The year's biggest stories online - What you clicked on in 2016

A story breaking the news of a body which washed up on Mount Maunganui beach has been the most viewed item on bayofplentytimes.co.nz this year.

The story was followed closely by a sweet story of a Te Puke dog and postal worker's special bond, after a video of the excited dog greeting the postie went viral in August.

Two brothers died when their car left State Highway 2 near Otamarakau earlier this year. Photo/Andrew Warner

The man's body was found on the Mount main beach, near Leisure Island. Police identified the man, in his 40s, and notified next of kin that morning. There were no suspicious causes.

The tragic deaths of five Tongan seasonal workers as they left work on State Highway 2, Apata, was the third most viewed story, followed by Tauranga City Council briefing staff of the possibility of a large earthquake and tsunami prompted by Kaikoura's devastation in November. A story speculating whether international street artist Banksy was in Tauranga after several of his well known murals popped up in the CBD earlier this month, including a tribute to former Prime Minister John Key.

Brian Berry was pleasantly surprised to discover new artwork on the wall of his workplace. Banksy-style pieces sparked speculation the international street artist may be in Tauranga. Photo/John Borren

Other popular stories were the announcement for a $520m bypass for SH2 north of Tauranga, the opening of the Tauriko Shopping Centre and three separate serious crashes including the deaths of two brothers following a crash in May at Otamarakau and the deaths of Leigh Rhodes, 60, and family friend Kenny McCrae as they tried to change a tyre on the side of the road on State Highway 29a between the Baypark and Maungatapu roundabouts in July. The sole survivor of the crash was taken to Tauranga Hospital with serious injuries.

The body of a 45-year-old Tauranga man was found at Mount Maunganui beach. Photo/John Borren