Matt CowleyTauranga City Councillor Welcome to 2014! I hope you enjoyed the wide range of events throughout the festive season. The choices that were available - both free and paid - were great to see. During the break I was as surprised as most... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbitswww.sunlive.co.nz Feeding frenzy of the desperate media Some of the lesser-read media outfits around town have resorted to their usual summer ploy, presumably desperate to sell papers, by having yet another shark scare... Read More

NewshoundAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz Wendy the dog trainer would have kittens if she knew the amount of dog humanising that went on in our household.The summer silly season has been particularly crazy, with the dogs of the residence being expected... Read More

Kim McVickerFamily Lifestyle CoachSport Bay of Plenty It's that time of the year again, when children are at home, family are coming to visit, and the usual daily structure goes out the window. It's also a time for eating more, relaxing, and... Read More

Dazz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz During the holidays the fridge has been rather full, with every nook and cranny jammed with jars of pickles and packets of this and that. As most of our visitors are now gone... Read More

Andy BelcherThrough Andy's LensPhotographer A very Happy New Year to all readers. Resplendent in my garden, in full bloom, is my favourite silk tree which provides welcome shade in the summer heat. Can you guess what camera and lens I took this... Read More

Ian McLeanGreen SceneSpokesperson for the Green Party We had the extraordinary, the astonishing, and the obscene, all in the same summer break. If one woman can give her all for the minimum wage of $14 an hour, which she then gave away; and if... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz It's more than two years since the Rena went aground on the Astrolabe Reef. Since then a huge amount of work has been done by many people - salvors, scientists, central and local government agencies,... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz While it is stretching our imagination to claim Waihi Beach is part of the Western Bay of Plenty as we know it - the small beachside community is at the further reaches of the district... Read More

Karen Stanton,Active Families AdvisorSport Bay of Plenty With the introduction of another New Year, no doubt many people will be looking to make resolutions for 2014 with a view to changing some unhealthy habits or toward setting a challenge... Read More

Weather Eyewith John Maunder The graph below shows the range of Tauranga's December rainfalls, from an extreme high of 447mm in 1962 to a low of only 4mm in 1930. The second wettest December was 2011, when 276mm was recorded; and the second... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz It's all about food this time of the year, as many readers will be considering some New Year's resolutions, in the aftermath of Christmas and girth over-runs.Of course the wise folk choose resolutions... Read More