Cira Olivier is a social issues and breaking news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times. She has been a journalist since 2019.
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'Horror story': Only half of domestic violence callouts end in charges in Bay of Plenty
And agencies are expecting an influx this holiday period.
'Sincere thanks': Huge amount raised during Christmas appeal
It's been a pleasant surprise for the foodbank as people battle a cost-of-living crisis.
'We’re bummed': Local shows impacted by Sublime with Rome postponements
The band is set to part ways next year.
Boogie boarder 'battling': Veteran Mount lifeguard rescues two
Hundreds flocked to Bay beaches this weekend.
'Final push' for foodbank appeal as more people seek help
The Christmas Appeal is at the end of its fifth week.
'Large gang presence’: Extra police for two gang funerals in Whakatāne
Locals are asked to expect delays while gang farewells members.
Business donates nearly $14K to Bay of Plenty foodbanks
Foodbanks are “at the coalface of the cost-of-living crisis".
Shot at, bashed, intimidated: Road workers speak out on 'extreme' abuse
NZTA boss worries for industry's future as half of staff quit within a year amid abuse.
Plunket foodbank referrals up 13pc increase, now it's giving back
'This is what community is all about.'
They see me rolling: The scooter club giving back to the community
The Greenwood Retirement Village group challenges other villages to collect as well.
Young boy donates all his coins in food drive
Nearly 4000 items were donated in the Lakes area alone.
Christmas Appeal donations crack $100K with two weeks to go
Meanwhile, the demand for goods has spiked 34 per cent from two years ago.
Broken glass 'purposefully' left on athletics field 'to hurt people', child cut
'Someone or some people are willing to sabotage a kids’ event to hurt kids.'
Christmas Movie in the Park 'blew all expectations out of the water'
The Hits Christmas in the Park screened The Grinch to around 1000 people.
T20 Black Clash: Four locals add to star-studded line up
The event is back in the Mount for 2024 and is expected to sell out before Christmas.
'No let up': Meet the agencies working alongside the foodbank for you
Over 100 referral agencies help make sure thousands in the community get much-needed food.
Falcon advocate defends bird of prey after attack left woman needing stitches
The post said falcons 'want to kill the perceived threat'.
'Lucky touch': The store that's sold million-dollar Lotto tickets
The Whakatāne store owners have now sold an $8.3m-winning ticket to go with a $12.25m win.
Mobility scooter crash: Dedicated gardener bought plants the day he died
A relative says Eddie Duffy often made the long ride to Bunnings to buy more blooms.
Sweets and hand-knitted toys amoung generous donations
The foodbank urges people to continue providing much-needed support.
Just hanging out: Sam Smith's adventurous Rotorua holiday
Sam Smith and designer Christian Cowan were spotted in Rotorua last week.
'Amazing' first week: Generous donations flow in to foodbank
Regular and new supporters have been donating.
What's in a foodbank parcel? And how to donate
The annual six-week Christmas Appeal has been running since November 11.
The Grinch outdoor movie night all set to help foodbank
The Hits Christmas in the Park is in partnership with Pacific Toyota.
Christmas Appeal: Foodbank shares donation wishlist
What will you be donating to the Foodbank this year?
Worse than in Covid: 'Record' need as homeowners, fulltime workers turn to foodbank
"The rainy day is here right now," foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin says.
'Gobsmacked': Grieving husband says Jehovah's Witness targeted him with letter
The letter 'preaching God's Kingdom' arrived about three weeks after his wife died.
'Smell of an oily rag': Murder of wife with Alzheimer's shows need for more dementia support
Experts speak after 'tragic' case of man who killed wife in retirement village.
Charlotte Yates Q&A: On Katherine Mansfield, seven songwriters and taking risks
The Tauranga Arts Festival runs until October 29.
Stacey Leilua Q&A: From working with The Rock to starring in The Savage Coloniser
The Tauranga Arts Festival will run from October 19-29.
Q&A: Jesse Griffin brings his comedic cowboy Wilson Dixon to Tauranga
The Tauranga Arts Festival will run from October 19-29.
Kip Chapman Q&A: His out-of-this-world show, curious career and poultry phobia
He is one of a host of artists performing in the Tauranga Arts Festival.
'Chaos': Don Brash and partner flee Israel after war breaks out
On their drive to the airport, there was an 'eerie feeling that trouble was near'.
80yo charged with murdering his wife at Mount Maunganui retirement village
Jean Ann Salter, 78, was found deceased yesterday.
Tensions over lake closure: Fisherman's 'threat' to dig up jetty blockade
Police say there was no threat, rather frustrations expressed 'colourfully'.
'Safeguard our Rotomoana': Rāhui considered for lakes to avoid clam invasion
"It is our shared responsibility to collaborate in the best interest of all our lakes."
Environmental terrorism fears: Lake closes to boats, anglers to keep out 'monster'
Closure of 'trophy' trout lake on eve of fishing season a 'blow to anglers' - Fish & Game
'Consequences, not holidays': Mum's horror at penalty after son kicked in face
His mother says the school's punishment decision after the 'vicious' attack is too light.
Congestion eases on Hewletts Rd after morning incident
Iwi protest over long-running issue in Tauranga.
'Sick to my stomach': Mall business latest ram-raid target
The gift shop owner never thought something like this would happen to him.
From playing on concrete to their very first Aims Games
Students from the East Coast school Te Kura ō Manutuke are excited to be in Tauranga.
Aims Games: Thousands of students party at the opening ceremony
It's the largest games, with more than 22,000 officials, supporters, and junior athletes.
New $340k fire pump truck likely written off in crash
It crashed and rolled on Thursday around 10am.
'All I need is a good rest': 70yo goes from living in a cold car to a warm home
Four elderly homeless women now have a safe place to call home at Whare Kaa.
The team behind a tragedy: How experts help school children after trauma
The team was called in to help after the train tragedy in Mount Maunganui.
'Massive potential for change': Investment fund takes on housing crisis
'Why wouldn’t an investor choose social good over another investment of equal risk?'
'Shocked': Grandfather's new iPad stolen from car he was sitting in
Man's granddaughter says he had been putting money aside for the new tablet.
'You’re kidding me': The story behind the mystery driveway pole
The team was laughing about it, not realising one of their own was responsible.
Ram raiders make 'massive mess' of shop in 90 seconds
One trips and nearly faceplants in the rush to leave the ransacked store.
'Just a footpath': Union speaks out over rail crossing where child died
'That crossing doesn’t seem to have a hell of a lot of protection on it.'
'Delightful, happy' student killed in train tragedy
'We’re devasted to lose one of our own in such awful circumstances.'
'Misconception': This woman owns a home and business but still needs a benefit to survive
The cost-of-living crisis is hitting people across the board.
Pole mystery deepens: 'The more I look at it, the more random it’s starting to look'
'Is this a sign?' Teacher tosses up what to do with pole someone cemented in her driveway.
Missing woman's generous act remembered as search of tracks continues
The former midwife has been missing since Wednesday.
'I have no idea what this is doing here': Mystery pole appears in woman's driveway
She says the community is as invested as she is in discovering how it got there - and why.
Coromandel storm: Paediatric occupational therapist has to reshedule all appointments
102mm of rain has fallen in eight hours with more to come.
Watch: 'Cleaned us out': Six ram-raiders steal $150K worth of stock in mall heist
The raid involved five vehicles and was 'like something out of a movie'.
'Significant damage': Five vehicles used in ram raid, smash through mall
The incident happened about 2am.
Cheapest places to fill up before fuel prices rise
Fuel prices are set to increase by 29 cents per litre from July 1.
Watch: 'Horrific' - jewellers lash out at 'numpties' after 8th crime in 18 months
'What are you numpties doing trying to break in to get nothing.'
Ram-raided vape store owner fears new rules will create 'black market'
Another says people are "panic-buying" ahead of the policy changes.
'Obliterated': Tree 'blown up' as golf course struck by lightning
'The craziest thing is you can see the lightning bolt in the ground.'
Watch: Thieves bumble their way through vape store ram raid
Dramatic footage shows three masked thieves ramming their way into BoP store.
'They’re going to kill me': Man fleeing gang members hides in restaurant chiller
Businesses in Tauranga's CBD are also complaining about crime and antisocial behaviour.
Crews dampening hot spots after large building fire
Fire and Emergency crews were called at 11.18am.
'Heartbreaking': Beach residents count cost of flash flood
The local surf club president said the deluge 'came without warning'.
Flooded Waihī Beach pensioner flats may not be safe for months
'They left with the clothes on their back.'
'I hate traffic': Man spends night in campervan to avoid highway delays
He's joined by about 25,000 vehicles a day on the stretch of highway.
Watch: Crews return to Gate Pa house fire after flames spotted
”I haven’t seen flames that high in a long time.”
Fake money warning: Can you spot the difference?
Retailers are warning other businesses to watch out for counterfeit notes.
Park fountain child death: Council rejected safety improvements two decades ago
Several proposals were offered including one to make the fountain shallower for $20,000.
‘I should have said something’: Woman's regret after child drowns in park
She's seen many near-misses in the water and wants to see safety changes.
'Families are struggling': Foodbank costs up $10k a month, 14,000kg drop in rescued food
The cost of living crisis had “hit everyone hard”, including support providers.
'Too much pressure': Mum sick of SH2 traffic puts house up for rent
Another mum had to move her child's daycare so she could get to work on time.
Police investigating after man tried to 'entice' children into car
'We would urge everyone to be alert, not alarmed.'
Weather: Intense rainfall brings flooding and slips to BoP
Motorists were trapped on the Kaimai Range as heavy rain pelted the region.
Watch: Landslide rips through home: 'The sink is up in the air'
'Dad heard this noise and thought “what was that?'
Watch: Major landslide in Bay of Plenty town
The slip is blocking the road and has cut power.
Live: Highway reopens after slip, schools closed due to 'localised flooding'
State Highway 34 is closed this morning as heavy rain lashes the region.