An 'emergency survival kit' for people who can't cope with the impending plastic bag ban is up for sale on Trade Me. The government is aiming to get rid of the bags by July next year and the ban is likely to include the compostable and...... Read More

A Tauranga barber's mission to get men to open up has taken him to Puhoi. Sam Dowdall, also known as The Barter Barber, was one of the many drawcards at the Puhoi Village Market recently. Sam became increasingly troubled by the number of his friends...... Read More

Just like Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh, Brian has carted around his thread bear for 63 years. They both have a few loose threads and some wear and tear, but they are still chugging along. Thread bear has damage on his breast – he’s...... Read More

A Bay of Plenty girl is in intensive care in an American hospital with brain damage. 11-year-old Alyssa Ledbetter was swimming with her family on July 21 when she emerged from the water complaining of a headache, neck pain, blurry vision and numbness...... Read More

The smell of burger patties sizzling on the barbecue and fresh muffins straight out of the oven wafted through Gate Pa School last week as children put their healthy eating lessons into action. The school is involved in two national healthy eating...... Read More

People with disabilities want to be treated as people first - rather than by being defined by impairment and everyone has a role to play in helping bring that to fruition. That was the message from the 2018 Social Justice Week Workshop held on Saturday...... Read More

At 9.30am on October 18, New Zealanders far and wide will simultaneously drop to floor to take cover, but don’t fret, it’s all part of a drill. ShakeOut is the name of the international earthquake drill and tsunami hikoi which serves to...... Read More

They are a picture of misery. Three kittens with ‘icky eyes’, runny noses and sneezing. They have cat flu. It can be deadly for the littlest babies. “Very sickly,” says Sharna Asplin of Wild Whiskers – a bunch of volunteers...... Read More

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller is welcoming of the Government’s $8.4 million announcement to help care for high needs, vulnerable New Zealanders – but would like to see more being done for the Bay. “As our community continues to rapidly...... Read More

The generosity of a Tauranga ASB customer who won Lotto last year means a new state-of-the-art ambulance has been unveiled by ASB and gifted to St John for use in Tauranga. “They say to get advice when you win Lotto, and that’s just what...... Read More