Regional News

The government is investing $12.5 million in the development of the Ōpōtiki Marina, describing it as the final major piece of infrastructure needed to support the Eastern Bay of Plenty's growing aquaculture industry.

State Highway 2 Pekatahi Bridge has reopened to traffic after a six-day closure that allowed crews to complete a major package of maintenance work aimed at improving the bridge’s driving surface and ensuring it remains safe and reliable.

Children and families in the Bay of Plenty will soon have access to dedicated Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) assessment and support closer to home, with Kawerau selected as one of just three locations nationwide to receive a new community-based specialist hub.

A proposal to extend protections for a recovering mussel bed in Ōhiwa Harbour has drawn attention from conservation advocates, iwi, and people with an interest in customary and recreational fishing.

Te Puna Ora o Mataatua Ltd has appointed Lee Colquhoun as its new chief executive, with the Ngāpuhi leader taking on responsibility for two of the organisation’s key subsidiaries.

Whakatāne’s winter nights are set to glow once again as Trust Horizon Light Up Whakatāne returns from 11 to 18 July, bringing a week-long celebration of light, creativity and community to the town centre and riverfront.

New speed limits will soon be introduced across parts of the Bay of Plenty following a six-week consultation with communities.

A new community media initiative is set to give charities, schools, sports clubs, cultural groups, community organisations, and local content creators a dedicated platform to share their stories with the wider Eastern Bay of Plenty.

More than 1000 people have reported feeling the 5.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the Eastern Bay of Plenty this morning.

A design contract has been awarded for the replacement two-lane Pekatahi Bridge, marking a new milestone in this important piece of infrastructure planned for the eastern Bay of Plenty.

The draft Bay of Plenty Regional Public Transport Plan 2026-2036 is now open for public feedback, with the regional council focusing on making better use of existing services and current investment.

The Ōpōtiki Matariki Festival is back this month, bringing the community together through culture, entertainment, learning and connection.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts has urged the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to hold off on major decisions affecting Quayside Holdings until local government reforms are finalised.

Whakatāne District Council said the repairs to a leaking water mains pipe have been completed, and the unplanned water shutdown was not required.

Bay of Plenty serviceman is taking his Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) career to new heights, swapping life on the ground for the skies aboard one of New Zealand's most advanced military aircraft.

Months after a major slip closed Motu Road, repair work is scheduled to begin later this month, bringing relief to cyclists and local communities.

NZTA say crews will undertake surface and rail repairs during full closure from Saturday morning until midday Thursday July 9.

Wakatāne District Council is reminding residents to think carefully about which bin they use after a number of unsuitable items were recently found in green waste collections.

Ōpōtiki District Council has adopted its 2026-27 Annual Plan, confirming an average rates increase of 8.7% for the coming financial year, significantly lower than the 16% projected in the district's Long-Term Plan.

For more than half a century, Radio 1XX has been at the heart of life in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, informing, entertaining and connecting communities while documenting the region's history as it happened.

While the Regional Council continues backing a single Bay-wide authority, Whakatāne Mayor Nándor Tánczos says there is strong community interest in an Eastern Bay unitary council.

Whakatāne High School's performance of All Shook Up, an Elvis Presley jukebox musical, had everything you could possibly want: Elvis hits, outrageous misunderstandings, and enough romantic chaos to keep Cupid in business for years.

The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust says it is reconsidering the future of its popular Wandering Trail after another act of vandalism saw a bronze plaque stolen from one of its kiwi sculptures.

Whakatāne District residents will face higher waste management costs from July next year, with fees at refuse and recycling centres set to rise by 10% following increased transport costs linked to changes in landfill disposal.

New Zealand's only living Victoria Cross recipient, Willie Apiata, will return to his Eastern Bay roots next month to speak with local rural communities about resilience, wellbeing and looking after one another.

Work to remove the council-owned buildings on the corner of The Strand and Quay Street will begin soon as part of the wider Whakatāne Riverfront Enhancement Project.

Whakatāne District Council has adopted its Annual Plan for the 2026/27 financial year, confirming an average rates increase of 9.1% after finding additional savings across the organisation.

Residents were left stunned yesterday after reports emerged of a giant axolotl and an enormous rooster roaming the streets of Whakatāne, approaching unsuspecting members of the public and urging them to prepare for the upcoming election.

Whakatāne District Council has started a conversation about making water charges “fairer” and “clearer” for the district; however, decisions are yet to be made.