Latest from Bay of Plenty

'Boredom's not a thing': What it's like to join the police

Reporoa-born and bred, he is now responding to 111 calls in Tauranga.

'Massive increase': Security company dealing with more gang violence

National has said the number of new police in the region is "not enough".

The Auckland problem: Higher infection rate, lower booster uptake

Unboosted Aucklanders eligible for their third jab need to get it now, expert says.

Transitional houses to be relocated for $22m pump station

The removal of the homes had been planned since the village's inception in 2017.

'These were normal guys': Judge sentences men in major cannabis-growing syndicate

More people tied up in a major cannabis growing syndicate have been sentenced.

Live: 1901 new Covid-19 cases as Omicron continues its surge

That brings the number of active community cases across the country to 11,601.

Looming 'exodus': Tradies getting 30 per cent more pay in Aussie

Unvaccinated business owners are fleeing NZ to start up again overseas.

'Living in fear': Pregnant women face 'super stressful' battle to find midwives

The woman says she 'wouldn't wish the stress' of finding a midwife on anyone.

'Anomaly': Small town's house prices leap almost 50 per cent in a month

Bay of Plenty towns hit record-high house prices.

'Shut the doors': Tauranga businesses fear impact on staff as Omicron spreads

One business said losing staff to sickness would put 'a huge strain' on it.

Power cuts: Farmers can't milk cows, orchards damaged by winds

Powerco cannot say when they can reconnect power to thousands of customers.

Zizi Sparks: Why those opposed to compulsory te reo in schools miss the point

Opinion: There are more pros than cons to studying te reo.

Midwife shortage: Union fears Omicron may add to staffing struggle

Five women moved out after a hospital left with one duty midwife, backed by a team

Should te reo Māori be made compulsory in schools?

"We want to build towards a bicultural foundation of a nation," says a local MP.

Bay of Plenty cops are reducing gang harm by 'doing things a better way'

Our region's unique way of tackling gang harm.

Big boost for Big Boost - Kiwis flock to get booster job as Omicron surges

The equivalent of one Kiwi city's population got their booster over 28 hours.