Electronics engineer James Graham left South Africa to settle in Tauranga in 2008, driven out by increasing violence and the desire to have his children grow up in a better environment.

Shanton Fashion's stores in Fraser Cove and Whakatane will be closed by the end of next month.

Heath Young sees his role as chief operating officer as eliminating the "noise" out of the back end of the business in order to make better strategic decisions.

The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority is to consider applications by police to suspend liquor licences for two local taverns and their managers' certificates later this month.