Swimmers who normally soak in the serenity of the Mount Hot Pools will have to find other pools to whet their appetite for a while.   The Mount pools are closing for scheduled maintenance and a facade upgrade on January 25 for 10 weeks. Mount...

  From discovering skeletons of horses that died still tied to their posts, to horses being beaten, suffering rope burns, fractures and neglect, Rowan Elliott, Sarah Jones and Siobhan Mikaere have seen it all.   “We’re absolutely...

  Thousands of travellers have found themselves grounded in New Zealand throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, watching on from afar as their respective nations suffered differing fortunes.   Luckily for those marooned explorers, including...

  Tauranga Big Band will be celebrating Niel Randrup’s 100th birthday with a special afternoon concert this month.   The spry centenarian passed the monumental milestone on New Year’s Day. “I was the first New Zealand...

  Mount lifeguards are getting their moment in the sun this summer as subjects of a new TV show Bay Patrol.   Becoming small screen celebrities is merely a speck in the ocean for the lifeguards as their priority is keeping people on the...

A cheeky octopus with a key trying to get through a nearby door, a little blue penguin diving, a jellyfish, stingray and an orca are all featured in a new marine-themed scene in a Grey St alleyway. The mural, painted by Sam Allen, is a refreshing addition...

  The Tauranga Model Railway Club's annual show on January 16-17 is chugging along as planned, with plenty to see and do for the whole family.   "What we try and do is get a variety of model train layouts to the show every year,"...

  The ReMaker Space team have launched a huge selection of summer workshops to choose from that will appeal to all those wanting to improve their home or wardrobe, or just have fun.   The village of containers at Our Place in Willow St...

  Whango, the guardian and sacred owl of Ngai Tamarawaho that once graced a building in Dive Crescent, has reappeared in a new form in Greerton Village.   The mural titled ‘Ruru – guardian of the blossoms’ was completed...

  Two Tauranga businesses are ensuring the future of their industries by investing in their young employees.   At Edge Retaining and Landscaping the owners take a collaborative approach and everyone is a mate rather than an employee, says...

  A fast-paced entertaining version of basketball is heading to Mount Maunganui with, hopefully, some potential Olympic stars of the future involved.   The 3x3 FIBA Quest Tour stops off in the Mount on January 16, 2021 and if previous events...

  A creative art venue opens in Tauranga next month with the space available to artists and creatives who can offer “anything but ordinary.”   Back Studio is based at a new warehouse in Tauriko boasting 170 square metres for...

  The more you learn about Maori medicine, the more you realise it’s not just about plants, says Rob ‘Pa’ McGowan.   He has been practicing and teaching traditional Maori medicine, or rongoa, for 30 years. “Modern...

  Western Bay of Plenty Police have established a temporary community base at Bayfair to provide increased visibility and reassurance to the community.   “We understand the community’s concern around recent incidents in the...

  With temperatures this week in the high 20s, Mount Maunganui’s beaches have been packed with people cooling off in the surf and enjoying the cloudless days.   Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service patrols the stretch of beach from Mauao...

  A conservation group working in the Eastern Bay of Plenty is producing positive results with the population of one of New Zealand’s iconic birds, but also has a stark warning for the future.   Eastern Whio Link is committed to protecting...

Mountie is back at the Mount, reappearing just before Christmas, much to the delight of all those who have been posing for a photograph with him. The statue is positioned next to the temporary information centre on the artificial grass at Te Papa...

Olivia Burne has defended her crown as Queen of Mount Maunganui in a 4.5 kilometre Boxing Day race to the summit of Mauao. The Auckland athlete completed the course in a time of 21 minutes and 42 seconds, smashing Megan Edhouse’s 2000 record...

  Tauranga resident Cynthia Richardson has celebrated her 100th birthday and was able to enjoy it with most of her family around her thanks to the internet.   She also received a special acknowledgement from the London Philharmonic Choir,...

  When Neil Waugh first opened his pharmacy in Welcome Bay, he would start the day by loading floppy disks into his DOS computer to access the patient database.   Some 37 years later, the technology has changed but he still sees a lot of...

  Brooke Stinson is one busy lady.   Somewhat by accident, she has become a champion for the Bay music scene. Her role is forever morphing and she sports many different hats – she’s an event manager, businesses advisor and...

  Nobody could accuse the Hurn family of hiding their light under a bushel.   They are one of dozens of households that have turned The Lakes suburb into a Christmas wonderland this year. And the trend appears to be escalating. Luke Hurn...

  One week out from the release of their new album, L.A.B has reached Number One on the Official NZ Top 40 Singles Chart for the second time in 2020.   New single 'Why Oh Why' has debuted at Number One, giving L.A.B its second...

  Yanika Te Paea Reiter wanted to be a marine biologist even before she knew the word for it.   Born in Wellington and raised in Tauranga, Yanika developed a deep connection to the water from an early age. “I always knew I’d...

  Pamphlets circulating about a proposed plan change relating to flooding from intense rainfall contain inaccurate claims and ‘scaremongering’ says the Tauranga City Council.   The pamphlets have been distributed to properties...

  A new opportunity shop in Fashion Island is proving popular with the Papamoa community.   The Salvation Army opened up its first store in Papamoa a few months back and is already seeing a high number of people coming through the doors....

Community patrols are about much more than just driving around the ‘hood. Two nights a week, on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, members of the Mount Maunganui Community Patrol will pair up and drive the streets as the ‘eyes and ears’...

  Tauranga City Council is investigating a dedicated ‘safe car sleeping’ area in the city.   The idea is proposed as a temporary solution for one- two years, while social and public housing is being developed. There’s...

  It’s a story of a team making the community feel safe and a local business doing what they can to help make that happen.   Ebbett Tauranga recently sponsored a brand-new Hyundai Kona L for the Papamoa Community Patrol team. “Ebbett...