Top stories for Wednesday, August 27

Charlie Timutimu at Southern Pipeline construction site, Matapihi.

1. Maori blessing causes upset

A Maori blessing of workers laying the Southern Pipeline along Matapihi Peninsula has drawn flak from respected kaumatua and former school principal Charlie Timutimu.

2. Tauranga man dies after work accident

A man died days after he was seriously injured in a workplace accident at the Port of Tauranga.

3. Man charged over two robberies

A 24-years-old Tauranga man who appeared in court today charged in relation to two recent knifepoint robberies remains behind bars while police inquiries continue.

4. Insurance warning for Bay drivers

It doesn't matter how much Western Bay drivers fork out for insurance, if they get behind the wheel when they shouldn't be, they'll foot the bill, a Western Bay of Plenty road police boss warns.

5. Pokie gambling dropping off in Bay

The amount Tauranga and Western Bay punters are squandering on pokies is continuing to slide and is now below the national average.