Angie Warren-ClarkLabour MP During my time as manager of Tauranga Women's Refuge, I worked with and heard from many women and their children who were homeless in our city. Many of these families had fled violence with a resulting poverty attached. Commonly,... Read More

Simon BridgesNational Party Leader simonbridges.co.nz If you have recently returned to Tauranga after being away for a few years, you are probably saddened to see beggars on our local streets. Begging is seen in all major cities across the world... Read More

Straight from city councilA personal view,by Councillor Steve Morris The results are in: 58.9 per cent of voters rejected the proposal for a $55 million museum. I don't subscribe to the belief that most people support a museum because only 31 per... Read More

Gary WebberWBOP District Council Mayor On a personal basis, the answer to that question is pretty easy for me - The Local Government Act in section 14 states when making a decision, a local authority should take account of - 'the diversity of the... Read More

Active Voicewith Heidi LichtwarkSport BOP CEO Challenges are funny things. I've always maintained reasonable fitness, but a continued sedentary work pattern and lots of driving meant I was far less active than I wanted to be. Fortunately, I really... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz By all accounts, the Baywide premier rugby encounter between Te Puna and Whakarewarewa on Matakana Island was an outstanding success for all involved in the unique initiative. Te Puna... Read More

Weather Eyewith John Maunder The 'Maunder Minimum' is the name given to the period from 1645 to 1715 when the number of sunspots - 'storms' on the sun - became almost zero. The period is named after the solar astronomer Edward Walter Maunder (1851-1928),... Read More

Earth is a ballwith Shane BoyleDirector, Football Music Culture Welcome to 'Earth is a ball' - a football blog where you can hear stories told by kids from around Oceania as they participate in the 2018 Gazprom Football for Friendship programme... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz Here's an idea: Bugger off back to your snooty high ground Someone needs to tell Tony Wall to feck off back to Auckland. And I'm just the man for the job.Mr Wall, in case anyone cares, is an Aucklander... Read More

Jan TinettiLabour MP It was cold and dark as I made my way to the Anzac Dawn Service at the Greerton RSA but my heart was warm when I saw the thousands of others also making what for many has become an annual pilgrimage to honour those who gave... Read More

Straight from city councilA personal view,by Councillor Steve Morris I congratulate our newly-elected councillor, John Robson, on his victory in this week's by-election. His vote and contribution around the table makes it easier for those of us... Read More

Clayton MitchellNew Zealand First MP In politics it's very easy to make assumptions as to why you think people vote for you or what you think they want, but the only thing we know about our voters after a General Election is where they are from. We... Read More