Latest fromTauranga

Samantha Motion: There must be a better way to sort out council bickering
COMMENT: Elected officials should think carefully before wielding the complaint stick.

Canal tragedy: Downer confirms body retrieved was employee
Police confirm one killed after a vehicle plunged into water.

Smokefreerockquest winners announced
Winners go into the national selection pool for the event's live national final.

Car flips, brings down power lines in Te Puke
No one was in the vehicle when officers arrived.

Local Focus: Bee ready for new travel card rollout
One card to rule them all? Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Local Focus: Bee ready for new travel card rollout
One card to rule them all? Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Whakaari / White Island hospital bills top $14m
Doctors' labour, skin supplies, drugs and intensive care facilities were some of costs.

National vows $31b to crush 'congestion crisis'
Plan includes another Auckland Harbour crossing and a four-lane expressway to Tauranga.

Weather: 24 hours of heavy rain to batter Bay of Plenty
Downpours were already scheduled to hit the Upper North Island today.

Top Kiwi bands in One Love Festival line-up
There will be a clear Kiwi flavour at next year's One Love.

Three waters reform: Councils hesitant about $761 million funding pool
Only councils who opt into the three waters reform programme can access the funding.

Soon-to-be dad catches fire in freak accident
What was meant to be an evening of smoking fresh fish went horribly wrong.

Bay buses are running for free, who knew?
Fares will return in Rotorua and regionally on July 20 and in Tauranga on July 27.

Local Focus: Waiariki electorate explained
Will it be Labour or Māori Party for Waiariki? Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Local Focus: Waiariki electorate explained
Will it be Labour or Māori Party for Waiariki? Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Dawn Picken: Want to keep customers happy? Don't make us wait
Businesses will continue nudging us to pay and stay away.

'Biggest fears': Council investigates reports of 'plume' near Rena
"We are extremely concerned," says a technical adviser for Motiti Island residents.

Whakaari/White Island survivor recalls skin falling off her hands
Survivor reveals the hurdles she has overcome during the last six months of her recovery.

'We've had a bit of a hiding': Tornado as Bay of Plenty lashed with wild weather
"Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility."

Jo Raphael: The creative ways people are remembering their loved ones
COMMENT: The ways ashes can be memorialised are endless.

Public transport challenge: Use buses while they are free
"We are in times where things are different ... We need to give this a try."

Go Local! Farrah's road trip spreading the love to the locals
Farrah's 'We Love You for Loving Local' road trip runs from June 23 to July 3.

Operation Silk: Defendants in court after police raids
The Mongols have been accused of being involved in six known shootings with other gangs.

Photos: Winners announced in architecture awards
Twenty-four projects have received awards.

Bay of Plenty murder accused court case put off to next month
The man is charged with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Six shootings: The Mongols and the violent turf war over Tauranga
Police on covert investigation quietly intervened to stop further violence in gang wars.

Mongols raids: AK47s, Molotov cocktails seized by police
The arrests will result in at least 228 charges being laid, police say.