The New Zealand Herald has more than 200 journalists across the country, bringing you the stories that matter on our website and app, in print and across our social media platforms.
Zoe Hunter is a former NZME journalist.
BoP summer music festival guide: Kiwi band reveals 'ridiculous' ritual
The hottest music festivals in Taupō, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Coromandel.
'Go in, go in!': 11yo golfer becomes youngest Taupō Hole-in-One $10k winner
The Tauranga youngster has a sweet plan for his prize money.
Young talent on show at Tauranga Golf Club
About 50 juniors got to tee it up with the golf professionals at The Junior Pro-Am.
'Incredible memories': Aims Games wraps up for 2023
"So many competitors will leave with the most incredible memories."
'I've been in their shoes': U20 champ relives history at AIMS Games
“This was my first ever competition,” says speed climbing champion Julian David.
NZ's worst congestion city: How to avoid the 'gridlock'
Find out which days are best to work from home to avoid the worst traffic.
'The Aims Games are special to me': Dame Susan Devoy cheers on great-niece
“I think it is amazing. It is like the Olympics for them.”
'History': Fiji team welcomed to Aims Games, gets tips from rugby sevens great
“It was cool for them to meet a legend."
'I want to win': Afghanistan refugee part of AIMS Games 2023
“I feel good. I am very excited to do AIMS Games.”
'I felt like I was in jail': More roadworks pain for main street - but end in sight
Other businesses fear construction disruption will impact the busy Christmas period.
'Unsung heroes': The clean-up team behind AIMS Games
'They are ambassadors for visitors to Tauranga.'
'Biggest-ever' AIMS Games to descend on Tauranga
This year also welcomes back international schools from the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa.
'Heartbreaking': Roadworks blamed as 20yo business shuts after 18 months in CBD
'I just can’t do it anymore … I am sinking into a black hole.'
Watch: Hip-hop crew Outkasts win bronze at world champs
'Hard work truly does pay off,' says Space Studios director Cameron Smith.
'Big fan of K-pop': Student to feature in Korean reality TV show
Students will be filmed over eight days as they stay with a host family.
Extreme weather: 54 flood warnings issued in five months
That's 10 more than for the entire year to June 2022.
'Showing up everywhere': Concerns as homeless exempt from freedom camping rules
A fed-up Pāpāmoa man claims a house bus stayed a year, on and off, in a 'pristine' spot.
Welcome Orange Lionesses: How Bay Oval transformed to host World Cup team
'We want them to be able to train on the best facility possible,' the groundskeeper says.
'I have got nothing': Boat owner left homeless now liable for disposal of wreck
'I am out of pocket. I have got no boat, I have got no home, I have got nothing'
'I have got nothing': Boat owner left homeless now liable for disposal of wreck
"I am out of pocket. I have got no boat, I have got no home, I have got nothing."
'Invaluable': How one woman's research is helping bee populations
'If this trend continues it will make a great difference to the health of bee colonies...'
'Impressive addition': Superstructure for council's green build taking shape
“It is another great step forward towards the bustling city centre we are aiming for.”
‘I am going to be homeless’: Pilot Bay boat owner speaks out after sinking
“Everything inside was just floating, all of my clothes.”
Zoe Hunter: Changes to skilled migrant visas letting all sides down
Bosses are desperate for skilled workers.
'There is an art to it': Top tips for selling your home at auction
'It is not as simple as just standing up there... there's an art to it'.
'Raising the bar': Build starts on luxury $280m retirement village
The clubhouse will house a bar, cafe, dance floor, and state-of-the-art movie theatre.
'Going for gold': Father eyes boxing gold for daughter
"I have done all the hard work, and now it is time to claim what is mine."
The top three events Tauranga stands to make money from
"The city is ready and able to capitalise on the pent-up demand ..."
Revealed: The suburbs where everyone selling their home made a profit
First-quarter data also shows some sellers made hundreds of thousands.
Storage wars: Inside the growing business of shipping containers
Spoiler: Lots of them are being used for anything but shipping.
Opinion: People hiding from gangsters in chillers - how did it come to this?
Someone has to take responsibility for antisocial behaviour in CBDs.
Demolition job: Replacement retirement village to feature four-storey complex
Meet the 81-year-old resident who was at the digger controls when demolition began.
Mission to shine a light on the 'incredible' Māori of Tauranga and Rotorua
'We have got some incredible talent here,' says Bay director.
'A lot' of people don't know what it does, but this company is one of NZ's best to work for
'We are a very quiet company. If you know what we do, you know who we are.'
'Iconic' Art Deco winery building becomes $12m clubhouse for retirees
It comes as another Bay retirement village opens a $30m new residential aged care centre.
'Pinnacle': Highland dancer awarded for half-century of service
'It has just been a lifetime passion. I can't see my life without it.'
Latest businesses to join billion-dollar town centre
'We see The Sands as once in a generation development'.
Wrangling the waitlist: Hospital pumps $9m into cardiac care
It comes as second heart care laboratory opens at the hospital, meaning fewer transfers.
Sneak peek: Inside the Mount's new $20m apartment hotel
Plus we reveal the furniture and interior retail specialist on the bottom floor.
'Unheard of': Hip-hop crew ranked NZ's second-best - and now eyeing world title
'Some have even gone as far as sacrificing the school ball to make it happen.'
Zoe Hunter: Why the vaping age should stay at 18
OPINION: There is more merit in other proposals to curb the habit.
'Lawyers lining up at Work and Income': Is AI a threat to the legal sector?
ChatGPT has "already passed the bar".
Business completes two years' worth of work in two months using AI
Business experts say embracing artificial intelligence will improve productivity.
'A dream come true': How these new property owners saved for their first homes
'Knowing that our babies have security now, that was the biggest thing.'
Property values: Which Tauranga suburbs have beaten the slump?
“There is a big crunch in the number of new listings coming to market.”
'Fatal injuries': Parachute tragedy investigation report released
There are some 'system' learnings the industry can take from this accident.
Hospital owners invest $15m into expanding facilities
More people are needing complex surgeries with overnight recovery.
Two million fishing lures, 200 lightsabers: Kilwell celebrates 90 years
“Without the staff, we wouldn’t be here 90 years on,” says co-owner Amanda Wells.
'Unexpected': Sir Paul Adams inducted into NZ Business Hall of Fame
'Sir Paul is definitely deserving of this recognition no matter how modest he is.'
'It is out of character for me': Anna Hawkins takes on raunchy lead role
“It is out of character for me"
'A real privilege': Free celebration of Tauranga Moana kapa haka
About 40 performers will be part of Hawaiki Herenga Haka at Trustpower Arena Baypark.
'Bitter-sweet': MP Angie Warren-Clark to run for election in Whangārei
'I have enjoyed being in the Bay of Plenty. It is just time to serve another community.'
'It is just part of who we are': Meet Mr and Mrs Baycourt and their theatre-loving family
'This is my happy place,' Dale Henderson says.
Warning after young swimmer reported missing at Pāpāmoa Beach
Emergency services were called to Pāpāmoa Beach.
'At last': Final bridge in $262m State Highway 2 project to open
Locals pleased about "major milestone", but say it won't be a congestion 'silver bullet'
The 'trendy' fruit that packs a punch in the Bay and the call to eat more of it
'We know 60% of all avocados grown in NZ are eaten by just 5% so there's huge potential.'
Review: Tauranga’s Jekyll & Hyde The Musical a feast for the ears
Review: Tauranga Musical Theatre's 'Jekyll & Hyde The Musical' is a feast for the ears.
'I just love jazz': Downtown Carnival delights at Tauranga National Jazz Festival
'Jazz has been a great part of my life.'
'We just love music': Jazz lovers soak up sun and sounds at Tauranga’s Historic Village
“As soon as someone gets up to dance, it is contagious.”
'Finally': International students are back - and it's worth millions
“The families are looking to share our Korean culture ... and make life-long friendships"
Easter in Tauranga: Thousands expected but will the weather play ball?
'It looks like it is going to be full for Easter.'
'Serious state': The sting in the tail of Cyclone Gabrielle
“New Zealand is relying on apiculture. Beehives pollinate kiwifruit orchards, apples..."
Otūmoetai Health Centre to get multimillion-dollar makeover
Improvements to be made to reception, patient waiting areas and nursing treatment rooms.
Zoe Hunter: Mid-life career changes more common than we think
Opinion: Opportunities are out there and more people are seizing them.
Why this man is making the 'scary' change from IT to hospitality - at 45
Brown is one of 11 new students who are part of HospoStart’s class of 2023.
‘Country’s biggest-ever dinner party’ for Cyclone Gabrielle-affected communities
“We’d like to show that as a whole industry we can help make a difference."
Zoe Hunter: There is no justification for robbing the local dairy
OPINION: The cost of living is hard for all. But it doesn’t give the right to steal.
'We are helpless': Store owners frustrated as retail crime doubles
'It is really hard nowadays to be honest. It is quite scary,' says one dairy owner.
200ha, 400 businesses, 5700 people and not finished: How big will this business estate get?
New details reveal just how massive it will ultimately be.
Dozens attend storytime session with drag queens despite complaints
The event was well-attended despite a number of complaints.
Building the next generation: More apprentices needed to meet construction demands
“We need to invest in apprentices now to help support the next market boom."
'Long awaited': Tauranga apartments, townhouses on the market soon
The release of units in Tauranga's Thirty Eight Elizabeth development was 'long awaited'.
50 applicants in two days for a property: Landlords ‘bombarded’ by tenants
'It is hard out there at the moment... and choices are few.'
'Quite a showpiece': School's technology block under way, part of $60m project
“I feel really fortunate to be working in a modern learning environment like ours."
How long it takes first-home buyers to save enough for a deposit revealed
The percentage of income now needed to service a mortgage is about 70 per cent.
Zoe Hunter: When one region is hurting, others need to step up
There are already examples of help flowing from the Bay of Plenty to cyclone-hit regions.
'Flying out the door': First-home buyers move in as house prices hit two-year low
The last time Tauranga had its current median house price was in September 2020.
'Expect to see higher menu prices': Minimum wage increases $1.50 per hour
The adult minimum wage will be rising to $22.70 per hour from April 1
50km before 50: Councillor by weekday, Tarawera Ultramarathon runner by weekend
More than 5000 people are expected to take part in the event.