Latest from Bay of Plenty

Dawn Picken: How to make family gatherings merrier and less scary

It's time to change our attitudes.

Your weather: Sunny end to spring, rain possible for cricket

It'll be a mostly fine day for many in New Zealand, but rain is around the corner.

First phase of club and school rugby changes from 2020

The changes aim to future-proof the sport.

Look what the cat dragged in: Thieving feline's taste for shoes

Have you lost a pair of shoes lately?

Broken skulls and busted arms: Abused kids still showing up

But the number of children taken into care has dropped.

Rugby: Carroll gets Blues call up to replace Wardlaw

But Baden told him to go for it.

'Unless I'm lucky, this is going to kill me': Elderly couple's 17-hour airport ordeal

The couple spent all night sitting upright in hard airport chairs with nowhere to sleep.

Top rugby player swaps boots for whistle

And she is on the verge of becoming a top referee.

Hostage tragedy: Man shot by police 'trying to turn his life around'

Neighbours describe the 'terrifying' events that unfolded on Oriana Cres.

One in 36 million: Bone marrow giving Jesse a chance some don't get

Jesse Whare is one of the lucky ones - she has a match. Others are still waiting.

2019 SX2 title win was 'too easy'

And Josiah Natzke has his eyes set on more wins.

Local Focus: Sprinklers blamed for early water restrictions

Council asks community to use water efficiently. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Local Focus: Sprinklers blamed for early water restrictions

Council asks community to use water efficiently. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

TJ Perenara vs RBHS Stuart Leach - whose try was best?

Rotorua Boys' High School first XV player Stuart Leach has been placed among the stars.

Fatal shooting: Girls out of hospital, hostage-taker a 'recluse'

A man was shot dead by police yesterday after holding children hostage with a machete.

Man shot during Tauranga siege 'a bit of a recluse'

Residents of a quiet Tauranga street have described the man shot by police yesterday.