Bay Of Plenty
The time warp turns 50: Rocky Horror’s Richard O’Brien and his Kingdom of Bling
It is 50 years since The Rocky Horror Show premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Audio
Suspected drowning of child in fountain prompts $90k modification plan
A public fountain in Tauranga where a pre-schooler is believed to have drowned will be modified to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Auckland museum display has no mention of 2019 Whakaari disaster
The out-of-date volcano exhibit tells visitors that it is still possible to visit Whakaari / White Island by helicopter.
$404 for a ticket? Tauranga ferry plans shelved over 'scary' cost
Plans to set up a ferry service in the Western Bay of Plenty have been canned because of the "eye watering" cost.
Millions spent by WorkSafe on Whakaari White Island disaster investigation
The investigation has been New Zealand's 'largest and most complex' health and safety investigation and prosecutions.
Enough cocaine for 350,000 hits found at Port of Tauranga
Customs has seized 35kg of cocaine from the engine compartment of a refrigerated shipping container.
Rotorua man who shared child sex abuse material jailed
The man was caught when an overseas-based app notified Customs of a New Zealander sharing abuse material on its platform.
Motorcyclist in critical condition after crash on SH2
Police are responding to a motorcycle crash on State Highway 2 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne.
Driver rescued after plunging into Rotorua hot pool
A Rotorua driver had a lucky escape this afternoon when their car crashed through a fence and into a hot pool.
‘Radical idea’: Mayor’s managed retreat idea divides council
The proposal suggests converting freehold properties in areas that may become unliveable in the future into long-term leasehold properties.
Police watchdog: No charges after Rotorua tractor crash 'inexplicable'
Tony Parahi, 57, died after braking to avoid colliding with a tractor and trailer in 2019.
Chemical smell at Port of Tauranga, at least one worker taken to hospital
Fire and Emergency was working with regional council and port staff to find the cause of the chemical smell.
Whakaari/ White Island court case will change the level of accepted risk in NZ's tourism industry
Analysis - A court decision finding the owners of Whakaari / White Island guilty of breaching workplace safety laws could have implications for adventure tourism, Freya Higgins-Desbiolles and James…
Two men arrested in relation to Ōpōtiki shooting in October
Two men have been arrested in the Bay of Plenty in relation to a shooting that seriously injured a woman last month.
Speed limit U-turn: Rotorua moves to 'tailored' approach over blanket rules
Rotorua's council has taken a U-turn from a "blanket" approach to reducing speed limits and will instead work with schools to set them.
Steep fines and reparations likely in Whakaari case - legal expert
A legal expert says fines and reparations for the firms involved in the Whakaari/White Island cases will likely be in the millions. Audio
'A major failure': Whakaari owners found guilty of one charge relating to fatal eruption
The company managing Whakaari/White Island has been convicted for one of the two charges it faced for health and safety failings in the lead-up to a fatal eruption in 2019.
New closing times 'tough' on Tauranga bars
Bars in Tauranga's CBD are worried an earlier closing time will be tough on businesses that are already quiet.
Rotorua Mayor set to visit Japan and China – who will foot the bill?
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell will travel to Japan and China in April for a sister-city visit, at a cost of $10,000.
Last Whakaari eruption trial verdict expected
Auckland District Court will on Tuesday release its verdict on the sole company left facing health and safety charges relating to the Whakaari/White Island eruption.