Independent viewsBy Brendan HoranNZ Independent Coalition Party leader This week we saw the official launch of the NZ Independent Coalition. It was a great night, shared by many of our founding members including friends and family and others keen... Read More

Independent viewsBy Brendan HoranNZ Independent Coalition Party leader This week we saw the official launch of the NZ Independent Coalition. It was a great night, shared by many of our founding members including friends and family and others keen... Read More

Todd TalksBy Todd MullerNational Party I'm really enjoying getting out and about meeting my local communities, at last count more than 4000 people and doors, the National team has connected with in five weeks. During the last week I've focused... Read More

Local Labourwith Rachel Jones Which is more precious to you - your car or your children? Your house or your children? Your money or your children? Government changes to family court law suggest your worldly possessions are more important than your... Read More

Simon BridgesNational MP simonbridges.co.nz In this last week of parliament before the election, we had a number of valedictory speeches from retiring National MPs, including Tony Ryall. As a new MP in 2008, Tony was a great help to me and I have... Read More

Governance Matterswith Peter McKinlay Largely out of the public eye, there's been a lot of ongoing discussion about local government reform for the Bay of Plenty. Ideas about 'efficiency' and 'economies of scale' are colliding with values of local... Read More

Matt CowleyTauranga City Councillor I'm not going to tell you what you already know about natural disasters. We know we need to be prepared to look after ourselves as help is unlikely to reach everyone in the city straight away. But before we start... Read More

Ian McLeanGreen SceneSpokesperson for the Green Party The Green Party is determined to protect our beaches, permanently. How? We watched Petrobras and Anadarko come, explore, find nothing and go. Each time, brave souls went to sea to carry the... Read More

Melanie Short, Marketing and Sponsorship ManagerSport Bay of Plenty Sport Bay of Plenty can't be described in a one-minute elevator speech as the work that's undertaken by the organisation is diverse and wide-reaching throughout the region. In... Read More

Melanie Short, Marketing and Sponsorship ManagerSport Bay of Plenty Sport Bay of Plenty can't be described in a one-minute elevator speech as the work that's undertaken by the organisation is diverse and wide-reaching throughout the region. In... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz With our 10-week break on the Sunshine Coast coming to an end, we've arrive back in the Western Bay of Plenty. While catching up with family and friends and enjoying a very mild Queensland... Read More

Weather Eyewith John Maunder Among the many climate science meetings I've attended, the most significant - at least in terms of climate change is concerned - is my involvement in the UN-sponsored International Conference in Villach, Austria, in... Read More