Matt CowleyTauranga City Councillor I'm excited to be back for the first week of formal council meetings in 2014. This column was written before council's decisions on Thursday, so I'll cover those issues in future weeks. It's obvious from the... Read More

Scott SimpsonCoromandel MP The rising cost of living in our largest city is a concern for all of us. The Government is pushing through measures to try and address the problem of Auckland's spiralling house prices, but affordability is without a... Read More

Andy BelcherThrough Andy's LensPhotographer My good friend Suzi had a small plastic tub of water in the top of a bush outside her kitchen window. When she described it as her 'tui perch' I got excited and immediately set up my camera. My enthusiasm... Read More

Tony BonneWhakatane Mayor In the Whakatane District, we currently have the strange situation of having two community board by-elections underway, just three months after the 2013 triennial local government elections. The reason for this is there... Read More

Art Beatwith Rosalie Crawford The only New Zealander to be included in a group of international urban sketchers has been holidaying with family this summer in Papamoa. Growing up here, Murray Dewhurst attended Papamoa Primary School and Te Puke... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz Occasionally dreams do come true - just ask local boxer Gunnar Jackson, who tonight will step into the ring in Brisbane against Anthony 'The Man' Mundine. In a flash, the Western Bay... Read More

Weather Eyewith John Maunder During 2013, Tauranga had it warmest year since records began in 1914. Temperatures have been recorded in the Tauranga area at several sites in the last 100 years, including the current Tauranga Airport site from June... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbitswww.sunlive.co.nz The election is coming up later in the year and it's become fashionable to decide which parties we'll be prepared to work with.Mr Key has said he's pretty happy with The Maori Party, United Future and... Read More

NewshoundAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz All eyes will be on the skies this weekend, with the Classics of the Sky - Tauranga City Airshow taking off in the Bay.The newshounds, being bird dogs, are pretty used to scouring the skies for large birds.... Read More

Dazz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz So far this year, life has been a little difficult as I have faced extra stressful transport problems as I find myself without a vehicle. Just as well I have some good friends... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz In the scale of things, as much as we'd like to think differently, mankind is puny and powerless in comparison with the forces of nature. Again this week, we've seen a pretty big earthquake in... Read More

Independent viewsBy Brendan Horan Last year, I shared a few stories we had managed in our Mount Maunganui office. This week, I'd like to continue this theme and share other issues constituents have sort to share, seek assistance and advocacy for... Read More