Latest fromTauranga

Customs seizes 130kg of cocaine from shipping container at Port of Tauranga
The Class A drug was worth up to $50.44 million.

Iwi driver licencing scheme sees 178 people licensed
“It was a bit scary, but being on the marae was amazing," one driver said.

'Putting lives at risk': The barriers facing Māori from getting immunised
Māori vaccination rates lag behind European children in Bay of Plenty and Lakes.

'Woefully inadequate': Sportsground has six toilets for 4000 people
A request for funding to ease toilet troubles at netball courts prompts debate.

NZ's top cop censures staff shoplifting memo as ‘confusing and unhelpful’
Retail theft thresholds include $200 for general theft and $500 for shoplifting.

Police directive on $500 thefts sparks call for urgent clarification
Retailers are seeking clarity on police directives about low-value theft.

He thought his back pain was just him 'getting old'. Instead, he had cancer
Pāpāmoa father Blair Harrison now has a curve in his spine and is 5cm shorter.

What two household budgeting experts think of Budget 2025
One says it will do 'little' to help clients, the other says it's too soon to tell.

Culmination of St Patrick's Day drunken flirting, or opportunistic rape while woman slept?
Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in a Tauranga District Court rape trial.

'Lifting a dark cloud': Bar thrives after ditching pokies
Owners report no financial loss; dining space and food sales have improved.

Boy impaled on metal post after Auckland FC loss, AT ‘really disappointed’
Jude Beattie, 11, underwent emergency surgery at Starship Hospital.

Opinion: Navigating the ups and downs of long-term market investing
The S&P 500 saw double-digit declines in almost two-thirds of years.

'Good movers': Former Silver Fern driven to cut injury risks as ACC claims rise
Winter sports-related injury claims have consistently gone up over the past five years.

'Won’t be enough': Foodbanks react to $15m Budget boost
One organisation welcomed the money but said it is 'not a full solution'.

Big things, small place: Mount Maunganui drone-maker wins top NZ hi-tech award
The company recently inked a $66.8m deal with the British Defence Force.

20yo tourist breaks her back in head-on NZ campervan crash
Another US tourist was charged after the harrowing Bay of Plenty crash on May 10.

Demand for Te Puke food service surges, serving 275 whānau
The Hub in Te Puke is supported by local growers and supermarkets.

Opinion: Delivering hope in Ukraine's darkest hours
Opinion: Hope is a powerful force that can profoundly impact individuals and communities.

'Proven success in conflict zones' - Tauranga's Syos wins Hi-Tech Company of the Year
Peter Beck named Flying Kiwi.

Police 'urgently' seek ute driver after road-rage knife incident
The aggressive incident in Tauranga this week was caught on dashcam.

On The Up: Pals co-founders - how they went from surfing buddies to RTD moguls
Mat Croad and Nick Marshall have known each other for most of their lives.