Latest from Bay of Plenty

Waikato town named among 'Most Welcoming Cities on Earth'

The destination received the accolade as part of Booking.com's Traveller Review Awards.

'I was in shock': Grandad finds four preschoolers on road after escaping from daycare

'I would be asking a lot of questions ... cars don’t go slow around there.'

Opinion: Why redefining Waitangi Day is crucial for national unity

OPINION: Governor Hobson summed up the Treaty’s intent: 'he tahi tatou' – 'we are one'.

‘Rich Māori culture’: Rotorua to host major indigenous health conference

Over 600 health professionals, researchers, clinicians, advocates and families will visit.

Co-operative grocery store pitched to battle food insecurity

Target recipients include those experiencing food insecurity.

'A means of expression': Obstacles of chronic fatigue no barrier for student selected in art exhibition

A Rotorua young achiever's hard work has been exhibited across New Zealand

144m to 1 odds: Golfer hits second hole-in-one on same hole

'I have been playing for about 16 years, and they are the only hole-in-ones I have had.'

'I heard all my bones break': Runner loses leg in farming accident

The 'shattered' bones in his leg were 'like Weet-Bix', he said.

More than 280,000 bus cards to be phased out, no way to transfer credit

Roughly $140,000 is being stored on the cards in Hawke's Bay alone.

'Bright lights, big city, black tie': Big changes afoot for beloved event

Rotorua's favourite black-tie fundraiser will become biennial, with a new event in the mix

Tauranga’s first Māori ward councillor resigns

He was elected in July but has not been able to take up the role due to illness.

Police name woman who died at Pilot Bay

Laushaun Ying Soon died at Pilot Bay in early January.

Dumbbells, deadlifts and dairy cows: The rural gym with four-legged observers

No gym rats staring here, just livestock.

$3 billion by 2035 - Shane Jones lays out mining plan

A protest was organised for outside the mine this morning.

'Just about spat my coffee': How five mates made a viral Google moment

'We saw the car and thought, Why not?'

'Round and round': One letter sent six times but never received

Robyn Bronlund-Stads sends mail to the same address monthly. She knows it's correct.

'Bland' school lunches arrive up to three hours late, just before home-time

Principals had to buy food to tide students over or pull them out of class to eat late.

Scrub fire along railway tracks near SH2 contained

The fire is 'growing quickly' according to witnesses.