Todd TalksBy Todd Muller It's been a big year for our land-based industries, particularly those in the Bay, where kiwifruit and avocados have booth had strong seasons. I can recall being a young leader (to the extent you could say I was either)... Read More

David Hill@ Papamoa Plaza 'Locals' from all around New Zealand are commenting on the rapid growth of Papamoa, in particular the housing developments in Papamoa East and the redevelopments at Papamoa Plaza. The rapid expansion of Papamoa residential... Read More

Peter GriffinPlanwise Financial Services It's that time of the year again, when life speeds up as the mad rush to take time out during the festive break approaches. I've just received a report on the state of insurance in New Zealand, as compared... Read More

Matt CowleyTauranga City Councillor What an incredible year 2015 has been. Tauranga has punched above its weight in many areas, but the year hasn't been without a few regrettable moments. My favourite highlights from council chambers include starting... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz Sideline Sid has found a great way to fix the stresses and strains of the build-up to the busiest time of the year. Last weekend, along with Mrs Sid, he sat on the bank at Seddon Park... Read More

Weather Eyewith John Maunder In the bleak mid-winter,Frosty wind made moan,Earth stood hard as iron,Water like a stone,Snow had fallen,Snow on snow,Snow on snow,In the bleak mid-winter,Long ago.These words, from the first verse of the well-known... Read More

Tales from the Boot Campwith Dan Sheridan So there we have it. Ten weeks' training done and dusted. Easy, right? Truthfully, it's been anything but. When I started the LIFE Personal Fitness camp on October 12, I don't mind admitting I was concerned.... Read More

Catherine StewartTauranga City Councillor The last council meeting for 2015 was held this week. The main topic of discussion was the proposed sale of Smiths Farm. More than 216 submissions were received during the consultation process. Elected... Read More

Matt CowleyTauranga City Councillor With summer in full swing, I've asked Mount/Papamoa ward councillor Leanne Brown to write this week's highly enthusiastic column. Thanks Matt, as this year comes to an end, we are fast approaching our city's... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz Being a globetrotting type of newspaper magnate, I spend much of the year travelling; and it's on these madcap excursions that we meet intriguing people and experience far-out things, which keep this... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz While recently clearing out some of my sporting books, I got to wondering about the oldest book I have collected over the years. A little searching revealed Surf Life Saving in New... Read More

Peter GriffinPlanwise Financial Services For many New Zealand households, nearly 100 per cent of the income coming into the home is being consumed in living expenses, rent or mortgage repayments. For a large number of those households, the income... Read More