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Zoe Hunter
Tauranga

The New Zealand Herald has more than 200 journalists across the country, bringing you the stories that matter on our website and app, in print and across our social media platforms.

Zoe Hunter is a former NZME journalist.

Check out Zoe’s latest content
Premium
Extreme weather: 54 flood warnings issued in five months
The Country

Extreme weather: 54 flood warnings issued in five months

30 Jul 06:00 PM
'I have got nothing': Boat owner left homeless now liable for disposal of wreck
The Country

'I have got nothing': Boat owner left homeless now liable for disposal of wreck

19 Jul 02:03 AM

'I am out of pocket. I have got no boat, I have got no home, I have got nothing'

'Invaluable': How one woman's research is helping bee populations
The Country

'Invaluable': How one woman's research is helping bee populations

14 Jul 04:00 AM

'If this trend continues it will make a great difference to the health of bee colonies...'

Premium
The 'trendy' fruit that packs a punch in the Bay and the call to eat more of it
The Country

The 'trendy' fruit that packs a punch in the Bay and the call to eat more of it

15 Apr 10:14 PM

'We know 60% of all avocados grown in NZ are eaten by just 5% so there's huge potential.'

Premium
'Serious state': The sting in the tail of Cyclone Gabrielle
The Country

'Serious state': The sting in the tail of Cyclone Gabrielle

26 Mar 08:00 PM

“New Zealand is relying on apiculture. Beehives pollinate kiwifruit orchards, apples..."

Kiwifruit e-Bin innovation to help ‘exacerbated’ labour shortage
The Country

Kiwifruit e-Bin innovation to help ‘exacerbated’ labour shortage

11 Dec 01:00 AM

“The industry is suffering serious labour shortages... we’ve come up with this solution."

'Crying all morning': 'Tornado' hits farm, killing animals and destroying structures
The Country

'Crying all morning': 'Tornado' hits farm, killing animals and destroying structures

23 Nov 02:15 AM

But a swift community response is helping the distraught family pick up the pieces.

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From food waste to bioenergy: The $30m-plus 'gamechanger'
The Country

From food waste to bioenergy: The $30m-plus 'gamechanger'

27 Mar 07:00 PM

Seven commercial building consents valued at $3,870,000 were issued last month,

Premium
1000 homes: Why Kāinga Ora paid $70.4 million for 95ha in Tauranga
The Country

1000 homes: Why Kāinga Ora paid $70.4 million for 95ha in Tauranga

24 Nov 04:56 PM

As of November 19, Kāinga Ora is the new owner of Ferncliffe Farm in Tauriko.

Premium
Ratepayers call Three Waters reform an 'April Fool's joke' and an 'insult'
The Country

Ratepayers call Three Waters reform an 'April Fool's joke' and an 'insult'

20 Sep 06:00 AM

A full report will be presented to the council along with community feedback on October 4.

Premium
Gravy, pork bun, kūmara and meringue. The possible cancer-fighting sea sponges exciting scientists
The Country

Gravy, pork bun, kūmara and meringue. The possible cancer-fighting sea sponges exciting scientists

15 Aug 09:00 PM

They sound like the makings of a nice meal but these sea sponges could help fight cancer.

Whakatōhea Mussels' new $37m mussel processing factory officially opened
The Country

Whakatōhea Mussels' new $37m mussel processing factory officially opened

15 Aug 02:00 AM

So far 42 staff have been hired with plans to recruit a further 66.

Premium
Our blue economy: Bay growing 'world-class' aquaculture industry
The Country

Our blue economy: Bay growing 'world-class' aquaculture industry

14 Aug 09:00 PM

The eastern Bay, in particular, could become "a powerhouse" for New Zealand aquaculture.

Premium
Maketu Pies back and busy with new jobs, initiatives and flavours
The Country

Maketu Pies back and busy with new jobs, initiatives and flavours

11 May 07:00 PM

Te Arawa Management Limited took over ownership of Maketu Pies in November 2019.

Premium
Build begins on $30m food waste to bioenergy facility
The Country

Build begins on $30m food waste to bioenergy facility

13 Mar 08:00 PM

There were 94 building consents worth about $19m issued in February.

'Biggest fish I've ever seen': Angler catches 434.5kg black marlin
The Country

'Biggest fish I've ever seen': Angler catches 434.5kg black marlin

07 Mar 04:00 AM

It is the biggest black marlin landed by a member of one Tauranga club in nearly 60 years.

Premium
Summer read: World's largest fish spotted in Tauranga waters
The Country

Summer read: World's largest fish spotted in Tauranga waters

27 Dec 07:00 PM

Bay explorer skipper Nik Weyel: 'I had never seen anything like it'

Premium
Business investment, strong forestry sector offer Covid relief
The Country

Business investment, strong forestry sector offer Covid relief

20 Nov 10:00 PM

Infometrics: Rotorua economic activity fell 3pc in the September quarter

Premium
Mainfreight: A sneak peek inside the company's largest transport branch in NZ
The Country

Mainfreight: A sneak peek inside the company's largest transport branch in NZ

26 Sep 11:00 PM

The 90-odd staff moved in to the new $40m facility on September 12, 2020

Premium
Meet Bryce Heard: Farmer, forester, fisherman - and businessman
The Country

Meet Bryce Heard: Farmer, forester, fisherman - and businessman

30 Aug 06:00 AM

Meet Bryce Heard - the farmer, forester and fisherman

Premium
'We've had to make some really tough calls': Comvita cuts 90 jobs, but significantly narrows financial losses
The Country

'We've had to make some really tough calls': Comvita cuts 90 jobs, but significantly narrows financial losses

24 Aug 07:28 AM

Comvita released its audited results for the year to June 30.

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Survey: Bay economic confidence slips but 'better than expected'
The Country

Survey: Bay economic confidence slips but 'better than expected'

25 Jun 05:00 PM

According to the survey, regional economic confidence in the Bay fell 2 per cent.

'It is very special': Volunteers give Tauranga Sport Fishing Club a makeover
The Country

'It is very special': Volunteers give Tauranga Sport Fishing Club a makeover

13 Jun 11:00 PM

Bagshaw said they helped to rip up carpets, paint the walls and fit new lights

Premium
Construction boom: Industry creates $349m and 3000-plus jobs
The Country

Construction boom: Industry creates $349m and 3000-plus jobs

23 Mar 04:00 PM

The construction industry has created more than 3000 jobs in the sub-region in 10 years.

Premium
Regional economic confidence in Bay set to continue to climb
The Country

Regional economic confidence in Bay set to continue to climb

16 Jan 04:01 PM

A net 28 per cent of Bay households expected the region's economy to improve

Premium
Medicinal cannabis to be grown on Matakana Island
The Country

Medicinal cannabis to be grown on Matakana Island

18 Dec 01:44 AM

Mahana Island Therapies has been granted a medicinal cannabis licence to grow on island.

Premium
Green light: Company gets approval to grow medicinal cannabis
The Country

Green light: Company gets approval to grow medicinal cannabis

14 Nov 09:28 PM

Medical cannabis firm based in Katikati gets two Medsafe cultivation licences.

Premium
Maketu Pies: Workers keep their jobs, are new pies planned?
The Country

Maketu Pies: Workers keep their jobs, are new pies planned?

13 Nov 01:01 AM

Maketu Foods Limited took over Maketu Pies on November 12.

Premium
Former employees of Maketu Pies react to new owners
The Country

Former employees of Maketu Pies react to new owners

17 Oct 09:00 PM

Maketu Pies changes hands on November 11.

Premium
Maketu Pies sold: Owner breaks silence
The Country

Maketu Pies sold: Owner breaks silence

17 Oct 01:08 AM

The settlement date is November 11.

Maketu Pies: Sale expected at end of week
The Country

Maketu Pies: Sale expected at end of week

14 Oct 08:18 PM

The dust has settled after the initial receivership shock and an announcement is imminent.

Premium
Local iwi show interest in buying Maketu Pies
The Country

Local iwi show interest in buying Maketu Pies

04 Oct 12:01 AM

The deadline for expressions of interest ends October 7

Premium
Iconic Bay company Maketu Pies in receivership
The Country

Iconic Bay company Maketu Pies in receivership

30 Sep 02:03 PM

Maketu Pies was placed into receivership last week.

'Maggot' found in chook identified as just chicken
The Country

'Maggot' found in chook identified as just chicken

31 Jul 08:39 PM

The "maggot" has been identified as simply, chicken

Machinery suspected in palm kernel fire
The Country

Machinery suspected in palm kernel fire

13 May 01:06 AM

Firefighters from as far as Auckland and Hamilton were called to help fight the blaze

Mill mourns deaths of two employees in two weeks
The Country

Mill mourns deaths of two employees in two weeks

10 Apr 11:00 PM

The 66-year-old cyclist was taken to hospital but died overnight on Tuesday.

Orchardists turn attention to commercial sites
The Country

Orchardists turn attention to commercial sites

12 Feb 08:00 PM

Cashed-up kiwifruit and avocado growers are eyeing up commercial real estate in Tauranga.

People snapped defecating in Pāpāmoa dunes
The Country

People snapped defecating in Pāpāmoa dunes

14 Jan 11:00 PM

People have been spotted doing number twos in the reserve

Replica Katikati station on display at model railway show
The Country

Replica Katikati station on display at model railway show

13 Jan 08:00 PM

"It is not just about the trains, it is about creating a scene," enthusiast says.

Water restrictions likely in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty
The Country

Water restrictions likely in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty

07 Jan 07:00 PM

A large water leak has been identified in the Te Puke area.

Council's plea for residents to conserve water
The Country

Council's plea for residents to conserve water

06 Jan 10:38 PM

People are urged to only use water for essential purposes.

Gold kiwifruit orchard sells for $6.1m
The Country

Gold kiwifruit orchard sells for $6.1m

12 Nov 04:13 PM

Kiwifruit orchard had been owned by Keith Oakley and his family since 1997.

Maketu Coastguard wins national award
The Country

Maketu Coastguard wins national award

16 Oct 05:15 AM

Maketu won the National Unit of the Year and Community Relations Activity of the Year

Conservation Week begins in Tauranga
The Country

Conservation Week begins in Tauranga

17 Sep 04:00 AM

Conservation Week is from September 15 to 23

Protester carries grandfather's ashes to block State Highway 2
The Country

Protester carries grandfather's ashes to block State Highway 2

16 Sep 02:40 AM

Protesters from Fix the Bloody Road are blocking State Highway 2 outside Tauranga

Workers celebrate Kaimai Tunnel's 40th
The Country

Workers celebrate Kaimai Tunnel's 40th

10 Sep 04:22 AM

September 12 marks the 8.9km Kaimai Tunnel's 40th anniversary.

New face leading the team of LandSAR NZ
The Country

New face leading the team of LandSAR NZ

18 Aug 06:00 AM

Tauranga's Carl McOnie is LandSAR New Zealand's new chief executive.

Medical cannabis industry aims to match billion-dollar kiwifruit sector
The Country

Medical cannabis industry aims to match billion-dollar kiwifruit sector

26 Jul 06:00 PM

MediCann has exclusive NZ rights to more than 30 medically certified cannabis strains.

Training where the wildfires are
The Country

Training where the wildfires are

19 Jul 08:00 AM

Four Youth Search and Rescue students will stay five days in Yosemite National Park.

Increasing number of seals spotted in Tauranga
The Country

Increasing number of seals spotted in Tauranga

10 Jul 01:30 AM

There have been a number of seals spotted in the Tauranga area.

Nearly $60m of consents issued
The Country

Nearly $60m of consents issued

04 Jul 09:29 PM

Tauranga City Council issued $58.7m in building consents during June.

Confident in kiwifruit and avocados
The Country

Confident in kiwifruit and avocados

02 Jul 09:00 PM

A net 45 per cent of Bay households expect the region's economy to improve in 12 months.

Iwi companies buy 98ha kiwifruit portfolio
The Country

Iwi companies buy 98ha kiwifruit portfolio

26 Jun 01:00 PM

Te Puke orchards sold by tender for an undisclosed sum to three iwi companies.

Research exploring uses for sea lettuce
The Country

Research exploring uses for sea lettuce

22 May 05:00 PM

$13m algal biotechnology project will bring world-leading researchers to Bay.

'Mini tornado' lifts garages and flips trampolines in Tauranga
The Country

'Mini tornado' lifts garages and flips trampolines in Tauranga

15 May 09:06 PM

A "mini tornado" ripped through a Tauranga property and lifted a woman's double garage.

Bacterial cattle disease  mycoplasma bovis edging closer to Bay of Plenty
The Country

Bacterial cattle disease mycoplasma bovis edging closer to Bay of Plenty

15 May 08:00 PM

Mycoplasma bovis is spreading throughout the country – are local farmers worried?

Kiwifruit worker shortage: Too few willing to work
The Country

Kiwifruit worker shortage: Too few willing to work

08 May 08:00 PM

Why are there not enough people to pick kiwifruit?

Dead penguin reports 'biggest in years'
The Country

Dead penguin reports 'biggest in years'

23 Apr 08:30 PM

Western Bay Wildlife Trust has had nearly 60 calls about dead penguins in two weeks.

Trash Town: Dumped rubbish danger to marine life
The Country

Trash Town: Dumped rubbish danger to marine life

20 Feb 10:00 PM

What impact is dumped rubbish having on our marine life?

Local businesses going plastic straw-free
The Country

Local businesses going plastic straw-free

18 Feb 10:09 PM

More Tauranga hospitality businesses are ditching the plastic straws.

Council wants to catch fly tippers in the act
The Country

Council wants to catch fly tippers in the act

18 Feb 04:46 AM

How much of our waste is preventable?

Businesses pitch in to clean up coast trash
The Country

Businesses pitch in to clean up coast trash

15 Feb 06:00 PM

What other businesses are doing away with plastic straws?

Big year for Bay's volunteer fire brigades
The Country

Big year for Bay's volunteer fire brigades

20 Jan 09:00 PM

Papamoa Volunteer Fire Brigade had a record year for callouts in 2017.

Birds and pufferfish wash ashore
The Country

Birds and pufferfish wash ashore

18 Jan 05:25 PM

Thirty-eight pufferfish have been collected from Mount beach with more sightings.

Toxic fish at Mount trigger warning
The Country

Toxic fish at Mount trigger warning

17 Jan 02:26 AM

Do not touch pufferfish and keep dogs away from these poisonous creatures.

Search for missing man scaled back
The Country

Search for missing man scaled back

19 Oct 02:50 AM

Searchers have scoured rugged terrain for missing Waihi man Grant Ridley.

Boaties urged to have 2 ways to call for help
The Country

Boaties urged to have 2 ways to call for help

14 Oct 10:00 PM

The regional council is hosting a safer boating workshop at Sulphur Point on October 14.

New Zespri chief focuses on year-long supply
The Country

New Zespri chief focuses on year-long supply

03 Oct 02:40 AM

Meet Zespri's new chief executive Dan Mathieson.

Thieves grab classic motorbike at festival
The Country

Thieves grab classic motorbike at festival

01 Oct 08:23 PM

A Tauranga man is using social media to help find his classic motorcycle worth $15,000.

Beehive thefts take huge toll on industry
The Country

Beehive thefts take huge toll on industry

06 Sep 05:00 PM

Police are investigating hundreds of stolen beehives in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Water alert after malfunction at plant
The Country

Water alert after malfunction at plant

01 Sep 04:00 AM

A water warning was issued for residents of Pyes Pa and The Lakes on Thursday.

Zespri chief goes out on a high, $2.26b in sales
The Country

Zespri chief goes out on a high, $2.26b in sales

24 Aug 07:11 PM

Kiwifruit company Zespri has netted a record $2.26 billion in sales.

Harbour study reveals new species
The Country

Harbour study reveals new species

11 Aug 02:43 AM

Chris Battershill speaks about sea lettuce at Tauranga's Blue2Green conference.

Slip victims still unable to go home
The Country

Slip victims still unable to go home

07 Aug 07:00 PM

Council is still working to repair slips in Omokoroa.

New fruit trees for Gate Pa School
The Country

New fruit trees for Gate Pa School

01 Aug 09:00 PM

Gate Pa Primary School have been gifted 10 fruit trees from Donor's Choice.

Kiwi woman's life transformed by rescue dog
The Country

Kiwi woman's life transformed by rescue dog

10 Jul 01:39 AM

Tauranga woman Tracy Pepper and the heartwarming tale of her rescue dog, Blue.

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