Laura's screening with Laura Weaser Brother Number One. Out now in selected cinemas. Directed by Annie Goldson. Bookended by a brother's journey, Brother Number One leads the viewer through Cambodian history as told by Whakatane born Rob Hamill's... Read More

Weather Eyewith John Maunder Climate extremes in New Zealand, since instrumental records became available in the 1850s, show a range from the highest temperature of 42.4 degrees recorded in Rangiora on February 7, 1973, to the most intense rainfall... Read More

On sitewith Certified Builders PresidentJason McClintock Building regulations are now in place as to who can lawfully undertake critical building work on residential construction and, in some cases, maintenance/alterations. This work is called... Read More

Write Space Literary news, views and reviews http://taurangawriters.org.nz This week's Write Space by Lee Murray. Gene Fowler once said of writing: all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. There's... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz It's normal to get a few shark stories circulating in the media over summer. Lately, however, there's been a disturbing trend. When we say sharks, we're not referring to the slimey finance company director... Read More

News HoundsAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz Flo arrives home in the Mobile Vet taxi with Monique, after a big day out at Jorg's surgery. I'm not sure what happened to Flo on Wednesday, but it must have been one hell of a party. She came back to... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz Lots of people are getting excited about the prospect of local government reform. There are changes in the wind for resource management and local government legislation - the perceived failure... Read More

Cr Bill FaulknerFaulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz As a measure of the lack of news recently it was unsurprising that the Bay Times picked out of this year's draft annual plan a proposal to increase water charges. I'm not claiming water charges... Read More

Andrew von DadelszenFormer Regional Councillor It has been my privilege for the last eight years to chair the Bluegreens, which is an environmental policy advisory group for the National Party. Each year, we have an annual forum and our 13th forum... Read More

Brian AndersonThe Western Frontwww.sunlive.co.nz National and local government has been searching for ‘back office savings' and ‘efficiency dividends'. Government claimed immediately a saving of 3500 state sector jobs, while promising... Read More

John CroninBOP Regional Council Chairmanwww.envbop.govt.nz Debate on a better governance structure is both good and essential. What is not so good is some of the uninformed or perhaps mischievous bias staking out a single council or a councilor's... Read More

Ian McLeanSpokesperson for the Green Party A key measure of fiscal position for a council is to calculate debt servicing costs relative to rating income, with 10 per cent as the guideline of acceptability. It seems Tauranga and WBOP are not doing... Read More