The Bay of Plenty Times is taking a look back at the stories of 2019. Here's what made headlines in October.
October 1:
Iconic Bay company Maketu Pies has gone into receivership due to its "critical financial position".
The business has been operating in Maketū for about 36 years and is the community's biggest employer of about 40 staff, mostly locals.
Read more:
Maketu Pies in receivership, community devastated: 'It has employed so much of Maketu'
October 2:
A makeshift campsite housing 24 homeless people has been closed because the trust operating the site could not afford to meet council regulations.
Failure to comply with the regulations including applying for a resource consent could have resulted in prosecution.
Read more Homeless campsite closes after enforcement action by Tauranga City Council
October 4:
Two Tauranga city councillors targeted in a full-page attack ad have hit back, with one calling it "dirty politics".
The ad, authorised by former advisor to the council, Graeme Horsley, named councillors Bill Grainger, Rick Curach and John Robson.
Read more:
'Dirty politics': Bill Grainger and Rick Curach hit back at Graeme Horsley's attack ad
October 5:
A council candidate has admitted a charge of assault against an elderly woman in what she says was a "road rage" incident.
David Wayne Grindley, 53, of Welcome Bay, pleaded guilty in August in relation to the incident. He says he was discharged without conviction and ordered to pay the victim $750 reparation.
Read more: Tauranga City Council candidate David Grindley admits assaulting 75-year-old woman
October 9:
They're as Aussie as it gets, but Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes says our Waitangi holiday is the perfect occasion for them to play in New Zealand.
The legendary rock outfit are reforming and will bring their Blood Moon 2020 tour to Tauranga's Wharepai Domain on February 5.
Read more:
Cold Chisel playing one-off New Zealand show in Tauranga with the Mutton Birds
October 12:
A motel in Tauranga has been paid more than $1 million by the Government in less than three years for providing emergency housing.
The Ministry of Social Development is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more every year on emergency housing special needs grants in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Read more:
Million dollar business: What motels are making from emergency housing
October 12:
Six years. One hundred and forty children and teenagers. All of them boys, many of them with adult problems.
Bay of Plenty couple Robin and Kahu Grace have looked after them when they've needed somewhere safe to stay.
When their own home wasn't an option.
Read more:
'I'm not afraid of crying': Couple step up to help 140 Kiwi kids
October 12:
Tauranga mayor-elect Tenby Powell says the voters have spoken: "It's time for the old guard to let go".
In a stunning upset, the businessman has been elected mayor of the city where he grew up, despite having only moved back from Auckland in May.
Read more:
Tenby Powell elected mayor of Tauranga with 4000-vote lead over Greg Brownless
October 15:
Well-known Tauranga sailor and local Act Party candidate Stuart Pedersen has been identified as the victim of the fatal yachting accident in Northland.
Pedersen died after a yacht he and three others were in sank north of Cape Brett yesterday.
Read more: Tauranga sailor Stuart Pedersen dies after yacht sinks north of Cape Brett
October 16:
Maketu Pies has been given a lifeline after a buyer was found for the company.
Te Arawa Management Ltd (TAML), the commercial subsidiary of Te Arawa Lakes Trust, purchased Maketu Pies after it went into receivership earlier this month because of the "critical financial position" it was in.
Read more: Buyer found for iconic Bay of Plenty business Maketu Pies
October 18:
Exhausted but overjoyed, Bruce Goodwin thought they'd made it. Inside the rescue helicopter above turbulent seas, he sought a smile from his sailing companion Stuart Pedersen. He didn't get one.
It was in that moment, cold and wet, he realised his friend had died.
Read more:
Survivor tells of moment he realised sailing friend Stuart Pedersen had died
October 23:
Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell says councillor Andrew Hollis should resign over his controversial Treaty of Waitangi comments.
Powell said, in his opinion, Hollis had shown he had pre-determined views and should not be allowed to participate in any council decisions relating to iwi or the Treaty, which was most decisions.
Read more:
Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell says councillor Andrew Hollis should resign
October 25:
Protests marked the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Tauranga City Council.
In more fallout from councillor Andrew Hollis' Treaty of Waitangi comments, there were walkouts, a boycott, a silent protest and - in the most dramatic incident - a protester ripped newly hung Treaty posters off the wall of the council chamber.
Read more:
Fallout over councillor Andrew Hollis' Treaty of Waitangi comments hits council meeting