A waterfront dispute has broken out between two of New Zealand's biggest ports, arguing about who is the best.

A 14-year-old girl led police on a 19km pursuit through Tauranga last night, police say.

A man who was found drunk in open water after clinging to an overturned dinghy near Tauranga harbour for six hours risked his life and the lives of others, police say.

A woman reportedly received abrasions to her limbs after exiting a moving vehicle in Tauranga yesterday afternoon.

A Tauranga man found guilty at trial of robbing two French hitchhikers in 2012 has been jailed for four years nine months - but maintains he's innocent.

A 9-year-old Papamoa girl who dragged a young boy from the surf has shrugged off her hero status and says she was just doing what she has been trained to do.

A tornado has blown through a popular beach resort outside Tauranga this morning, causing damage to house roofs.

Tauranga Police have raided the Filthy Few Motorcycle Club's property in Birch Ave, Tauranga, following ahome invasion in Whakamarama in which two people received serious injuries.

A house and part of a school remain cordoned off in Tauranga this morning, as police investigate a suspicious death.

Community social housing projects in Wellington, Tauranga and Hamilton have been announced by Housing Minister Nick Smith.

Egg sandwiches, a thermos of Milo and slightly soggy carrot cake.

A Tauranga Intermediate teacher found guilty of stealing 11 tablets of a young student's ADHD medication has been sentenced to nine months supervision.

The body of a man has been found in shallow water at Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui.

"It was a shock", said 89-year-old Edna Harrison, but it didn't stop her walking into her neighbour's burning home to try to help him put out the blaze with a garden hose.

Sitting next to his dead colleague as their work van started filling with water after plunging off a bridge, Ashley Donkersley thought he was going to die.

A 2-year-old toddler with a serious medical condition who was removed from hospital by his parents has been located and has received medical attention, police say.

Police divers have arrived to look for the driver of a van which plunged into Tauranga Harbour yesterday, as an officer who helped save a passenger is praised.

More than 50 people have been injured while working on Western Bay of Plenty roads and bridges in the past two years.

A rose thorn scratch left a fit and healthy Tauranga man with major organ failure and in a four-month battle to save his life.

A devastated father who claims his son's heart was stolen by a hospital has had a setback in his bid to sue for damages.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is reviewing how it notifies the public about oil spills after a refuelling accident went unreported last week.