Latest from Whakatane

The new hottest place to buy - it might surprise you
Home values in the town of 6900 people have jumped 125 per cent over the past 10 years.

$700k granted to Bay of Plenty community organisations
More than Bay of Plenty community organisations received a share of over $700,000.

Search for missing Whakatāne man Joseph Webb continues
His mother just wants her "lovely, caring and kind" son back home.

Police still searching for smash-and-dash driver in Whakatāne power-pole crash
The crash left 177 properties without electricity.

Car rolls, seriously injuring two people near Whakatāne
One of the cars involved have fled.

Driver missing from scene of Whakatāne power-pole crash
There are 177 properties without power as a result of the crash into a power pole.

Man who died in Ōpōtiki crash named
Police release name of man who died in Ōpōtiki crash

Waimana Gorge to open during daylight hours
It will be the first time since it shut earlier this month because of a slip.

New tsunami warnings for Bay of Plenty residents
Residents will also need to see if their phone is compatible to receive alerts.

Murupara community reeling after four killed in horror crash
The crash between a truck and a van claimed four lives and critically injured another.

New-wave research: $11.5m mega-project to shed light on NZ's changing oceans
An $11.5m project will take a closer look at NZ's vast and fast-changing marine estate.

Whānau hopeful of finding missing Whakatāne man
The family of missing Whakatāne man Joseph Webb remain positive.

Family 'incredibly worried' for missing man Joseph Webb, 24
Joseph Webb, 24, was last seen going for a walk around the Whakatāne coastline.

Bay of Plenty Lotto winner takes fair share of $1 million
Powerball was not struck and has rolled over to Wednesday night

Quick-thinking youngster rescues toddler from pool
Ōpōtiki 6-year-old rescues toddler from pool at Whakatāne Aquatic Centre.

New Māori performing arts course coming to Whakatāne
The course is set to make a difference in the lives of the city's youth

Bay triathlete Wilde builds towards final
Hayden Wilde is competing in the penultimate round of the World Triathlon Series.

Little Waihi murder accused gets name suppression
Murder accused's identity has been suppressed.

Opinion: Sharing the journey with Matatā fan head residents
We have walked alongside residents in this saga from the very beginning.

Matatā property owners yet to decide whether to take buyout offer
Majority of Awatarariki fan head residents unhappy with acquisition package.

Multimillion-dollar buyout proposal for Awatarariki fan head residents
After 14-years, $15 million is planned to buy residents out of their properties.

Gun amnesty event in Ōhope this weekend
The event is part of the gun amnesty and buy-back scheme.

Matatā Volunteer Fire Brigade calls for fresh recruits
The brigade is in need of six more members.

Being pissed off, sad, upset or deflated means you care
Black Caps displayed the Kiwi fight we know and love in Cricket World Cup final.

Seven dogs rescued from rising flood waters in Whakatāne
Seven humans and seven dogs piled into an inflatable rescue boat to get to drier ground.

Whakatāne, Tauranga to host Volcanix home games
The Farah Palmer Cup draw has been released

Murupara ATM theft accused faces raft of charges
Accused also faces two charges of assault with intent to injure and threatening to kill.

Flooding and closed roads aftermath of heavy rain
Although the weather is set to improve, precautions are still in place.