Latest from Bay of Plenty

North Island motorists warned of delays as people escape the city

Holidaymakers are in luck this long weekend but are being warned to watch out for delays.

Boy, 5, picked up used needle in park 'thinking it was a toy'

Amber's nephew thought a needle he found in an old park footpool was a plaything.

'Unsettling': Early childhood centre closed due to Omicron link

All people present at the centre on January 19 are being treated as close contacts.

'We may never know': Boy undiagnosed after month in hospital

The family say Bowden is making progress but anticipated a 'very long road' to recovery.

'A hell of a mess': Company fined $27K for allowing pigs to foul streams

About 35 pigs spent five months living in the streams, which flow into Lake Rotorua.

Wildfire fears as BOP enters total fire ban

A total fire ban has been put in force for the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato district.

New vaccination centre prepping for Omicron

The new centre has replaced the indoor site for walk-ins in Westgate.

Local Focus: Accessible hotspots 'a game-changer for disabled people's lives'

Tauranga City Council invests $4 million to improve access to local facilities.

Dismissed: Court refuses to release man who illegally reclaimed Tauranga Harbour from custody

Tio Faulkner claimed that due to being tangata whenua, he was being detained unlawfully.

Man appears in court charged with murder of David Kuka

David Kuka was murdered at his Pyes Pa address almost four years ago.

New record for Ōhope house sale

"The market in Ōhope was still going strong."

Unvaccinated Bay police and firefighters stood down

More than 200 police officers nationwide are yet to be double-vaccinated.

'Heinous, sick, twisted': Family harm reports rise, violence 'more blatant'

The number of callouts have increased over the past five years.

David Kuka case: Second man charged in execution-style murder

Nearly four years after David Kuka's death, a second man has been charged with murder

Revealed: The vaccination status of our cases and hospitalisations

There have been 126 Covid cases in the Lakes DHB between November 12 and January 17.

Pig farmer who reclaimed land to build his own harbourside 'park' back in court

The man wanted to build an area for his family 'similar to Memorial Park'.

One person in serious condition after aquatic centre incident

Emergency services were alerted to a "water-related incident".

'Incredibly unsafe': Concerns raised over Rotorua Hospital's midwife shortage

The district health board says it is struggling to recruit midwives at Rotorua Hospital.