Services were recorded and featured on internet video site Vimeo. Sermons and other video recordings, produced and edited by a team of enthusiastic youngsters, could be viewed in high-definition on internet-capable TVs, laptops, smartphones or multi-media devices. On the web: vimeo.com/bethlehembaptistnz
Storm hits city
Greerton Park and lower Oropi were underwater after heavy rain and a high tide caused the Waimapu Stream to burst its banks. MetService forecaster Leigh Matheson said the Western Bay of Plenty had borne the brunt of a strong storm. Wind gusts reached 93km/h with trees blown down and roofs torn off around the city. More than 122mm of rain fell over two days surpassing the June average of 96mm and the deluge saw Tauranga City Council contractors issued with 105 stormwater-related work orders.
Staff attacked
Hundreds of Tauranga and Whakatane hospital staff had been attacked on the job by patients and visitors, with injuries ranging from minor bruising and shock to broken limbs and black eyes.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board figures show there had been 875 attacks on staff since 2010, including 67 this year. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists chairman Ian Powell said: "It's not an acceptable part of the job to be assaulted but the risk there is known.
"It's reality."
Rena payout
Tauranga marine and tourist businesses survived the tough negotiating stance taken by Rena's owner and insurer to emerge with good settlements to their compensation claims. All 74 claims were settled after two days of talks before commercial mediator Warren Sowerby, 53 of the claims worth $5.5 million were taken as a class action by the Business Action Group who were joined in mediation by six iwi and hapu groups and 15 individuals. At stake was the $11 million deposited with the High Court by the Rena insurer.
Lotto brings joy
Welcome Bay couple Sue and Ray Carroll spun $500,000 on Lotto's Winning Wheel after purchasing the ticket from Bethlehem Four Square and their dream of going on an African Safari became a reality. Mrs Carroll, who was a teacher at Greerton Kindergarten, said they were "treated like royalty" by the Lotto officials including being put up in a swanky hotel on Auckland's Viaduct.
Push for homes
Tauranga led the country in the construction of new houses on multiple-owned Maori land, with another 50 homes due to be finished by next November. The progress being made on marae-based papakainga housing projects was showcased by Pio Kawe, a member of the Western Bay of Plenty Maori Housing Forum.
He said 26 homes had been completed since 2010, and another 20 homes had been added in Tauranga and the wider Western Bay, with the scheme now cranking up to its ultimate goal of building 252 houses on land owned by 10 Maori land trusts.
Rates-rise pain
Bay residents would have to dig deeper into their pockets this year, with rates rises announced across the board. The Western Bay District Council had the sharpest rates rise of all three local councils, with an average 5.16 per cent rise. Tauranga City Council adopted a 2 per cent increase, while the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's rates would be going up by 3.5 per cent. The Western Bay District Council's increase upset Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers vice-president John Scrimgeour, who would be forking out an extra $1200 a year on top of his already large $25,000 rates bill.
"I thought most people had given the council a pretty clear message that they need to be prudent with what's been happening around here, particularly in the kiwifruit sector," the Te Puke farmer said.
Wreck wrangle
Rena removal campaigner Buddy Mikaere said ignoring iwi wishes to have the wreck removed is like putting Maori through colonisation again.
Local iwi groups headed to the Waitangi Tribunal on June 30 with claims the lack of Maori consultation around the future of the Rena wreck is a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi.
"If we say we want it removed and the Crown ignores that, that's similar to colonisation. Your opinion counts for nothing and we will just do what we want to do," Mr Mikaere said.
