Regional News

Whakatāne District Council said West End residents need to evacuate by 5pm tonight, with other coastal properties encouraged to self-evacuate.

Whakatāne District Council said there is a high likelyhood coastal areas of Ōhope, including West End, will need to be evacuated tomorrow.

Category 2 tropical Cyclone Vaianu is set to hit land on Sunday, April 12, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the North Island.

With Cyclone Vaianu expected to reach New Zeland on Sunday, more surface flooding and road closures are expected across the Bay of Plenty.

NZTA said due to incoming weather the scheduled qaurterly maintenance on Pekatahi Bridge next week has been cancelled.

Air Chathams has cut flights to Whakatāne by 45 percent, citing rising jet fuel costs and falling demand.

NZTA said following a slip causing road closures this morning, the road is unlikely to open today.

A heavy rain watch remains in place for the Bay of Plenty, about and east of Whakatāne, until 4pm Thursday, April 9.

The return of the Ocean Ford Kai Ika Charity Tournament went swimmingly this year, raising $39,000 for Eastern Bay Blue Light groups.

Weather related damage has caused a power outage in Matatā and surrounding areas, intially impacting over 560 customers.

Whakatāne District Council said the mouth of Maraetōtara Stream will be undergoing urgent stabilisation works on Thursday.

A strong wind watch has been issued for Te Ika-a-Māui, North Island, from 1am Sunday, April 12 to 1am Monday, April 13.

The long-running wastewater project in Matatā has reached a key milestone, with a resource consent application expected to be lodged in the coming months.

NZTA said geotechnical investigations and design works are underway for the new Pekatahi Bridge.

Emergency services were notified of a two-vehicle crash on Waiotahe Beach Road around 8:30pm yesterday.

Hato Hone St John said eight people have been injured in the crash, and a helicopter was dispatched to the scene.

Experts have lowered the aviation colour code to yellow, a week after the volcanic alert level was lowered to level two.

Nearly $300,000 in funding has been awarded for hands-on educational science kits to be distributed across the Bay of Plenty by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

A major upgrade to stormwater infrastructure in Whakatāne is now complete, with a new pump station already proving its effectiveness during recent heavy rain.

A heavy rain warning is in place for the Bay of Plenty, west of Whakatāne, including Rotorua, from 11pm Tuesday, April 7, until 9pm on Wednesday, April 8.

Stand-up paddleboarders in the Bay of Plenty are being warned there is no excuse for heading out without a lifejacket, as authorities report a sharp rise in safety breaches.

With the 3G shutdown now complete, Mobile Network Operators want customers who have 3G mobile devices to text '3G' to 550 to check it can still make 111 calls.

The 2026 Whakatāne District Youth Council has been formally welcomed, marking the start of a new term focused on youth leadership and civic engagement.

State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge will be open 24/7 under stop/go traffic management for the Easter period.

A Bay of Plenty teenager is showing that stepping outdoors can ignite leadership, strengthen communities, and inspire a generation.

Police said a new team of cops will be regularly patrolling the Eastern Bay on foot, to deter retail crime.

Police said one of the alleged offenders charged with animal cruelty following a video circulating social media has been released on bail as he awaits court action.

Early work is underway at the Whakatane War Memorial Hall, as part of the Whakatāne District Council’s wider Rex Morpeth Recreation Hub redevelopment.

Police say two people have been identified after a video showing the alleged mistreatment of puppies at the Whakatāne River was shared on social media.

Households are being urged to plan ahead as rising fuel and freight costs begin to bite.

Whakatāne District Council said work on a new underground wastewater pump station at the corner of Buddle Street and Kakahoroa Drive will begin in early April.

NZTA said from April 13th to April 17th, crews will be repairing and replacing damaged boards on the Pekatahi Bridge, while continuing to assess whether steel plate installation is feasible.

Matatā Rugby and Sports Club inc senior men's coach will run from Rotorua to Matatā this Friday to raise funds for the club.

Following a closure during the weekend, NZTA said State Highway 35 between Te Araroa and Hicks Bay will remain closed at the Punaruku site. 

Following an eruption last week, the volcanic alert level has been lowered to level two however, the aviation colour code stays at orange.

Motorists are being warned to expect delays across the Eastern Bay this Easter and school holidays, with multiple roadwork sites set to impact travel.

DOC said their rangers are actively working on a response to the wild dogs posing a threat to stock and native wildlife in the Waioweka Gorge.

The new TOPP2 geothermal power plant in Kawerau is set to deliver more stable electricity prices nationwide while boosting regional growth, Eastland Generation said.

Matatā and Ōpōtiki will be better prepared in emergency events following grants from Trust Horizon to upgrade emergency equipment.

The Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne is under a heavy rain warning until 1am Saturday morning.

Police said they were notified of a single vehicle crash at 4:15pm on Te Teko Road.

NZTA said following public consultation, a second toll point will be installed for vehicles traveling between Domain Road and Pāpāmoa East Interchanges. Vehicles traveling the full Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road will pay the exsisting toll rates.

Wild dogs through the Waioweka Gorge have been bailing livestock, and even farm children, sparking calls for help controlling the issue.

Four Bay of Plenty councils are continuing discussions on the future of local water services, stressing no decisions have yet been made.

Vintage vehicles, axemen and century old sheep shearing tools will be on display at the Te Teko Racecourse on April 18th.

The Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne is now under a heavy rain warning until Saturday morning and a heavy rain watch has been issued for areas north of Te Kaha.

Boulders have now been put in place to secure road access.

NZTA said while an orange heavy rain warning is in place west of Whakatāne, the Waioweka Gorge may close at short notice tomorrow.

Air New Zealand said the interline agreement is an exciting long term partnership, and the rising fuel costs and some regional flight cuts are short term sollutions.

MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne from 9am Thursday.

Earth Sciences New Zealand Experts said monitoring fo the volcano could be hindered by bad weather over the coming days, but the risk to the mainland is very low.

The volcanic alert level has been raised to level 3 and aviation code orange following an eruption at 5:35pm yesterday.

Hato Hone St John said it was notified of an accident on Manawahe Road at 12:39pm this afternoon.

The first three passengers using the interline agreement between Air Chathams and Air New Zealand took off from Whakatāne Airport this morning.

A yellow heavy rain watch has been issued for the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne from 9am Thursday until 3am Saturday.

Water once again flows through Te Heriheri Wetland near Pukehina, marking a major restoration milestone for the Waihī Estuary.

On Friday, the TOPP2 Energy Plant was opened with over 200 guests in attendance, marking a new chapter for geothermal energy.

Two crashes occurred on Galatea Road over the weekend, one resulting in a fatality.