It’s the face of a prize-fighter.   Teeth missing, nose wonky, and many of the colourful episodes in this man’s life are inked all over his body. “I won’t mind being wrinkly and coloured in,” says Wayne...

  The Bay of Plenty Regional Council wave buoy is back for summer, providing keen surfers and boaties with real-time reporting of sea conditions.   It’s located 13 kilometres off Pukehina Beach in 63 metres of water, centrally positioned...

  Clean, green community members were left in shock after picking up about 100kg of trash in Mount Maunganui last weekend.   A group of 70 volunteers spared their Sunday afternoon, collecting rubbish from Main Beach, Mount Drury and Moturiki...

  An enormous pohutukawa takes root in downtown Mount Maunganui, standing tall among new residential developments.   The Pitau Road tree, which is estimated to be 500 years old, has been through it all. Withstanding Cyclone Bola in 1998...

  The workshop is thick with blokes and blokey things – buzzers, bench saws, mitre saws, band saws, scroll saws.   But they’re not for Jean Crabtree. “If you have a dog, why bark yourself.” Leave those to the boys,...

  To paraphrase Charles Dickens, it has been the best of times and the worst of times for Bay of Plenty Steamers locks Baden Wardlaw and Aaron Carroll.   Initially came the good news to delight everyone who likes a warm-hearted story about...

  Whanaungatanga means togetherness.   And that’s the theme driving next week’s first-ever community Christmas celebration at Hungahungaturoa Marae. The event is an effort to open up the marae doors, letting the wider community...

Tauranga woman Clare Williamson is sharing her story of trauma and transformation for the good of the planet. She’s determined to plant 100,000 trees in the Brazilian rainforest with funds raised from her soon-to-be-released book Life Through...

  It’s a rogue power pole.   And it’s been wilfully crunching fenders and bumpers in suburban Tauranga for years. That’s what neighbours say, that’s the power pole’s reputation. It’s mean on cars. Les...

  “Please, please, please…”   A plaintive appeal for commonsense on the roads this Christmas. An appeal to stay alive. And it comes from a woman who came scarily close to being another fatality statistic on one of the...

  It’s one of the critical things some people factor in when making major lifestyle decisions to move to Tauranga.   Like Nick Dredge, president of the Sons of Tangaroa Spearfishing Club. “Taking food from the land and sea...

  Struggling families and individuals will turn to the Tauranga Salvation Army for support this Christmas, seeking out shelter, food parcels and gifts for their kids.   The festive season is a busy time of year for the centre, and it all...

  “People think bikers are all criminals, covered in tattoos, bearded and scary looking bastards.”    Adam Fenech ticks three of those boxes – he rides a Harley-Davidson, he has a beard and he is tattooed. “That’s...

  Hot rodders from around New Zealand will band together next Friday for the Tauranga Toy Run, raising awareness for needy local charities.   It's the toy run’s 16th year, and if it's anything like last year organisers are...

  Tauranga's Great Rock Hunt will take place this weekend in the Tauranga CBD.   Hundreds of prize rocks will be dispersed around the city as part of the fundraiser for A Day Of Magic Charity. The charity strives to provide 'A...

  A free backyard rat trap for Mount Maunganui residents wishing to combat predators and help native species thrive is the goal of Tauranga’s wildlife experts.   “We need local Mount Maunganui residents to help us fight back...

  A Pyes Pa Travel Broker is reaching out for local support as she coordinates a new event called The Poppy Flight.   Raising funds for the RSA, NZ Warbirds Association, and Starship Foundation the initiative is the brainchild of Travel...

  The Weekend Sun tried to trip Santa with some Christmas trivia and he gazumped us, came straight back with some of his own.   “Santa, were you aware of, and do you feel sorry for, the 9700 New Zealanders who share a birthday with...

  Darrell Hellier, commonly known as Mr D, truly does put the word ‘care’ into his role of caretaker at Bethlehem School.   He has gone above and beyond his job description this year, initiating a series of student-led woodwork...

  Dune restoration specialist Greg Jenks says healthy dunes play a crucial role in preventing erosion of Tauranga beaches.   Forest and Bird Tauranga is hosting a field trip starting outside Papamoa Domain next Saturday, where Greg will...

  Disney’s Moana, fire breathing dragons and pirates will be joining Elsa and Ana on their new Frozen float, Batman in his Bat Mobile, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Santa with a surprise character helping him out on his float this year.   Parade...

  Brenna Roband has spent the past four years running beach clean-ups in Tauranga and in that time has collected about 284 kilograms of waste.   The Tauranga local, who works as a freelance event manager, says she’s never been afraid...

  A campers service hub planned for Waihi Beach will be up and operating by Christmas – but seven kilometres and eight minutes driving time down the road at Bowentown.   The arrival of KiwiCamp at Waihi Beach was delayed earlier this...

  The Government has cleared the way for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to divest itself of the problematic Tauranga city bus services and for Tauranga City Council to take control.   “I think it’s important the buses come...

  A lifesize advent calendar is set to open this Sunday in Tauranga's Red Square.   The Downtown Tauranga initiative showcases 24 local charities and artists who have contributed to the community-driven project. Downtown Tauranga representative...

  It was a family acknowledging the selfless service by one of their own.   Glenn Williams, fire chief to the volunteers in Te Puke, had given 40 years to the volunteer fire brigade. And he had just finished eight years on the board of...

The crown prosecutor turned politician says prosecute the beggars. Simon Bridges, leader of the opposition and MP for Tauranga has “respectfully suggested” the city council play hardball with beggars and homeless who violate the bylaws...

  The doing is the pleasure for Phil Hansen.   “I don’t do it for the completed object, rather it’s getting there, the conceiving and taking it all the way to completion.” The retired engineer, a man who worked...

  The Chase’s ‘Dark Destroyer’ is using his sharp mind and his profile to help out the homeless in Tauranga this week.   Shaun Wallace is one of the stars of the popular British TV quiz show The Chase and told The Weekend...