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

What an incredible way to end the year. When I came into work yesterday, I was greeted with the exciting news that the Bay of Plenty

You've got to wonder at the level of ignorance the Corrections Department displayed over Mt Eden prisoners getting flowers (yes, I

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

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 focus of Government Ministers at present is very much on developing, and then rolling out, support packages for people affected

COMMENT: Air NZ announced it was pulling out of Whanganui. It sent a powerful message that Whanganui was not worthy of our national carrier's munificence.

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

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

A mate of mine who is a top bloke and up for anything when it comes to finding out a bit of local knowledge, especially indigenous

Tak Chun Lai, principal tuba for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, played Vaughan Williams' Concerto for Tuba. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 081116spcm02.JPG Romancing

If a severe earthquake did affect Tauranga during work hours, thousands of Bay workers could die or be horrifically injured in collapsed

The tragic death of a 71-year-old American cyclist, killed by a truck on Tuesday, has thrown a spotlight on cyclists' safety concerns

Democracy is a privilege we must protect - it gives us ordinary people the freedom to have a say in who runs our cities and country. This

COMMENT: Watching the Havelock North water contamination debacle unfold is a salutary lesson in just how much power the dairy industry wields.