Multimedia Journalist, Bay of Plenty Times
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Luke Kirkness: The disease risk that requires our full attention
OPINION: We've learnt first-hand how infectious diseases spread and the impact they have.

Comment: The case for having nurse apprentices
OPINION: It might not be a quick fix to the problem, but it makes sense long-term.

Comment: Air pollution data another reason for Govt to pick a lane
Extending the fuel duty subsidy is counter-productive to public transport goals.

Luke Kirkness: How the new gang prevention laws miss the mark
OPINION: Arrests need to be made at times, but they won't lead to significant change.

Opinion: University not the only game in town
OPINION: Some advice for school students who are about to finish up

Luke Kirkness: What we can learn from a businessman about Covid-19
OPINION: Why have so many people stopped following health advice?

'Drop in the bucket': Hospice grateful for $3.1m boost but more needed
One-off funding of more than $3 million has been announced but is it enough?

Luke Kirkness: I didn't vote in the Tauranga byelection. Here's why.
OPINION: It is vital politicians connect with young people on relevant issues.

Breath alcohol checkpoints: 153 impaired drivers caught in Bay
More than 11,000 drivers were processed over two weekends.

Luke Kirkness: My failed dreams and what you can learn from them
OPINION: Make the most of your glory days, you don't know how long they'll last.

Luke Kirkness: It's time to change how we reward Lotto winners
OPINION: It's time to change how we reward Lotto winners in New Zealand.

Fire in Gate Pā: Empty house fire extinguished
A fire at a property on Ward St, Gate Pā, has been put out by firefighters.

Complaints about behaviour of nude bathers on Pāpāmoa Beach revealed
Nude bathing isn't illegal but there have been complaints about it.

Opinion: How we're missing the chance to punish bad drivers
Luke Kirkness says the law is the law, and if you break it, you should be punished.

'Long way to go': Return to normal a struggle for most businesses
Actual retail sales values increased in the Bay of Plenty in Q1 but how do retailers feel?

'Prolonged and violent assault': Police appeal after teen attacked
A boy in his mid-teens is the victim of a prolonged and violent assault, police say.

Get the umbrella ready, winter outlook reveals plenty of rain to come
The outlook comes as autumn was listed as the second-equal warmest on record.

The big issue worrying a retiring police district commander
After more than 40 years on the force, Andy McGregor says it's time to wind down.

Gang members in prison: Numbers hit 7-year low
But the proportion in prison compared to non-gang members is at a 12-year high.

Four buildings at Tauranga Hospital are earthquake-prone
Theatre block and main ward among those at risk.

Butcher hit 'rock bottom'. Then something made him decide to stay open
The butcher, subjected to smash and grabs and break-ins, was ready to call it quits.

E-bike giveaway giving back to community
The business hopes the giveaway will alleviate some pressure from people struggling

Luke Kirkness: More needs to be done to help the real MVPs of society
OPINION: Health workers are incredibly important but do we show it enough?

Data prompts fresh calls for greater investment in 'death trap' highway
The new highway came with a hefty price tag so has it been worth it?

Bitten, spat at, hit with axes: Top cop says assaults on police becoming more violent
'We are seeing is a propensity of offenders to increasingly use violence toward police'.

Luke Kirkness: Police need to be respected more and the buck stops with us
Luke Kirkness says police in NZ don't deserve to be spat at, bitten or hit.

Outlaw gangs to make NZ a safer place, says former drug kingpin
Billy Macfarlane says a tougher stance on gangs is needed.

Luke Kirkness: This Government is rewarding laziness
OPINION: It's time to get tough and ensure people are actually trying to find work.

'Targeting Māori': The police firearm figures worrying leaders
Actions predicated on race or the situation? Police firearm use data revealed.

Luke Kirkness: I've started vaping - and I'm on the way to getting hooked
OPINION: I've picked up a bad habit that is hard to shake despite not being a smoker.

Luke Kirkness: The answer to solving our gun crime issues
OPINION: Guns will always be a contentious issue but the answer is staring us in the face.

Revealed: The city that's a hotbed for dog attacks
The part of town with the most recorded incidents can also be revealed.

Luke Kirkness: Proactive steps needed to tackle road toll
OPINION: What's the price of your life or that of your loved ones?

Ex-drug kingpin on gun seizures: 'The worst guns' are still with 'the worst people'
Gun Safe was introduced in March 2019 to record police encounters with firearms.

Luke Kirkness: It's time to move to orange. Here's why.
OPINION: We're past Omicron's peak so it's time to give struggling businesses a break.

One Covid-related death in Lakes DHB, latest case numbers revealed
There were 12 deaths nationwide announced today by the Ministry of Health.

Opinion: Why tougher prison sentences alone won't cut crime
OPINION: It's a complex problem - and won't be solved any time soon, says Luke Kirkness.

Rawiri Waititi: Māori should be paid a pension from age 57
There is support and opposition to the idea to lower NZ Super eligibility for Māori.

Two deaths in Lakes region, number of other vaccines administered revealed
The number of AstraZeneca and Novavax doses in the Bay of Plenty can be revealed.

Latest Covid hospitalisations, cases and deaths revealed
There are nearly 700 people throughout New Zealand with the virus in hospital.

Building company 'shocked and devastated' by worker's death on site
Emergency services were called to the scene on Te Kaka Place on Wednesday afternoon.

'Why can't they work a little longer?': Locals discuss NZ Super eligibility
Experts butted heads on the subject, now Bay of Plenty locals put their thoughts forward.

'We're all getting old buggers': Experts split on raising age of superannuation
However, a support group says elderly people are already struggling to make ends meet.

Luke Kirkness: What some unemployed people are lacking
Keep trying until it pays off, argues Luke Kirkness.

Why it appears part of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge hasn't been fixed
There was a crane crash on the bridge in early December.

No police have tested positive for drugs in last the three years
However, the head of the police association says it's 'naive' to conclude no staff used.

How Whakatāne Mill opened the door for local industry
OPINION: It's time to shake things up a bit and take inspiration from the old days.

Luke Kirkness: It's time we grasped the housing nettle
OPINION: The latest CoreLogic property report provides no reprieve for first-home buyers

Where in the world did our MIQ cases come from?
The number of people who tested positive in MIQ and where they came from can be revealed.

Have you noticed unmaintained berms around Tauranga? If so you're not alone
Tauranga City Council explains why some berms and verges have been untouched recently.

Luke Kirkness: Now is not the time to became complacent about Covid
OPINION: Fewer people seem to be taking the threat of the virus seriously, to our peril.

Omicron outbreak: Five in Tauranga Hospital; latest case numbers revealed
The latest Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Board figures have been revealed.

Meet Flick, the little fire truck that could be yours
The origins of Flick are unknown but whoever left it at the station has a kind heart.

Luke Kirkness: Why today's make or break for the Government
OPINION: Are we in for some Covid-19 reprieve with a border announcement looming?

Luke Kirkness: Calling on New Zealand's team of five million
OPINION: Omicron is in Tauranga. What does that mean looking forward?

Vent temp and gas output decrease at Whakaari/White Island
Data was collated during an observation flight to the volcano last week.

Why we shouldn't meet sharks' existence with fear
OPINION: Great white sharks might be apex predators but they don't kill many people.

Revealed: How many people spent time in Rotorua MIQ
One recent returnee says the experience of Rotorua MIQ was hugely valuable in her life.

Revealed: The cost of water-related injuries
The most common activities that led to injuries were boating, swimming and fishing.

Luke Kirkness: We cannot afford to get complacent with the virus
OPINION: There are fears an Omicron outbreak could soon start — we need to be ready.

Revealed: The number of times New Zealand Defence Force staff tested positive for illegal drugs
The number who tested positive for which class of drug, and their penalty, are revealed.

Revealed: What books were issued most in the Bay of Plenty in 2021
What people in the Bay of Plenty read last year revealed - plus a few suggestions.

Luke Kirkness: How holiday traffic woes could be hold the answers to Bay's biggest issues
OPINION: The biggest issues crippling our region could be solved this summer.

Luke Kirkness: Anxious days ahead after Omicron discovery
OPINION: Some of us may feel battle-hardened, others more battle-weary.

Luke Kirkness: Something worth celebrating in 2021
Opinion: This is the one something worth celebrating in 2021- an otherwise rocky year.