Countdown has temporarily changed its opening hours nationwide and introduced limits on products that are in high demand, as the country responds to changes in COVID-19 alert levels. The supermarkets’ priority assistance online shopping service...

Rotorua is dealing with the tap on its largest pool of visitors being turned off while it fears the ‘carnage’ scenario of a lockdown extending to the town. Tourism, hospitality and accommodation providers have reacted with a mix of concern...

Raw apricot kernels sold by a Christchurch food business are being recalled because of the potential risk of poisoning. Three people were admitted to hospital as a precaution and have since been discharged after eating the raw kernels, which were purchased...

People are being reminded to “stay calm and shop normal” following news of the new COVID-19 alert levels. There were reports of queues outside some local supermarkets today. Pak’nSave Cameron Road was busy but orderly when SunLive...

UPDATED: There is another case of COVID-19 in managed isolation this afternoon plus the four cases of community transmission announced last night. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield are providing an update...

National's party leader Judith Collins and health spokesperson Shane Reti are holding a media conference. They are expected to speak from 3pm. The pair are speaking from the Legislative Council Chamber at Parliament. Their statement comes after...

The commercial and business sector of Kōpū is to benefit from an $8.2 million injection from the government to revamp its marine-servicing infrastructure and create new economic development opportunities, Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has announced. This...

A five-year-old child witnessed Surender Mehrok​ hit a baby a number of times and throw him on a bed before he died, a court has heard. Richard Royal Orif Takahi Winiata Uddin​ died of head injuries on the night of June 7, 2016. Surender Singh...

At 12pm today, Tauranga moved to Alert Level 2. Under Alert Level 2, Council services and facilities will remain open with measures in place to protect the health and safety of our community and staff. "People are asked to practice safe...

Police will increase reassurance visits and establish road checkpoints when regional Alert Level 3 restrictions for Auckland come into effect from midday today. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says staff had planned for the possibility of COVID-19...

Landcare and sustainability groups are being encouraged to attend the annual Bay of Plenty Regional Environment Network Hui. Groups and individuals have the chance to learn from each other during this year’s hui through a range of speakers, breakout...

UPDATE: One of the four new cases of COVID-19 has been confirmed as visiting Rotorua in the weekend. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says a woman in her 20s, who is part of the Auckland family currently in self-isolation, visited the...

Hauraki District Council has won the Kiwi leg of this year’s Australasian Management Challenge, competing against other councils from around the country.   The team will now go on to challenge the best in Australia later this month....

Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Boards will be moving to Alert Level 2 at midday, the same time as the rest of the New Zealand. Auckland will be at Alert Level 3. This follows confirmation of four positive COVID-19 cases in Auckland. "Last...

A big high is about to move in to NZ, kicking off with a colder southerly but followed by a mild sub-tropical nor easter next week. WeatherWatch.co.nz says the high pressure belt will make most regions lean drier in the week ahead - but by Tuesday...

Following the success of the phase out of single-use plastic shopping bags, the Government now has plans to phase out more single-use and problem plastics to reduce waste and protect the environment announced Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie...

A surge in online players since March means Lotto NZ is expecting its busiest day ever on MyLotto today and encourages customers to buy their tickets early to avoid the online peak. “Our MyLotto website and app has never been so busy as the number...

  Bay of Plenty medical cannabis firm Eqalis Pharmaceuticals Limited has this week received one of the country’s first commercial licences.   The commercial licence will enable Eqalis Pharmaceuticals to proceed with plans to develop...

The shift to alert level three for Auckland and level two for the rest of New Zealand is expected to last for about three days. The move in lockdown status, which will begin from midday, comes following the announcement of four positive cases of COVID-19...

Auckland moves to level 3 lockdown and the rest of the country to level 2 at midday after four cases of COVID-19 outside managed isolation. The Prime Minister has announced four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in one family from an unknown source last...

New Zealand’s Alert Levels are changing. At 12 noon on Wednesday August 12, Auckland will move to Alert Level 3. The rest of the New Zealand will move to Alert Level 2. This was announced following four new cases of Covid-19 from an unknown...

New Zealand Covid-19 alert levels will be raised from noon on Wednesday after a family has tested positive for Covid-19. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Auckland will move to Alert Level 3 for three days from 12noon tomorrow – Wednesday August...

Retail spending on durable goods remained at higher levels than 2019 for the third consecutive month according to Stats NZ. The rise in spending was boosted by sales of furniture, hardware, and appliances, says Stats NZ. “For a third consecutive...

Sustainable Blue Backyard is back for another year as a part of conservation week, offering the chance for locals to learn about nature conservation through fun and free activities. This year’s Conservation Week theme is Nature Through New Eyes...

Last week the government passed under urgency a series of big changes to New Zealand's tenancy laws. These reforms have been in the works since before the 2017 election, but were pushed through the House with just hours of the parliamentary term...

Tauranga City Council has agreed to work with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to explore the possibility of a future managed retreat of polluting industries from the Hewletts Road industrial area in Mount Maunganui. The Whareroa Marae community...

The winners have been announced for this year's regional Bay Of Plenty Smokefreerockquest competition.    Coming first in the band category is rock band O.C.D from Papamoa College.   Drummer and vocalist Maysen Mitchell...

A homeowner has “lost everything” after a house in the middle of renovations caught fire in the Karangahake Gorge overnight. The single storey 100sqm house on Waitekauri Road in Waikino caught alight around 1.30am on Tuesday. It is believed...

Tauranga and Whakatane Hospital have been at full capacity after an “unprecedented” amount of patients were admitted with a range of winter illnesses.  The Bay of Plenty District Health Board issued a notice yesterday saying both Tauranga...