Latest fromTauranga

Council to launch investigation into Chapel St fatal crash
Tauranga City Council is launching its own investigation into the fatal crash.

'Flat out': City the top search for holiday homes as camps, motels book up
Tauranga and Mount Maunganui are in Airbnb's top searched destinations for the summer.

Dawn Picken: This is weird - leaving NZ in the Covid age
I flip out before any trip, but pandemic travel has multiplied my freak factor.

Dogs on beaches: Canine 'crackdown' idea sparks debate
Tauranga City Council commissioners will look into leash bylaws, Anne Tolley says.

'Double vaxxed': Family lived with positive case for two weeks - and didn't catch it
'I couldn't hug my mum': 11-year-old speaks out about having Covid-19.

One-hundred years on, Tauranga's fallen soldiers honoured again
Three history projects have been unveiled throughout the city.

Kulim Park to stay closed to vehicles, for now
Finishing touches to the park's upgrade are still being added.

Felix Desmarais: 'Transgender people exist. We are real, we are natural'
Opinion: Parliament supporting transgender rights is a precious, flickering flame.

'They hurt people': Call for leashed dogs on beaches after local hero injured
"We really are talking to the dog owners of Mount Maunganui."

'Radical shift': Oranga Tamariki partners with Bay Māori
'Bringing the two waka together so we are paddling together in the same direction.'

New kiwifruit initiative gives back to community
At the same time, it aims to address the labour shortage in the kiwifruit industry.

Calls for mobile testing to reach homeless
It comes as a high-risk location of interest, where the homeless often go, was published.

Trial date set for Waiohau murder accused
Three men will defend an allegation of murdering Whakātane father Jamaine Wharton.

'A dereliction of duty': Extra hospital beds not ready until April 2022
Tauranga Hospital has received Government funding for six extra urgent-care beds.

'It went down so fast': One dead after SUV plunges into harbour
Witnesses rushed to nearby shops to get goggles and dive equipment.

Truck and car roll in separate crashes in Tauranga
Emergency services have been called to three crashes in a short space of time.

Comment: Luxon needs true-blue leadership, not a political makeover
OPINION: Time will tell if Christopher Luxon has what it takes to take on Jacinda Ardern

Positive case found at Brookfield School, police station location of interest
A confirmed virus case has been identified in the Brookfield School community.

16 years running: Business block in CBD raises $7200
Cooney Lees Morgan has once again rallied 15 businesses to give back

'Gorgeous' or 'terrible'? CBD businesses, ratepayer groups react to $300m civic precinct plan
Business leaders, retailers, and ratepayer representatives don't hold back on the plans.

Martial arts instructor turned drug kingpin headed meth op to fund 'high-life'
The meth bust was 1kg away from becoming New Zealand's largest drug importation raid.

Jo Raphael: You have a choice about vaccines, make the right one
OPINION: Anti-vaxxers are not being discriminated against.

'Way of the world now': Only 1% of Tauranga homes valued under $600,000
OneRoof: Tauranga's current average property value was $1,189,000.

Rob Rattenbury: Failure teaches the realities of life
OPINION: It's dreaded exam time again.

No new Covid cases in Bay of Plenty and Lakes, three 'high risk' locations of interest
Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke and Taupō locations of interest have been announced.

New liquefaction maps available for Western Bay residents
The maps are available on the council's website.

How to have Christmas without breaking the bank
PS - you can still have your bubbles on Christmas day, too.

Samantha Motion: The biggest losers of the vaccine pass era aren't the unvaccinated
Councils can choose whether they require vaccine passes at public facilities.

Dawn Picken: Keep your friends close and conspiracy theory fans closer
OPINION: Talking to science deniers requires technique and patience.