Latest from Whakatane

Solar panels to reveal if Ōhope Beach School is the sunniest
Pupils of Ōhope Beach School are tracking their solar energy.

Toi Ohomai course to open tertiary doors
New courses helping kura kaupapa students transition to tertiary study.

Bay of Plenty biosecurity champions win national awards
Biosecurity NZ announced the winners of the 2018 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards.

PM launches treaty settlement project in Whakatāne
She will visit the newly-opened museum and Te Manuka Tutahi Marae.

Mother of son plucked from ocean: 'I don't think my heart worked'
Fisherman who saved toddler from the ocean at Matata Beach first thought it was a doll.

Stunning snaps of whale off Ōhope coast
Southern Right Whale spends time swimming near Ohope on Tuesday.

Industrial development expected to create 150 jobs in Kawerau
Shane Jones announces $2 million boost for industrial development.

Win for community group over water bottling appeal
A community group set up to protect Otakiri Springs has had a small court victory.

One person arrested after Ōpōtiki shooting
The incident happened in a rural area east of Ōpōtiki about 5pm yesterday.

Bay police win prestigious national award
Bay of Plenty police have won a prestigious national award

'Serious consequences': Warning over new Mongrel Mob knock-off merchandise
"If people do it, they'll no doubt find out in due course what the consequences are."

Road closed after truck and trailer crash near Ōpōtiki
A serious crash has been reported in Opotiki.

Man dies after car hits power pole
Hanging powerlines delayed firefighters from reaching the trapped person

Teen dies from injuries after fall through school skylight
Teen, 16, dies from injuries suffered in fall.

Narrowing world opened at book club meetings
A Whakatāne men's book club have been meeting for the past three years

Bay hospitals popular with new doctors
Whakatāne and Rotorua Hospitals preferred place to work for graduating doctors

Revealed: Highest, lowest petrol prices (and why there's a $1.30 gap)
Gull in Taneatua has the cheapest fuel, charging just $2.10 a litre for 91.

Merged i-SITE pod moved to Salisbury Wharf for summer
The i-SITE has merged with the old cruise ticketing office.

Kiwi siblings lived an hour apart but only met in their 50s
Susan and Terry met for the first time after a chance test told them they were related.

Police issue 109 tickets in Bay of Plenty
Bay police have issued a warning after a weekend-long traffic blitz.

Bio fertiliser: Is the proof in the pasture?
Growing green pasture with biological matter. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Mongrel Mob raids: More arrests in police crackdown
New raids as national organised crime detectives monitor new players in town's drug trade.

Police name Pukehina crash victims
The two people killed in a crash on SH2 last week have today been named.

Pak'nSave staff to strike over minimum wage dispute
First Union claims workers are on minimum wage regardless of skills and experience.

Dairy farm faces hefty fine after illegal effluent discharge
Bay of Plenty dairy farm faces a hefty fine after effluent flowed into a nearby stream

Whakatane cafe shooter jailed for 5 years
Redmond Eruera Huirua, of Whakatane, fired his shotgun at members of the public twice.

Watch: Terrifying twister scatters building debris
Another 20 were assessed to have minor damage following a tornado.

Hopes for ill Whakatane girl, 11, to be home in two weeks
It's hoped Whakatane girl Alyssa Ledbetter will be home from the US in about two weeks.