News

State Highway 2 through Waioweka Gorge will remain open under increased monitoring as an orange heavy rain warning is in place for the Eastern Bay of Plenty, with NZTA updating how they respond to severe weather in the area.

MetService have issued an orange heavy rain warning and a heavy rain watch across the Bay of Plenty for tomorrow afternoon and early Saturday morning.

Thousands of New Zealanders are ending up in hospital each year with health conditions linked to poor housing, and a Bay of Plenty organisation is encouraging people to seek support before winter takes its toll.

NZTA said the Pekatahi Bridge will be closed for six days during the July school holidays to complete maintenance on the bridge surface.

Thousands of New Zealanders are ending up in hospital each year with health conditions linked to poor housing, and a Bay of Plenty organisation is encouraging people to seek support before winter takes its toll.

St Joseph’s School is benefiting from a new solar power system supported by a community financing initiative.

State Highway 2 through Waioweka Gorge will receive a $75 million resilience upgrade in the Government’s Budget 2026 infrastructure package. East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says the investment will help keep a critical transport lifeline open more often.

The Clothing Project's volunteers are preparing to sort hundreds of donations after a community-wide pyjama drive brought in record support.

18-year-old artist Nikau Grace has earned two Aotearoa Music Award nominations while preparing for her first solo show.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has agreed to take the next steps toward changing its investment structure to prioritise delivering community benefits and protecting its $3 billion investment fund for current and future generations.

Eastern Bay residents are being asked to have their say on local government reform proposals as councils weigh options for future governance structures.

Ōpōtiki District Council is inviting the community to help shape the district’s economic future through ‘Ōpōtiki Rising: Your Voice, Our Future’, a two-month engagement series focused on gathering ideas, feedback and local insight from across the district.

Six months after installation, Whakatāne District Council's solar panels are generating more power and savings than expected, with plans already underway for further expansion.

Four Bay of Plenty councils are continuing work on a possible joint water services model as part of the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms.

Police said a property in Kawerau was succesfully seized after lengthy court proceedings involving former high level gang members.

Dangerous dirt bike riding in the Bay of Plenty is endangering lives, police warn, following a nationwide crackdown resulting in arrests, bike seizures, and prison sentences for offenders.