Tauranga City Council processed a record 558 building consents, worth $146 million, last month as developers rushed to beat new impact fees.
Charges doubled on July 1, adding about $20,000 to the cost of a new house and section. Applications for 508 new homes were approved, compared with 294 last June.
Drivertargets police officer A Tauranga police officer had to leap out of the way when the driver of a car he was trying to wave down early on Saturday targeted him.
The officer had stopped another car when he saw two vehicles racing. The second one returned and drove at him. A young man was arrested for dangerous driving and failing to stop. His car was impounded.
