Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz Thousands of Western Bay youngsters can't wait for next Saturday morning, when junior winter sport kicks off in the region. However, nobody has more excitement and enthusiasm bubbling... Read More

Weather Eyewith John Maunder Rainfalls in Tauranga during the month of April 2014 and April 2013 were both relatively wet, with April 2013 recording 284mm - the sixth highest April rainfall since 1898 - and last month tallying 225mm - the 17th... Read More

NewshoundAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz Holy smokin' barrels, batman. It's duck shooting season from this weekend.If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a duck shooting. It's bad enough that they're quacking.Whoever decided to give them guns, must... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbitswww.sunlive.co.nz Have you noticed there seems to be more cars on the road?That's because there are more cars on the road. At least according to the Motor Trade Association.They've worked out the national fleet is growing... Read More

Dazz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz The mornings have been busy at the farmer's market as the demand for fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables seems to have no end.The root vegetables like the beetroot, kumara... Read More

Catherine StewartTauranga City Councillor Well done to Buddy Mikaere and all involved for organising the many events to commemorate the 150th year since the Battle of Gate Pa. Tuesday, April 29, dawned on a cold, wet morning and then turned... Read More

Governance Matterswith Peter McKinlay In New Zealand, we seem obsessed with amalgamation as though it is the only way of lifting local government's game. Look elsewhere and you can see some excitingly different things happening. The London Borough... Read More

Matt CowleyTauranga City Councillor Last week at council, we took a sneak peak at the region's population projections for the next 50 years. Basically, the populations of developed countries are likely to hit a ceiling in the mid-2020s, causing... Read More

Independent viewsBy Brendan Horan I'm writing to draw attention to a local issue I first became aware of when my son and wife went for a walk down the beach. They came back sneezing, with eyes and noses running. I thought this was very strange.... Read More

Ian McLeanGreen SceneSpokesperson for the Green Party Housed in our collection of whanau memorabilia is a medal labelled 'ANZAC 1915' in the name of E. Sargisson. Eric Sargisson was the brother of my wife's great grandfather. He died too young... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz From time to time we have an experience which changes or emphasises the way we think about something. The recent commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle Gate Pa is one such event for... Read More

Art Beatwith Rosalie Crawford Jimmy James Kouratoras brings to the Art Body Gallery at Mount Maunganui aluminiferous ether of colour dimensions that's both whimsical but complex. His work evokes the sense of awakening to early stories time has... Read More