Sun Media rocked onto the local publishing scene in 2000 with a free weekly paper The Weekend Sun, Coast & Country and incorporating the Bay’s boating and fishing mag Waterline.

Created by partners in business and life, Claire and Brian Rogers, Sun Media filled a much needed gap for a lively, Bay owned and operated “local” paper. The couple brought huge experience into their new venture, having both had careers in newspapers, magazines and publishing. Supported by a skilled and friendly staff, Sun Media found immediate success.

The Weekend Sun set out to be different from the start, with bright, bold and brash editorial with outstanding advertising and graphic design. The community quickly embraced The Weekend Sun as its own, recognising not only the importance of excellent content, unrivalled coverage to every mailbox – but also its friendly, Bay-born-and-bred team, with its heart in the region.

Business flourished for advertisers with the excellent response to their promotions and The Weekend Sun quickly emerged as the leading source of weekend action and entertainment, stuff to do, places to be, things to see, plus a lively selection of columnists telling it how it is.

Coast & Country is now the Bay and Waikato’s leading rural publication, providing a vital news link for farmers, orchardists and lifestylers, with their country supply companies, contractors and rural service industries.

Waterline Magazine, now in its tenth year, is the Bay’s only specialist boating, fishing and watersports mag, and doubles as the much-treasured news magazine of the region’s boating and fishing clubs.

Today Sun Media is thriving, based in a beautiful historic building located at 1 The Strand, Tauranga. Sun Media also has a specialist graphic design division which produces fantastic visual productions, ranging from business cards to websites, to complete company corporate imaging. Dedicated to customer service, top results and growing relationships, Sun Media will make sure your business thrives.

For more information call us at Sun Media, 07-578 0030.

The SunLive Website, the only page you need to find out what’s going on in the Bay!

Journalists

Edward Scragg is SunLive’s news editor. He has a Graduate Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts (history major) from the University of Canterbury. He worked for Mediaworks before joining the Sun Media team in 2009, where he now coordinates and writes for SunLive. He is also the sub editor for Sun Media’s other publications. Edward is the site moderator and liaison for all contributors: journalists, bloggers, photographers and people writing comments. Edward has a broad interest in news, but mainly follows economy, politics and sport.

Andrew Campbell has extensive daily print and radio news journalism experience, having worked for The Dominion Post, Radio New Zealand, Sydney’s 2GB radio and in the Bay for more than 20 years. He joined Sun Media in 2007. Andrew focuses on writing for SunLive and has a particular interest in issues affecting residents within Tauranga City Council boundaries. He also writes for The Weekend Sun, Waterline and Coast & Country. He has a Commonwealth Press Union Diploma in Journalism from Wellington Polytechnic.

Letitia Atkinson has worked in the media industry since she was 15-years-old. She has worked in both radio and print and is now branching out into online journalism. She focuses on writing for SunLive, covering the emergency services – police, fire, ambulance. Letitia also writes for The Weekend Sun and Coast and Country.

Phillipa Yalden originally joined Sun Media as a Journalist in 2005 after completing a Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Political Science) from Victoria University. Phillipa spent four years overseas working in communications and publishing in the United Kingdom and Australia before returning to Sun Media in 2011. Phillipa coordinates and writes for SunLive while also contributing to The Weekend Sun and Coast and Country.

Laura Weaser is assistant editor of The Weekend Sun. She co-ordinates and writes for The Weekend Sun, as well as SunLive on the weekends. Laura joined Sun Media in 2010, after graduating from University of Canterbury with a Graduate Diploma in Journalism. Before that, she studied at Otago, gradating with an honours degree in Communication Studies and English. Her speciality is entertainment journalism, with her career highlight so far being an interview with ‘The Hoff’.

Regular Columnists

Bill Faulkner
Tidbits from City Hall with Cr. Bill Faulkner.

Claire Rogers All about wine
Every week I have the unenviable task of sampling a wine with a wine representative in order to bring you a cross section of wine to suit all prices and tastes in an easily digestible format a tough assignment, I know).

Brian Rogers Director of SunMedia Ltd.
Sun Media editor and director Brian Rogers enjoys a life on the water at the weekends and in any spare time he can find. Brian is a harbour warden and member of Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club.

Dr Michael Morris Animal Welfare Writer
Dr Michael Morris has a PhD in zoology from the University of Auckland. He is presently teaching degree courses in environmental management at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

Andrew Nimick Technology Consultant
Andrew is an independent technology consultant whose focus is what technology can do for business and finding the best tools for the job.

Llorne Howell Sports Blogger
Former cricket international for the Black Caps, Llorne Howell, gives his views on New Zealand’s number one summer sport, both for the Bay and the national team.

Sideline Sid Sports Blogger
Sideline Sid is a local sport fanatic. Not only is he a classic rugby bloke but he has views, opinions and knowledge on all sports played in the Bay of Plenty.

Pete Morris Art Blogger
Pete is an occasional painter and an art lover. He is a freelance writer with a particular interest in promoting the visual arts in Tauranga.

John Arts Natural Health Researcher
John Arts is a natural health commentator, researcher and supplement formulator. If you have questions or would like a free health plan you can contact John on 0800 423559 or join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz.

Dawn Kiddie J.P, Marriage Celebrant & ’Foodie’
Dawn hopes her passion and creative flare in the kitchen leads you to try these recipes – some new, some traditional and some all time favourites.

Luis Moresco Personal Fitness Trainer
Luis’ passion is to help people achieve their goals through hard work and determination. He has a degree in Physical Education and a diploma in Personal Fitness, RPM, Spin, Aqua and Group Fitness. “Don’t limit your challenge, Challenge your limit”

Brian Berry Finance News Blogger
Brian is an investment adviser for Rothbury based in Tauranga. He writes about financial news, including analysis of Reserve Bank decisions and other market movements.

Dennis McMahon Property Blogger
Dennis is a commercial property specialist based in Tauranga. His business, McMahon Commercial opened in 2006 and grew out of the perceived need to have a professional, boutique agency arm and specialises in the sale of titles in the syndicated properties as well as specific commercial projects.