Latest fromWhakatane

Bodies, investigations, leaks - White Island response behind the scenes
'Everyone in this room is severely affected. We will get heavily investigated.'

White Island emergency plan unfinished when volcano erupted
The draft plan's "Search and Rescue Plan" was two sentences long, on the final page.

Two Bay of Plenty centres break heat records
The area has been a part of a load of "heatwave extremities" across the country.

Last cohort of Australian nurses leave Whakatāne
Eleven nurses offered their services to help after the eruption.

Two appear in court over Taita homicide
Women in the public gallery cried during the brief appearances.

L.A.B closing the festival at home gets love from 20,000
We loved the international headliners ... but how good were the Kiwis?!

Zoe and Benji find family happiness without phones
Trendsetter Zoe Marshall's latest family smartphone rules might just catch on.

Thumbs up! White Island survivors may soon fly home to US
White Island survivors Rick Reed and Ivy Kohn Reed may soon be okay to fly home to the US.

Caught out! Long weekend speeding ticket data released
Top cop's warning for long weekend drivers after tragic 2019 road toll.

Lava now visible on Whakaari/White Island
Further explosive eruptions are very unlikely on any given day Geonet said.

White Island teen survivor: 'Thank you for your kindness'
Jake Milbank was leading a tour on the island when it erupted.

Scorcher! 30C temperatures to settle in the Bay this long weekend
Get the sunscreen ready!

Otakiri protesters raise $35k for water bottling appeal
Iwi and residents file appeal Environment Court decision in the Rotorua High Court.

Whakatāne recidivist sex-offender gets two months prison for talking inappropriately to two young girls
Interim name suppression for the man has been lifted.

Just Jeans assistant 'yelled at' doctor's toddler, apology sought
Her 15-month-old son was playing peekaboo behind a sign when she was left "dumbstruck".

Person smashes car with hammer following car crash in Whakatāne CBD
Police inquiries were ongoing.

Show us your pearly whites! Te Teko Kōhanga Reo clean out oral health challenge
Kōhanga Reo from across the Eastern Bay were invited to enter the annual challenge.

Tour company resumes trips to Moutohorā/Whale Island
No prohibitions had been placed on Moutohorā/Whale Island following the eruption.

'Pretty freaky': Shark spotted in shallows at Ōhope beach
Beachgoers got more than they bargained for at the beach today.

White Island victim's grieving dad convinced son helped him catch his first game fish
Hayden-Marshall Inman's father is sure his son helped him reel in his first game fish.

White Island: Body found in water, then lost in failed recovery bid
Serious claims have been made online about the attempt to recover a body from the water.

E. Coli in the water: Three possible causes for Kawerau scare
Backflow preventers to be installed at every residential property.

Sulphur fumes and kingfish: On board the first charter boat out after White Island
'We could see the abandoned helicopter standing in the desolation.'

White Island eruption: Melbourne father dies in hospital
The eruption claimed its 18th victim in an Australian hospital overnight.

White Island: Story behind the skin grafts coming for burn victims
Members of the public offer to donate their own skin to help severely burnt victims.

'Deserved to be together for 100 years': White Island victim Gavin Dallow farewelled
Lawyer a "generous man, always helping his family and his community".

Bay pharmacies to roll out free measles vaccines
The last confirmed case of measles in the region was on December 31.

Katee Shanks: I'll never look at Whakaari the same way again
It's during the downtime when thoughts of December 9 come to the fore.

Zizi Sparks: We'll never be the same again after White Island
One month on the effects of the eruption are still seen in the small community.