Reading the stories of ordinary Kiwis who have gone on to achieve great things is always a highlight for me. This week five Bay residents

POPULARITY POLLING: It is a fair bet that the experts will be anxiously analysing how Steven Joyce rates in his new job as Minister

The new year seemed to be welcomed in a sensible but celebratory style by most over the weekend. That's exactly the way it should

Former BBC DJ Andy Kershaw is down the bottom of the garden eating worms, on the receiving end of the fury of George Michael fans

COMMENT: As we head into another sweltering Kiwi summer, the water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams will continue to disappoint and enrage.

The All Blacks may have cleaned up at the IRB Rugby Awards for 2016, but - for the British sporting press - the year belonged to England. Not

Two tragic water-related deaths over the past week have put a spotlight on the perils associated with our coastlines, lakes and waterways. Yesterday

Kids love toys, technology, flashy things, things that make loud noises and things that sparkle. Their wee eyes light up when they

Santa's sack is empty - much like our credit cards and staff canteens, but our pukus and our memories of 2016 are full, like the rich

It's difficult to comprehend why the Waikato Regional Council felt the need to stand down a harbourmaster for successfully saving

COMMENT: We're entering that time of year when I remind people to be kind to atheists. Remember, Christmas capitalism has room for all of us.

It's hard to believe Christmas is now less than a week away. I love Christmas and am counting down the days. I love being able to

What's in a name? Plenty. Especially when it's given to a new human in front of their closest family and friends. I did my first

There was much speculation about the potential impact of the new loan-to-value ratios (LVR) when they were announced earlier this

With Christmas Day just a week away it is that time of year when many people overindulge in food and alcohol only to regret it early

Stop the clock. Do you long to stop it or smash it each December? A friend who's celebrating her 50th birthday this week remarked

Right now I am one with the people of Yiwu, China where most of the world's Christmas tat is made, who may be said to cry with one

While Christmas is meant to be a time of happiness and joy, the lead-up to the big day can be stressful, tiring and downright frantic

The emergence of Bill English as National party leader and, therefore as Prime Minister, was in some ways almost a non-event. It did

Creativity has really come to the fore in this year's Christmas Appeal. One of my favourite parts of the job as appeal co-ordinator

Hundreds of kids were given bikes thanks to the generosity of the Tauranga community. Photo/Campbell Squared We all have our memories

If there is one hope I have for new mayor Greg Brownless and his new council, it is that they will seriously consider overhauling

My 12-year-old daughter and I took part in the Bay of Plenty Times can drive Monday night, collecting donations for the Tauranga Community

What are we to make of John Key's bombshell? Reactions will obviously vary according to the political views of those making them

Nigel Tutt Priority One chief executive 051216aw02bopBrett Hewlett Priority One chairman A_251016gn08bopStan Gregec Tauranga Chamber

When John Key became our 38th Prime Minister on November 8, 2008 it was an extraordinary turnaround from the previous election. In

A huge part of living in the Bay is the beach. Ask anyone what first comes to mind when they think of Tauranga and it's Mount Maunganui

I never would have thought I'd applaud a sexy underwear tycoon; that stuff's far too uncomfortable for real life. Try wearing a piece

Seventeen-thousand people were helped by the Tauranga Community Foodbank in the year to June. With an estimated population in Tauranga

Many foreign leaders will be trying to assess whether the Donald Trump they saw as a campaigner for the presidency is the same man