High winds have causes a plane to flip on the runway at Tauranga Airport.

Tornadoes smashed through Mt Maunganui last night, damaging homes, ripping roofs from buildings and sending trampolines and outdoor furniture flying. ASB Baypark Stadium also lost parts of its grandstand roof. Firefighters responded to numerous calls about roofs being ripped of houses around Lodge Ave and Links Ave. Mount Maunganui Intermediate is closed after announcing that it had suffered "considerable damage".

Police say the man who died in a fire at a sleep-out in the Bay of Plenty was an 18-year-old local.

Emergency services in Tauranga responded to multiple calls about a tornado. The New Zealand Herald understands up to 15 roofs have been damaged or lifted off after the area at Mount Maunganui was hit at 8.45pm. Firefighters responded to numerous calls about roofs being ripped of houses around Lodge Ave and Links Ave.

A planned Mother's Day reunion has ended in tragedy for an Auckland family who lost three relatives in a horrific car crash.

“Help is on its way” for Tauranga’s homeless families after a Government decision to sell the city’s 1250 state houses, a social service leader says.

A man has been critically injured in a suspected stabbing during an assault in Tauranga this morning.

About 1500 litres of heavy fuel oil was leaked into Tauranga Harbour on Monday, Mobil has revealed.

A 19-year-old Tauranga man severed his finger when it accidentally went into the blades of a band saw today.

A male pedestrian is in serious condition after he was hit by a car as he crossed the road in Tauranga tonight.

The publicity surrounding the AC/DC drummer's arrest and charges drew more attention to the band than the death of former lead singer Bon Scott, Rudd's lawyer says.

Embattled AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd will face a difficult battle to escape conviction on charges he yesterday pleaded guilty to, legal experts say.

AC/DC rocker Phil Rudd told an associate he wanted a former employee "taken out", a court has heard today.

A man killed when he was trapped under a heavy vehicle at a Bay of Plenty quarry today was a 24-year-old from Tauranga, police say.

A person has died after fleeing police who were attending to reports about an out-of-control party 22km south of Tauranga last night.

Two high school students from Tauranga and their robot will be heading to the United States this weekend hoping to become world champions.

Two yachties were rescued by fellow seafarers yesterday, after their 30 foot catamaran capsized during a race.

The first shipment of New Zealand kiwifruit set off from the Port of Tauranga yesterday, marking the start of a season that looks set to see volumes bounce back to pre-Psa levels, says Zespri chief....

A Frenchman who moved to NZ to "make his dream come true" swerved to avoid hitting a portable toilet that had fallen from a truck before colliding head-on with another truck.

What do you do when two mums give birth to their babies at the exactly the same time? A Tauranga midwife found out while delivering the 'almost twins'.

A student who decided to take his friend’s new car for a spin during a break from class ended up crashing it into a power box - and watching it burn.

A boy who suffered serious injuries after falling from a horse has been flown to Tauranga Hospital.

Promising Tauranga teen Sam Fitness has been left paralysed after falling 6 to 8 metres from a tree.

Devon Hacche's mother may never hear her son speak or see him breathe unassisted after the 8-month-old swallowed a button battery, burning the inside of his throat.

A young child has been seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in a driveway in Tauranga today.

Large plumes of black smoke from a commercial building fire in central Tauranga could be seen rising above the city's skyline this morning.

A 33-year-old man arrested over an alleged hit and run in Welcome Bay Rd has appeared in court facing one count of murder.

A man died last night after he was struck in an apparent hit-and-run on Welcome Bay Rd near Tauranga at about 11pm.