UPDATE: The Government’s wage subsidy to protect jobs and keep workers and businesses connected during the lockdown has now supported over a million New Zealanders, with $6.6 billion already paid out. “We’re supporting businesses...

The rapid upward movement of the red line on a thermometer sign outside the Talisman Hotel in Katikati will be a healthy signal as it tracks the growth of funds received by the Katikati Innovative Horticulture Trust toward its new educational centre. While...

  The BOP Health COVID-19 Response has created a new website to help address the Bay of Plenty and Lakes community’s COVID-19 questions.    The website has the latest health updates relating to COVID-19, plus answers to frequently...

  Two Tauranga women are calling the community to take action to protect those experiencing domestic violence during lockdown.   Tauranga Women’s Refuge manager Hazel Hape and Julie Sach, from Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support, are...

From Northland to Southland, dairy farmers in lockdown across New Zealand have banded together to send a clear positive message to the rest of the country during the Covid-19 national emergency – ‘We are a food producing nation and there...

The Southern Ocean will be stormy this weekend but latest modelling shows high pressure will not give up easily, pushing back in a battle between weather systems. As WeatherWatch.co.nz said last week Easter Weekend could be stormy with very low pressure...

  A Tauranga mechanic is issuing a warning for car owners stuck at home during the lockdown.   Since the lockdown began, many private vehicles have been used just a few times, if at all, for short travel trips to do grocery shopping or...

Rural residents in remote areas of the Western Bay having difficulty getting rid of their rubbish can now opt to get the private waste contractor Kleana Bins to collect direct from their property. Since the closure of all transfer stations, across...

At least one resthome has been hit, essential workers and those made redundant are finding it tough, and app-based tracing is being explored - this is what happened on Monday, April 6. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield reported another...

A range of support is being rolled out across New Zealand to help people look after their mental health during COVID-19. “COVID-19 has brought a lot of uncertainty into our lives and many of us will be feeling some level of distress or worry...

Health Minister David Clark has offered his resignation following a breach of the Alert Level 4 lockdown. On the first weekend of the Alert Level 4 lockdown, David drove his family about 20km from their house in Dunedin to Doctor’s Point Beach...

  Illegal community checkpoints on the East Coast are being credited for the low presence of COVID-19 in the region. Gisborne has just one case of the virus, and experts say its strategy could be critical in preventing outbreaks in vulnerable rural...

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is working with Rotorua Lakes Council and other local authorities to take a regional approach to COVID-19 recovery. Regional Council chair Doug Leeder says that that in light of RLC’s announcement today on rates...

Mainstreet Tauranga is calling on local hospitality businesses to jump on board a nationwide initiative providing support amid the COVID-19 lockdown. SOS CAFE is set up so people can buy vouchers to cafes, bars and restaurants to redeem when the lockdown...

As New Zealanders adapt to their ‘new normal’, Spark’s network has seen a shift to a ‘7-day weekend’ – where broadband usage volumes during the week now resemble usage volumes over the weekend pre-COVID-19. Weekday...

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern updated the public on the government's response to the COVID-19 situation in New Zealand this afternoon. Government is set to launch a campaign designed to help kiwis cope with stress created by COVID-19.  Jacinda...

“To all the public health workers and to researchers in the scientific community – thank you.” That's the message behind today's Google search homepage and it's a timely reminder of the great job being done by New Zealand's...

There is one new case of COVID-19 in the Bay of Plenty today. There are now a total of 32 cases in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board area, while the number of cases in the Lakes District Health Board region remains at 12. Director-General of...

The opposition leader is defending his decision to commute between Wellington and his home in Tauranga during the COVID-19 lockdown. Simon Bridges is chairing the Epidemic Response Committee, which meets each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. While...

With the country officially in lockdown, now is the perfect time for young players all over New Zealand to sharpen their skills ahead of the upcoming winter season. New Zealand Football has therefore produced a handy training guide aimed at junior...

The "regretful" decision has been to cancel the WSF World Junior Championships that had been scheduled to take place in July 2020 on the Gold Coast. The WSF (World Squash Federation) and Squash Australia says it's unfortunate news for...

UPDATE: There are 39 new confirmed cases and 28 probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand today. An increase of 67 cases. This now brings the total cases to 1106 in New Zealand. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield is delivering the latest...

People coming into hospital are being reminded to bring a phone or other personal device with them so they can keep in contact with loved ones. Tight hospital visitor restrictions as a result of COVID-19 mean most hospital patients can’t have...

Whakatane's Jake Milbank suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body when the volcano erupted on December 9, killing 21 people. The 19-year-old was on the island taking a tour for White Island Tours and was among those rescued from the island by...

  Organisers of a Covid-19 checkpoint at Maketu are concerned at the amount of non-essential travel in and out of the town.   Maketu Health and Social Services posted statistics on its Facebook page, from the first day of its checkpoint,...

Heading towards Easter, Tauranga City Council wants to let the community know how rubbish collection services will be managed over the two public holidays. All collections that would take place on Good Friday, April 10, will take place on Saturday,...

Police are investigating a theft from a Tauranga dairy over the weekend. Officers were called to the Kings Dairy on Willow Street on Sunday afternoon. A police spokesperson says they received a report of someone stealing several items from the dairy. They...

A worst case scenario is unfolding for Vanuatu today with Cyclone Harold reaching Cat 5 overnight, the highest level on the cyclone scale. The violent and historical storm is now directly approaching Vanuatu. It currently has sustained winds of 220...

The New Zealand Olympic Committee is pleased new dates for the Tokyo Olympic Games have been confirmed. “Our athletes have consistently told us they are able and willing to adapt, but certainty is key. Now they have this," says NZ Olympic...