The base of Mauao has been a busy hub of film professionals this week, as the Regional Film Offices of NZ – RFONZ – met for their annual two-day conference. “I think it’s a real testament to BOP Film and the work that’s...... Read More

Imagine a transport hub, information centre and accommodation provider all in one location in downtown Mount Maunganui. That’s the vision local architect Mark Wassung has for Salisbury Avenue along the edge of Coronation Park. He’s seen the...... Read More

  Hundreds, if not thousands, of people crawled out of the warmth of their beds to show their support for Tauranga’s own Peter Burling, as he headed into the final race of the 35th America’s Cup. A big screen along The Strand saw crowds...... Read More

The Bay of Plenty dragon boat club are among the local winners of the recently-concluded World Masters Games. Their two teams – an over 50s women’s crew and an over 60s mixed crew – paddled against competitors from all over the world...... Read More

The results are now in and Ron Spratt has been elected as the new member for the Te Puke Community Board. Ron received 1098 votes while his sole opponent, Richard McNair, received a total of 579 votes in the by-election which concluded at midday. A...... Read More

Six people have been nominated for Te Awanui Black’s former Mauao Maori Constituency seat on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The nominees are Carlton Bidois, Antoine Coffin, Matire Duncan, Paora Paul Martin, Matemoana McDonald and Christopher...... Read More

Using Katikati’s new library as an example, Western Bay of Plenty District Council mayor-elect Garry Webber says the council is going to change how it does things. “I don’t think there’s much wrong with what Western Bay has been...... Read More

Tauranga’s youngest councillor is stepping down after an unsuccessful re-election campaign. Matt Cowley was elected to his first term in 2013 at the tender age of 30 – the youngest councillor since outgoing mayor Stuart Crosby was elected...... Read More

Tauranga’s Mayor elect Greg Brownless says he has a bit of catching up to do before he’s sworn in at the end of the month. There’s two immediate issues, the previous council’s decision to pull the New Year’s Eve celebrations...... Read More

Although he was unsuccessful in both his mayoral bid and re-election campaign for council, John Robson isn’t bitter. When he was elected in 2013 he promised to pay back a percentage of his salary if voters rejected him in 2016. John Robson is making...... Read More

Two new people - David Sparks and Sela Kingi – are elected to Kawerau District Council in the 2016 local elections. Along with the six returning councillors, the newly elected members will help steer Kawerau into a positive future and guide the...... Read More

Greg Brownless is the new mayor of Tauranga after receiving 8513 votes according to preliminary results. Greg was taking his mother out when he received a phone call with the news this afternoon. Greg Brownless. “I was getting my mother at a rest...... Read More

The clock ticked 11.58am and Richard Coles slipped the last vote into the ballot box at the council offices on Willow St. Richard Coles made his vote with just two minutes to spare. Photos: Chris Callinan. The Tauranga businessman made his vote in the...... Read More

Thames and Coromandel residents are rushing to ballot boxes today to cast their vote on who should represent their district as mayor, councillors or on the community board. Voting closes at noon today. Triennial elections for elected members of most local...... Read More

The final few voting papers of the 2016 Local Body Elections are coming in across Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty this morning, as residents make a last minute dash to make their votes count. Cyrus and Kimberly Tuporo with their papers they were dropping...... Read More