Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz Reading my papers for an upcoming SmartGrowth meeting, I reflected what a critical piece of work this is for us here in the Western Bay of Plenty. SmartGrowth is a long-term growth management... Read More

Andrew von Dadelszen Former Regional Councillor Now that most of the oil is off the stricken ship Rena, our attention turns to the containers. The 60 tones of oil remaining onboard could still pose huge environmental risk, but five weeks into this... Read More

Ian McLean Green candidate for Tauranga Every election, there is much talk about jobs. After the election, the talk and promises seem to fade away. Well, I give the politicians the benefit of the doubt - I have no doubt both that they mean to deliver... Read More

Daz Switalla Flavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz Amongst and under all the mint that has spread throughout the garden are last year's strawberry plants in flower and showing promise of another crop. he luscious strawberry... Read More

Josh HoskinSmart Money [email protected] Whenever election campaigns begin all the promises that are flung around remind me of a quote from the one and only Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols fame; 'Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?”.... Read More

The Wild Side by Brian and Claire Rogers This month the Wild Side team went soft. They let girls in. Maybe it was the effects of rugby overload that befuddled their meagre male brains. Perhaps it was a reaction to excesses of testosterone that... Read More

Virginia Iovine-Turner Cucina Amore www.cucinaamore.co.nz Ciao everyone. I have had some emails from readers requesting my chocolate brownie recipe. It is a great hit and I just love how easy it is to make and it is sure to impress your guests. The... Read More

Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz A visit to the TECT All Terrain Park on Sunday showed Sideline Sid what a wonderful asset that the facility will be in the future. With a grandson and his friend in tow, we headed... Read More

Don Menzies Managing Director Travelcom There are some places in life you just have to see first hand and the west coast of the United States is definitely one of them. Hawaii is a popular stop-over en route to Los Angeles and we spent several... Read More

John Arts Abundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz Just imagine the fanfare and excitement if a new drug with the following properties was released: The new ‘drug' functions in the body 'include antioxidant activity, cancer inhibition, cholesterol... Read More

Brent Trail Managing DirectorSurveying Services Ltd It has been talked about for months now, but time is almost up for the lifestyle subdivision that we have been witnessing in the Waikato District, particularly close to Hamilton City on the smaller... Read More

Pete Morris Art blogger www.sunlive.co.nz Last week an exhibition of exciting new works by watercolourist Nick Eggleston opened at Zohar Gallery in Mount Maunganui. The exhibition is called ‘Changing Places' and reflects on what it feels... Read More