Independent viewsBy Brendan Horan As an island nation, we are blessed with an abundance of fabulous beaches, lakes and rivers, all of which provide boundless opportunities for a host of aquatic sports and recreational activities. Many believe that... Read More

Andrew von DadelszenFormer Regional Councillor The Rena debris on the Astrolabe Reef is a huge problem for us all. The reality is that to remove it completely is likely to be at such a cost to the salvers that the owners and insurers are likely... Read More

Brian AndersonThe Western Frontwww.sunlive.co.nz I stood up a few years ago at an international conference and asked a minister why a certain piece of legislation was already due for review and there had been no evidence of the first version ever... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz While Sideline Sid is an avid watcher of all things sporting on TV, it was a surprise to him over the weekend when his better half was glued to the box in mid afternoon, for four consecutive... Read More

John ArtsAbundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz Gout is a painful form of arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid levels. This results in the formation of uric acid crystals in synovial joints, most typically in the big toe. It was once called... Read More

Dazz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz The walk up the Mount the other day was amazing. Luckily it was early, because as the morning went on the temperature rose dramatically and working in the garden afterwards... Read More

Pete MorrisArt blogger www.sunlive.co.nz Recently Tauranga resident Nyree Sherlock sent me an email asking if I could help find some missing murals that were funded by Tauranga City Council. Tauranga's Baycourt Theatre - unfortunately no photos... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz Beachcombers and boaties beware: There may be more hazards than sunburn and blue bottles lurking at the shoreline. Occasionally unexploded air force devices wash ashore on our region's coastline and... Read More

NewshoundAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz Had a wonderful week. Boy, I could have done with your help! I know I'm a retriever by heritage, but there are some things that are even out of the league of a keen Labrador. This is a picture of me on the beach... Read More

Cr Bill FaulknerFaulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz Mauao (aka The Mount) is to get a JAB. That is, a Joint Administering Body and while we are doing puns that's not another way of doing wacky backy! From around the middle of the year, four elected... Read More

Ian McLeanSpokesperson for the Green Party The Tauranga conference on local government is a fading memory, although it was celebrated with justifiable enthusiasm by several columnists in this newspaper last week. It appears that reform, otherwise... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz The purpose of local government has changed to 'meet the current and future needs of communities for good quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions... Read More