Cr Bill Faulkner Faulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz Council had a secret meeting last week. Elected members didn't plan it that way, but that's how it turned out. A joint meeting of TCC, Western BOP District Council and the BOP Regional Council... Read More

Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz Merry Christmas everybody and a Happy New Year. This column lately hasn't been an ideal platform for adding the word merry to Christmas, but three items of news this week are probably our best... Read More

Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz Dear Santa, This year's been a hard one, but we've tried to be good. We were given the Rena and we've done what we could. Progress was made on lakes, harbours and streams, but floods damaged... Read More

Andrew von Dadelszen Former Regional Councillor Local Government politics has played second fiddle to Central Government politics in recent times. Political junkies like me have remained glued to the media - awaiting decisions outside my control.... Read More

John Cronin BOP Regional Council Chairman www.envbop.govt.nz It has been a very demanding year. The Global Financial Crisis is having an impact on the world stage and we in New Zealand cannot escape the effects of it. And on the local scene,... Read More

Ian McLean Green candidate for Tauranga Climate change talks are going the way of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The IWC started out in 1946 as a short meeting of a few countries who got together to regulate the mining (=hunting) of... Read More

Daz Switalla Flavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz Let's face it, the whole world economy is in a nose dive and for many, this will be a lean Christmas. The green economy, however, is one thing that continues with some growth... Read More

Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz The past couple of weeks have brought some really good news and some sad tidings. The real good news, concerns two major events that the will be hosted at the TECT Arena at Baypark. Davis... Read More

John Arts Abundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz Today's column is the final for 2011. I want to thank all those who read this column for your interest and very positive feedback. I especially enjoy talking with those brave enough to phone me with... Read More

Gourmet Guide by Jo Blennerhassett of The Good Food Trading Co. Janus Bakkerij began as a family business that dates back many generations to the days when the Janus family lived in Holland. Joe's grandfather, Joe senior, owned the bakery and was... Read More

Philip Holland Financial Independence financialindependence Don't get caught with a bad insurance product. There are so many options now available to consumers to choose from; flash TV adverts with celebrities, door to door sales people and large... Read More

Pete Morris Art blogger www.sunlive.co.nz Before moving to New Zealand artist Dilip Datta was living in London and working as a civil engineer. In 2009 he was offered a job in New Zealand and decided to emigrate. Dilip started drawing in pencil... Read More