Stuart Whitaker is editor of the Te Puke Times
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![James Sullivan: Youngest champion in world clay shooting history](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
James Sullivan: Youngest champion in world clay shooting history
James shot a perfect 25 from 25 in the decisive shoot-off
![Koha web programme aims to marry traditional concept and today’s tech](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Koha web programme aims to marry traditional concept and today’s tech
A new web-based platform is aimed at 'taking the hōhā out of koha'.
![Te Puke win Tai Mitchell Shield without conceding a point](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Te Puke win Tai Mitchell Shield without conceding a point
The team's culture stems from a school's rugby academy.
![Taonga pūoro to open Te Puke’s Matariki celebrations](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Taonga pūoro to open Te Puke’s Matariki celebrations
House of Shem will headline Friday's festival
![Record 2024 kiwifruit harvest follows meagre 2023](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Record 2024 kiwifruit harvest follows meagre 2023
Good weather and labour availability major contributors to record crop
!['It was very peaceful': Woman recalls near-death experience](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
'It was very peaceful': Woman recalls near-death experience
'I'm sure there’s a greater plan for me,' says the nurse, who wasn't expected to live.
![Special maimai a winner for hunters who use wheelchairs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Special maimai a winner for hunters who use wheelchairs
'Normally I’m a bit limited in what I can have a blast at.'
![In the doghouse! Fence-jumping feline survives canine caper](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
In the doghouse! Fence-jumping feline survives canine caper
The pet's family say 'bula' to Bula after his doghouse adventure.
![Te Puke High School group’s calm response to emergency](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Te Puke High School group’s calm response to emergency
“No one panicking, everyone was really calm."
![Anzac Day: Te Puke remembers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Anzac Day: Te Puke remembers
We seem to struggle with remembering the lessons from these conflicts.
![Novel a beacon on author Ron Murray’s cancer journey](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Novel a beacon on author Ron Murray’s cancer journey
Coromandel love story set in the 70s, a time of transition.
![Western Bay Council, Kāinga Ora slammed for lack of consultation](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Western Bay Council, Kāinga Ora slammed for lack of consultation
Council says no parties adversely affected by the development.
![School revives pest hunt](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
School revives pest hunt
The Te Ranga School event will have more of a conservation focus than in the past.
!['House is shaking all the time': Anger and frustration in Te Puke road rehabilitation delay](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
'House is shaking all the time': Anger and frustration in Te Puke road rehabilitation delay
Resident: 'I'll believe it when I see it.'
![Life savers prepare for the worst by throwing themselves into a rip](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Life savers prepare for the worst by throwing themselves into a rip
Reliable rip offers the perfect practise for surf lifesavers.
![Giggles owner a Māori Businesswomen Awards finalist](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Giggles owner a Māori Businesswomen Awards finalist
Shona Ua-Marsh's entrepreneurial journey was sparked by a desire to address need.
![Positive attitude helps Barbara reach 100](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Positive attitude helps Barbara reach 100
Barbara stopped living independently in only February.
!['It was a huge shock': Ida, 10, was a 'healthy girl'. Now she's fighting cancer](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
'It was a huge shock': Ida, 10, was a 'healthy girl'. Now she's fighting cancer
'All the support from everyone has been really overwhelming,' mum Cherelle says.
![Now hiring: Thousands of kiwifruit workers needed for harvest](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Now hiring: Thousands of kiwifruit workers needed for harvest
'Projected lower fruit volumes meant there is likely to be a shorter post-harvest season.'
!['If we walk away, they win': Jewellers not broken by break-ins](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
'If we walk away, they win': Jewellers not broken by break-ins
"It’s that constant stress, that constant worry ... waiting for something to happen."
![Coaches inspired new principal to teach](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Coaches inspired new principal to teach
Principalship at Penrose College showed how change can occur in education.
![Te Puke teen Santo's rise to Black Ferns squad](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Te Puke teen Santo's rise to Black Ferns squad
Swift rise through the rugby ranks has been overwhelming, but cool.
![Mental health and addiction support delivered by and for Māori](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Mental health and addiction support delivered by and for Māori
'Māori whānau want to access services that recognise their realities.'
![Karters looking forward to spring](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Karters looking forward to spring
The Kartsport BoP club is looking to resurface and extend its Apparelmaster Raceway track.
![And that's a wrap! Art deco cinema closes doors for last time](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
And that's a wrap! Art deco cinema closes doors for last time
The Capitol Cinema hosted a world premiere in 2014 - and circus elephants back in the day.
![Rockstar Mum! Bay performer releases second single](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Rockstar Mum! Bay performer releases second single
"People don't expect this. I'm not the norm in the business."
![Bulldog believed stolen reunited with family after $5000 reward offered](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Bulldog believed stolen reunited with family after $5000 reward offered
Two daughters' anguish and community support drove efforts to find a missing bulldog.
![Is Roy New Zealand's oldest rugby player?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Is Roy New Zealand's oldest rugby player?
Golden Oldies rugby is as much about friendships and fun as it is about rugby.
![Boxer Te Kehu pretty driven, pretty tough](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Boxer Te Kehu pretty driven, pretty tough
Experience is what is needed now for 14yo Te Puke boxer Te Kehu Kerr to progress.
![Levi blown away by becoming a cadet](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Levi blown away by becoming a cadet
Conservation Cadet scheme is part of the Government's Jobs for Nature programme
![Kasey and Karena cook for kaumātua](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Kasey and Karena cook for kaumātua
Cooking demonstration part of programme to assist with managing diabetes
![Toy tester up for the task](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Toy tester up for the task
Te Puke 5-year-old Reid Mortensen is going to be a toy tester for Farmers.
![Thief uproots seedlings and leaves](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Thief uproots seedlings and leaves
Plucking thief takes the shine off the salad days for community garden.
![Te Puke house fire 'a tragedy' says owner](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Te Puke house fire 'a tragedy' says owner
Owner of Te Puke rental property destroyed by fire grateful her tenants got out unscathed.
![Kiwibank and NZ Post set to close regional branch](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Kiwibank and NZ Post set to close regional branch
Decision to close Kiwibank branch will hit older folk, community board chairman says.
![Could this be New Zealand's biggest Star Wars fan?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Could this be New Zealand's biggest Star Wars fan?
In a shed far far away, a collection of Star Wars memorabilia is waiting.
![Inside story: Seasoned crews behind the kiwifruit boom](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Inside story: Seasoned crews behind the kiwifruit boom
Seasonal work is a fun way to top up retired couple's income
![Runaway dogs on a merry spree](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Runaway dogs on a merry spree
Like a something out of a movie, dogs Chica and Joy gave plenty of people the slip
![Village for homeless proposed for Te Puke](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Village for homeless proposed for Te Puke
Small village of temporary homes for homeless being proposed for Te Puke.
![John's tale of Triumph](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
John's tale of Triumph
Te Puke's John Feaver isn't about to let his age stop his need for speed.
![Fed up with mobility parking thieves](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Fed up with mobility parking thieves
Disabled man calls for more consideration from drivers parking in mobility parks.
![Is this Bill English's biggest fan?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Is this Bill English's biggest fan?
Eight-year-old Corin Jack hopes Bill English will come to his birthday party next year.
![Japanese runners dominate marathon](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Japanese runners dominate marathon
Classy Japanese runner Saeki Makino wins Rotorua Marathon.
![Watch: Lucky escape as race car jumps fence](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Watch: Lucky escape as race car jumps fence
WATCH: Things were going well for racer Michael Scott. Then, suddenly, he and his Toyota were flung out of the race in a frighteningly spectacular crash.
![Blade Runner at auction](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Blade Runner at auction
New Zealand's own Blade Runner, Liam Malone, will be the guest speaker at a charity auction in Tauranga next month. Malone won two
![Doctors' strike continues - with public support](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Doctors' strike continues - with public support
The junior doctors' strike which began yesterday continues until tomorrow morning, with local public support for the striking doctors
![Proud of what we've achieved - Julia Edward](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Proud of what we've achieved - Julia Edward
She has had time to reflect on the disappointment of missing out on an Olympic medal, but Rotorua rower Julia Edward isn't looking