Latest from Bay of Plenty

'Punished' Tauranga businesses blocked off from own stores

A CBD business says more needs to be done to support retailers "punished" by roadworks.

'Traffic chaos' after Mount Maunganui serious crash

The road is closed and traffic management is in place.

'Despicable' principal slept naked with students

Former Rotorua principal Uenuku Fairhall's actions on school trip "despicable".

Tauranga man charged with 27 child sex charges

A Tauranga man faces 27 charges of sexual offending against children.

Oil spill exercise at Ōmanu Surf Club, Tauranga

The exercise will run from 9am to 3pm.

Gangbusters: Patches on the rise as NZ gang scene 'revitalised'

Bay of Plenty is the district with the most gang members, with 1359 on the list.

Warning as pre-teens share explicit images

Children as young as 6 years old are posting explicit or inappropriate selfies online.

Massive Pigeon Valley blaze ruled accidental

The Pigeon Valley fire burned around 2300ha of commercial plantation forest.

Local Focus: Ex-rugby player wants a go at Council

30-year-old AJ Tuhoro says it's time for change. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

'Dream tenants' rejected for hundreds of rentals

A social agency in Tauranga is appealing for landlords to give people a second chance.

Climate change emergency now needs action plan

Growing numbers of government entities have declared climate change emergencies.

Roof from The Cloud ripped to shreds from storm; 1700 lightning strikes

High winds have ripped off a preschool's roof and lightning has struck a tree.

Winter, again: Another weekend of snow, rain and thunderstorms

There's snow and heavy rain warnings and watches across a large swathe of the country.

'Boy who was going places': The pupil who became PM

How an Ōmokoroa resident knows UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Teens arrested after superette robbery

Wheel-brace wielding group threatened shopkeeper and took cash, police say.

Four arrests after alleged aggravated robbery in Mount Maunganui

Arrests have been made after knifepoint store robbery.