Latest fromBay of Plenty

Heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty
Expect 70 to 100mm of rain in parts of the Bay of Plenty.

Fight for safer intersection at SH2 'black spot' ramps up
The local council is seeking $150m to fund an overbridge at the SH2 intersection.

'It was like an investment': Anaru Palmer shares his te reo Māori journey
Anaru Palmer says those keen to learn te reo Māori should "give it everything".

'Enough's enough': Aucklanders in lockdown eye Tauranga properties
REINZ: Tauranga has reached yet another record median house price of $970,000

'If you're that ballsy, then front up': Māori flag designer
Linda Munn was absolutely disgusted someone complained a Rotorua kuia was flying her flag.

Te Pāti Māori petitions to reinstate names - what's the Bay's?
The petition calls for towns, cities, places and the country's names to be restored.

Rain on the way: Weather warnings in place for BOP
There are heavy rain watches in place throughout the North Island.

Job market holds strong: Why fewer Bay people went on the dole this lockdown
Business leaders say the recovery from lockdown won't be as swift as last year.

Pain for Tauranga as Auckland lockdown extended
Rotorua is still at level 2, Auckland still at level 4, and businesses still suffer.

He made and spent fake $50 notes around the region, now he's been jailed
A Tokoroa man who scammed businesses with forged $50 notes has been jailed.

Jo Raphael: Collins' attack on microbiologist is baffling
OPINION: Collins should be aiming barbs where it counts, not at microbiologists.

Comment: It's never too late to learn how to cook
OPINION: Cooking is an homage to family.

Buddy Mikaere: Te reo Māori has come a long way since 1972
OPINION: I am proud to see the evolution of Māori language into the national lingo.

Bay of Plenty at-home injuries cost $100m in 2020
The most common injury types were falls, lifting and carrying, and animal-related.

Foodbank gives record 74% more food than previous lockdown
The numbers of people needing help since lockdown in August have reached new heights.

Te Rawhitiroa Bosch: 'With another language comes another worldview'
Te Rawhitiroa says his life would be 'pretty vanilla' if te reo Māori wasn't a part of it.

Letters: Open borders? Not without a vaccination passport
Our readers have their say.

Shock and awww: Mum had no idea she was pregnant until baby arrived
Karla Akuhata thought she was having period pain. Then her baby's head popped out.

Zizi Sparks: Why my phone is (almost) always on do not disturb
Opinion: I already use that mode but more can be done to curb screen time.

'It's our privilege': The lives and stories of the Bay of Plenty's lockdown warriors
As the Bay of Plenty went into lockdown a small army of unsung heroes geared up for work.

'I'm so hurt by those memories': Bay of Plenty ex-pats reflect on 9/11, 20 years on
Close to 3000 people died in the September 11 attacks, that changed the world forever.

'They call me the miracle guy': Mr Whippy beats rare kidney disease
"For some strange reason, the kidneys decided to work again."

'Incredible mistake': Mayor's frustration boils over in fight to fix 'most dangerous highway'
Local leaders left "bitterly disappointed" in the funding announcement.

SH27 closed, one badly injured as car, truck crash
Police were alerted at about 1.40pm.

Jo Raphael: Welcome level 2, life in lockdown was getting too comfortable
OPINION: We mustn't let life in lockdown become too comfortable.

Bay of Plenty virus test misinformation sparks investigation
A Mount Maunganui woman was told Whakatāne was the closest option at the weekend.

'It's a vicious cycle': Is this the hardest place to buy a house in NZ?
Tauranga is one of the tightest housing markets in New Zealand right now.

Commissioners' plea: Housing shortfall a challenge too big to face alone
Tauranga City Council's commissioners have pleaded to the Government for help.