Latest fromWhakatane

$3.2m clean-up bill for Whakatane floods
Whakatane District Council has an estimated $3.2 million clean-up bill following last week's flood that left more than 110 houses uninhabitable.

Moko follows fisherman friend to Tauranga
The captain of a fishing trawler befriended by Moko reckons the tunes of AC/DC might be part of the allure.

Whale-rider link stops orca autopsy
An orca that washed up dead near Whakatane has been buried in a nearby Maori cemetery despite researchers wanting to perform an autopsy.

Taika Waititi backs Opotiki theatre
The director has agreed to become the first patron of Opotiki's De Luxe Theatre, in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

Gang after some rough justice
Black Power members say they want to track down the attacker of a boy, 4, so they can deal to him before police.

Crash victim's mother caught drink-driving
Police are shocked that a woman whose daughter was seriously injured by a drunk driver last year was herself caught driving while over the limit.

Principal's head kicked like ball, court told
An eyewitness to an attack on school principal and councillor Hawea Vercoe, told a court his head was kicked like a rugby ball.

Tsunami warnings have mixed results around NZ
Tsunami warnings look to be cancelled as beach-goers who waited all day outside the water start heading home.

Kiwis head for the water, as tsunami warning remains
Paua fishermen are diving back into the seas and surfers are out to catch waves even as tsunami warnings stay in place.