John is a senior reporter at the Bay of Plenty Times
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Dog finds seal's bark worse than his bite
Face-off between seal and dog ends with win for seal in Tauranga marina.
Rena wreck High Court appeal dismissed
The Rena is still grinding through the courts, seven years after hitting Astrolabe Reef.
Uni's Sulphur Point bid stirs opposition
Strong opposition has emerged to the preferred site for a university research centre.
Historians publish book on Gate Pa battle
A new book will offer a modern perspective on the Battle of Gate Pa 154 years ago.
Teens arrested after Tauranga dairy robbed
Weapons were used in a Sunday robbery of a Tauranga dairy.
Introducing's NZ's first plug-in electric boat
Sean Kelly's all-electric boat could be the shape of things to come.
Church to revisit wrongs inflicted on Tauranga Maori
Anglicans are set to debate their role in a little-known chapter of Tauranga's history.
Bella Vista homeowners upset at being sidelined
Bella Vista homeowners are disappointed their opinions were not sought on report options.
Drug raid accused refuses to enter prison video booth
A further 20 arrests from the Kawerau police raids have been remanded in Tauranga Court.
More accused deny charges stemming from police raids
A fresh round of court appearances followed Eastern Bay police raids on March 27.
Three of 21 Bella Vista homes safe
Offers of support are pouring in for Bella Vista housing victims.
Puzzling encounter led to Anzac Day tradition
Doing a good turn for two women sparked an unsolved mystery at Pyes Pa Cemetery.
Couple bitter that unsafe Bella Vista house got council sign-off
Bella Vista collapse victims point finger at council building inspection processes.
Home owners' heartbreak: 21 new builds declared dangerous
The news was all bad for the owners of 21 homes in the former Bella Vista development.
Sewage overflows blamed for swimming caution
Tauranga's Pilot Bay has received a surprise caution for swimming water quality.
Teacher gives road design lesson at SH2 intersection
A teacher has demanded answers to Omokoroa's ''disgraceful'' intersection.
SH2 campaigners park wreck outside council
A poignant message has been parked outside hearings to prioritise transport projects.
Isla, 8, appeals to City Hall
A little girl's concerns about her family's safety has spurred the council into action.
High avocado prices predicted to drop with big crop
The avocado industry is booming, with a two-year waiting list for nursery orchard trees.
$30m freight centre planned in Tauranga
Mainfreight embarking on big investment based on its faith in Bay's future.
Hitching to work could help free up roads
A Tauranga byelection candidate has tried hitching to work and likes it.
New disease strain unleashed against rabbits
A new virus is to be introduced to kill rabbits, 21 years after the first illegal release.
Hit and run on Tauranga harbour
A Tauranga man is homeless after his yacht was written off in a high speed impact.
New legal bid to remove Rena wreck off reef
Hapu have gone to the High Court to get the wreckage of the Rena off Astrolabe Reef.
Killer highway: 'Drivers to blame not the road'
Road safety committee looks at what's gone wrong on the Tauranga to Katikati Rd.
Chinese wall: Tauranga councillor tried to delete meeting record
Council meeting minutes criticising China have stirred up strong feelings.
War of words over TECT cheques proposal
TECT and Trustpower are taking aim at each other over the contentious TECT cheques issue.
Paraglider pilot dies in crash on Mauao
Young paraglider pilot enjoying second flight of the day when tragedy struck.
Four men have lucky escape from tree
Four workmen had a spectacular start to the day when a tree hit their van.
Retailers blame beggars for sales slump: 'People feel unsafe'
Retailers on Bethlehem's main shopping strip say beggars intimidating customers.
Trustpower threatens legal challenge on TECT cheques
Trustpower CEO Vince Hawksworth has put the case to keep TECT cheques.
House prices a threat to teachers
Tauranga's reputation as a desirable place to teach is under threat by house prices.
Fierce electrical storm hits Tauranga
A torrential thunder storm left a trail of fires and power outages in the Bay of Plenty.
Feelings running deep on TECT proposal to ditch customer rebates
A huge community debate is shaping up about the future of Tauranga's TECT cheques.
Poll on Maori seats looks likely
Western Bay of Plenty residents have signed a petition wanting their say on Maori wards.
Barricaded wharf halts cruises
Matakana islanders and council leaders meet today to discuss Panepane Wharf issues.
'How many more crosses will it take?'
Safety improvements are the top priority for the horror highway to Katikati.
Day trippers blamed in Matakana Island protest
Reasons for the barricading of Panepane Wharf on Tauranga Harbour remain unclear.
Protesters at Matakana accused of 'taking law into own hands'
Debris piled up at the end of Panepane Wharf has alarmed a harbour cruise operator.
Worker badly hurt in Port of Tauranga plunge
A Gisborne stevedore received life-threatening injuries in a fall at Tauranga port.
Owner hails drain hero: 'I will not forget it'
Champagne and chocolates promised to woman who saved building from floodwaters.
Woman labelled a hero after trying to save flood-hit businesses
Flash flooding inundated low-lying parts of Tauranga with dozens of call outs.
Wharf barricade will not be removed
A fence blocking Panepane Wharf will not be forcibly removed by the Western Bay council.
More cycle-friendly focus on table
A decision to set long-term transport priorities for Tauranga has been postponed.
Builder owes $4.35m, 30 homes unfinished
Unpaid bills totalling nearly $4.4 million have been left behind by a failed builder.
Jones seeks to cut regional development deals
Government minister Shane Jones wants more deals and fewer long reports.
Life guards tow in snorkellers at Mount
Pumping surf proved too daunting for snorkellers at Mount Main Beach.
Car crash victims lucky to be alive
The threat of a gas explosion resulted in a desperate scramble at Mount crash scene.
Family home half built as company stops work
Liquidators have been called in to wind up Tauranga building company Bella Vista Homes.
$50,000 donations stuns cancer sufferer
A $50,000 donation dumbfounded Tauranga cancer sufferer Tracey Pay.
Brash lambasts Maori wards guarantee
The decision to introduce Maori seats into the Western Bay has raised hackles.
Drilling uncovers ancient totara under harbour
Remnant of Tauranga's ancient past another obstacle for $99 million Southern Pipeline.
Mini bus last hope for little school
Pukehina School seeks a new solution in struggle to survive.
Police pursuit death 'tragically avoidable'
Coroner finds police car did not shunt car being pursued in Oropi in which teen died.
Norovirus cruise ship passengers keeping positive
Passengers on a norovirus-plagued ship say the outbreak hasn't dampened their spirits.
Rest home left woman soaked in urine
A Disputes Tribunal decision has found failings in how a rest home cared for a woman.
Tragedy at Tauranga half marathon
A 45-year-old Tauranga man collapsed and died during the City to Surf half marathon.
Zest for life marks Tauranga man's 100th birthday
A busy few years has marked the leadup to Alf Rendell's 100th birthday
Landmark house demolished in Tauranga CBD
A reminder of the rapidly changing face of Tauranga has been demolished.
Tauranga to be bathed in white light
Tauranga City Council is taking advice on which LED street lighting system it installs.
Armed police used to back up search warrant
A Tauranga neighbourhood buzzed with rumours tonight after the arrival of armed police.
Missing Waihi man sparks official search
Police are concerned for the welfare of a 46-year-old missing Waihi man.
New bridges to connect cycleways
$6.5 million of new cycle and walking bridges will be built in the next 16 months.
Record property sale signals Tauranga boom
Hundreds of millions worth of development projects to inject new life into CBD.
Two-year battle over dog
A legal battle has led to the longest ever impounding of a dog in Tauranga.
Wet conditions raise Psa concerns
Conditions favourable to spread of Psa makes kiwifruit growers nervous.
GST refund idea could cut rates by $22m
GST policy could be game changer for funding infrastructure, says mayor.
Fake gun used to intimidate students
A boy used a replica pistol to intimidate fellow students at a Tauranga primary school.
Migrants add pressure on housing but needed
Migrants should not be sacrificed to cut Tauranga's housing shortage, say employers.
Old-school drivers miss seatbelt message
More than 1800 people in the Western Bay were caught not wearing seatbelts last year
Crane operator's collapse sparks emergency rescue
Emergency services rescue a sick straddle crane driver trapped in his cab.
Building boom winding down in Tauranga
A development time lag has impacted on building consents issued in Tauranga
Dead fisherman was Otumoetai family man
Man retrieved from the water yesterday has been named by police as Laine Kelly.
Four-lane highway planned from Tauranga to Katikati
Growth pressures have fast tracked plans to boost road safety from Tauranga to Katikati.
Ancient village unearthed at roundabout
Archaeologists have found evidence of a Maori village during roundabout works.
Friends rally to fund drugs for devoted mother
A Tauranga woman is fighting for life so she can continue to love her two sons
Growers speak out over avocado thefts
The all-seeing eye of Google Earth helps thieves pin-point likely avocado orchards.
Council opts for tallest parking building in NZ
A Tauranga parking building soaring nine storeys survived a narrow 6-5 council vote
Feelings run high over homeless village
Village offering transitional housing for the homeless has stirred neighbours' opposition.
Widening income gap sparks public meeting
The difference in pay for rich and poor will feature at a pre-election meeting.