News HoundsAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz It's an exciting time to be a retriever, when the shooting season starts and we get a chance to answer our calling. Bred to fetch, I can chase and fetch all day. I've been practising with sticks and balls... Read More

Cr Bill FaulknerFaulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz Council finished hearing submissions to the draft annual/three year/10 year plan last week. Last week's column was written during the submissions and remainder of the submissions covered equally... Read More

John CroninBOP Regional Council Chairmanwww.boprc.govt.nz Local government is under pressure to limit rate rises; that is no surprise and absolutely what is needed. But at the same time, we the council have been listening to you the public, the... Read More

Ian McLeanSpokesperson for the Green Party National claims a mandate for asset sales as a result of its platform in the last election. The problem is only 15% of us actually support asset sales. Many voters who supported National are now searching... Read More

Brian AndersonThe Western Frontwww.sunlive.co.nz This has been the week of submission hearings for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's Long Term Plan. Very few ratepayers have been able to read the 415 page document but 600 submitters... Read More

Andrew von DadelszenFormer Regional Councillor Reading through the submissions to our regional council Ten Year Plan I have been disappointed at the negativity to high rate increases without any suggestions for solutions. For me if the regional... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz There has been a lot of concern from the Western Bay district about the forecast increase in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's general rates for the district as signaled in the draft Regional... Read More

Biting Back in the Baywith Pinky Green Last week there was a recovery from the marked fish drop off the week before and the ‘no fish' in most of the inshore, middle area, and local fishers' spots. However last week, put off by the ‘no... Read More

Clever dogs and crazy peoplewith Wendy Graydon The Dog Trainer There are so many ways to train a dog. Just look on the internet under any heading you can dream up! Then think is it the right way and what works for my dog? Will it be easy to teach... Read More

Daz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz The recipe folder has some recipes that I have not used for years. One of the most used in all the cafes has been a carrot cake recipe. Carrots are famous for containing beta... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz For the next four weeks, Sideline Sid weekly piece is being written from the other side of the world, as Sid and Mrs Sid go on their big OE. We arrived at Heathrow Airport in London... Read More

Paula ThompsonBOP Regional Councillorwww.envbop.govt.nz The new wave of reform about to hit local Government is, in part, about local government doing things better for its communities with the public wealth it has. Most seem to be seeing this... Read More