concerned that unless something is done about the alcohol, broken glass and fighting which happens there, there is a high possibility someone will be seriously injured or killed in the domain, says Councillor Wayne Moultrie. Papamoa Domain may be locked up at More...

The public will have their chance to comment on the Tauranga City Council’s proposal to increase rates by 35 per cent over three years later this month. Out for consultation on March 22, the city’s annual plan proposes to increase the average rate by more than $500 – taking it from $1372 to $1912. Tauranga City Councillor Rick Currach wants better information about proposed rates rises mailed to the public. The council proposes to do this by $150 increases this year and More...

Paengaroa based company Comvita has forged a $6 million deal with US company Derma Sciences. The deal will give Derma Sciences the exclusive rights of the professional and medical market for medi-honey wound care and skincare products. Comvita receives a royalty and exclusive rights to the ‘over the counter’ market, including pharmacies and health shops. The deal also gives Comvita a 10 per cent stake in Derma Sciences and a seat on its board More...

A change to the time when restaurants on The Strand have to move their outdoor furniture is being sought by Tauranga City Councillors Bill Grainger and Murray Guy. The dining to drinking change over presently happens at about 4pm – a time many restaurants find is losing them customers. Bill and Murray on The Strand. Some bar owners want the change to occur at 9pm to take advantage of the natural business lull that occurs at that time. This is when they say the diners leave and is More...

Tauranga City Councillor Bill Grainger is set to take the place of councillor Hayden Evans on the joint road safety committee. Hayden resigned last week after pressure was brought to bear by councillor Mike Baker on his continuing membership of that committee following his conviction on a drink drive charge. Hayden says he resigned because he did not want politics to interfere with the effective functioning of the committee and its focus on road safety issues. The city council voted for More...