He was born on Black Tuesday.   “October 21, 1929. People started jumping out of windows that day.” Not because the world was aghast at the arrival of Brian Patrick Cotter, but because it was the first day of the Wall Street...

  Mitch Kale may have lost the New Zealand Men’s Amateur golf title but his blistering start to the 36-hole final will live long after the final putt was holed.   The 18-year-old Tauranga Golf Club member stunned his more experienced...

There’s one bloke who enjoys jigsaws. He would; he’s on home detention and he has plenty of time on his hands. Electronic monitoring means he can’t be at the three-day Tauranga Harbour City Lions book fair starting Friday, November...

  It only takes 30 seconds to establish a connection with a stranger.   That’s the key message of an award-winning Katikati community development facilitator. Tessa Mackenzie recently received the national Billie Award for strengths-based...

  Tauranga is the country’s fifth biggest city, the third fastest growing regional economy.   And, more importantly, at least for cricket aficionados, it’s on the brink of becoming an international test cricket venue. “We’re...

  There’s a chunk of plastic from a child’s bucket and spade, plastic fireworks components, plastic wrappers, plastic ties and a bit of plastic rope, plastic drink cups and plastic bottle tops.   There were plastic bags and...

  A dog owner’s morning turned upside down on Wednesday after her beloved pup went into major surgery from swallowing an old fishing hook left at Arataki Beach.   Tatiana Manion, who goes to the beach with Rosie daily, says she often...

  He’s stylist or groomer to the students, the young men of Tauranga Boys' College. If the TBC 1st XV is looking especially slick before the big game or on the trip, put it down to 17-year-old Tuerei Mackie. When the college’s...

  The Chase’s Shaun Wallace is making a pit stop in Tauranga later this month during his ‘jam-packed’ trip to New Zealand.   It's the ‘Dark Destroyers’ second visit this year, and he will be spending a...

  A new addition to Papamoa’s cycle lane has caused some jaw dropping amongst motorists this week.   Papamoa College student Elliott Cope has been enjoying the increased visibility that his tall-bike gives him as he cycles around...

  They are the new Kiwis drawn from the largest ethno-linguistic group of people in Europe. They are the Slavs.   East Slavs from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, West Slavs from Czechia, Poland and Slovakia. And South Slavs, people from Bosnia...

  A 17-year-old Papamoa college student has been recognised for her work tackling period poverty.   Shuari Naidoo, of Moraka Menstrual Cups, won Entrepreneur of The Year for the Young Enterprise Scheme Regional Finals late last month....

  There’s a heap of crap in Wayne Jacobi’s front yard.   “Oh yeah! 23 years of crap. I am a bloody hoarder. There’s some good crap too.” Maybe, but you’d have to scratch around to find it. Amongst all...

  Perhaps the best-known voice in Katikati has fallen silent. Along with his trademark bell.   Since 2000, the goateed John Groves, in his tricorne hat, gold braided blue jacket and flowing ruffle, pantaloons and white hose, was the self-appointed...

Hundreds of "stressed, under-resourced" social service organisations are working hard to make grassroots change within the Tauranga community. There are 225 groups currently operating in the social sector, delivering over 700 services in...

Passionate park users who turned up to the Tauranga City Council’s Kulim Park upgrade consultation may have been a little confused. While the council had its latest design concept plans on show, on October 26, a group of local residents set up...

  “Mother Nature is my girl, and these are my babies.”   Dean Morman, a 50-something-old horticulture landscape designer musing on his Papamoa backyard. It’s a sea of bromeliads, or ‘brom’s’ to the aficionados,...

    Tahatai Coast School is finally celebrating its brand new cycling facility, a project to promote wellness and bike safety among tamariki. After a year of hard work, the school cut the ribbon last Friday to officially open the cycle...

    Tauranga City Council is halfway through upgrading 7000 street light fixtures to LED, a project which could save two-gigawatt hours each year. The upgrade is a result of an 85 per cent subsidy from the New Zealand Transport Agency....

    The Mauao Base Track is on its way to being repaired. Tauranga City Mayor Tenby Powell wants to make sure the track is fixed quick-smart, after being out of action for more than two years. Along with other councillors, Tenby has met...

  He could be a bridge to better understanding between the Sikh and Christian faiths in the orchard town of Te Puke… a town in which Punjabi is said to be the second most spoken language, a town where Sikhs contribute greatly to the economy,...

  Bright blue mats were rolled out across Mount Maunganui beaches on Labour weekend.   The portable, roll out mats located at Pilot Bay, the Cenotaph and Cutter’s cove assist people who can’t easily get onto the sand. Tauranga...

    Fraser Sharp’s goal of representing New Zealand at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games is still on despite missing out on key funding to help make it happen. The 43-year-old Tauranga-based road cyclist competed at the UCI Para-cycling...

  A new primary industry could emerge in Tauranga as a local company teams up with an Australian-based medicinal cannabis company to grow the plant, and research its use as a health product for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.   Greenfield MC,...

Tauranga Girls’ College will have a massive presence at the upcoming International Youth Silent Film Festival New Zealand National Awards Final with six students making it into this year’s Top 12. Caitlin Robb (Courage), Elena Broadfoot...

  Tauranga Special School students will be dancing in front of thousands for the first time next week at the Pasifika Festival in the Bay.   A group of 33 students ranging in age from 5-18 will be braving the crowds and performing Samoan...

  It takes a village to raise a child.   The popular African proverb is one which Bethlehem Birthing Centre and SuperGrans Western Bay of Plenty has taken on with a postnatal support group for new parents. SuperGrans’ Liz McKeown...

  As a New Zealand opening batsman, he was gritty rather than spectacular.   And as a muso he has no pretentions.  “At time as a cricketer, I probably batted slowly and people walked out. So if our concert all gets a bit slow...

  It’s like packing to take a newborn on a day trip - diapers, wipes, gripe water, rash cream. The works.   Doug Brown’s “lovely blue” 1930 Model A Ford pick-up isn’t too different.  “If you are...