In today's weather forecast we are expecting a mainly fine Boxing Day, but with a chance of an afternoon shower or two. The southwesterly should be dying out in the evening.

It's a one-clothing layer day today with a high of 28 and an overnight low of 16 degrees. Humidity is 95 per cent.

High tide is at 10.20am and low tide at 4.40pm(Tay St). There's a sea swell of 0.5m and sea temperature is 20 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 8.34pm.

If you're going fishing the next best fish bite time is between 3.30 and 5.30pm.

On this day in NZ history in 1879 in Christchurch, 30 Catholic Irishmen attacked an Orange (Protestant) procession with pick-handles, while in Timaru 150 men from Thomas O'Driscoll's Hibernian Hotel surrounded Orangemen and prevented their procession from taking place.

On this day in world history in 1932 over 70,000 people were killed in a massive earthquake in China.

In 1982 Time magazine chose a personal computer as its 'Man of the Year”, the first non-human ever to receive the honour. In 1991 the Supreme Soviet formally dissolved the Soviet Union.

In 1999 Lothar, a violent, 36-hour windstorm began; it killed 137 and caused $1.3 billion (US dollars) damage in Central Europe.

In 2004 a tsunami caused by a 9.3-magnitude earthquake killed more than 230,000 along the rim of the Indian Ocean.

Today is the birthday of English poet Thomas Gray. Born in 1716 he once said 'Youth smiles without any reason. It is one of its chiefest charms.”

To get involved in activities around the Bay of Plenty, please check out our What's on page.

Have a great day!