Cr Bill FaulknerFaulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz Elected members from all over the Bay of Plenty, media and sector interest people attended a worthwhile conference on the way forward for Local Government last Friday. The purpose was to be proactive... Read More

First ImpressionsBy Brendan Horan One of the paramount challenges for our community is the safety of our children. New Zealand has a shocking record for child murders, abuse and suicide. It is to our great shame that the Bay of Plenty has some... Read More

Ian McLeanSpokesperson for the Green Party People growing genetically unmodified organisms can live next to people who do. Genetically engineered pollen that blows across the road is perfectly happy to mate with the flowers that live there. If... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz I thought last week's one-day conference run by Tauranga Chamber of Commerce to discuss trends in local government reform ended really positively. The audience was made up of a mix of business... Read More

Brian AndersonThe Western Frontwww.sunlive.co.nz When my wife picked me up from the Chamber of Commerce conference on local government last Friday night she wanted to know why all of the senior council members were laughing so much. They might... Read More

Andrew von DadelszenFormer Regional Councillor We are indebted to Max Mason and Tauranga Chamber of Commerce for instigating last Friday's regional reform on looking for better ways of structuring local government in the Bay of Plenty. The outstanding... Read More

Melanie ShortSport Bay of Plenty Play in the Bay is back in February with Bike Month. After a successful pilot year in 2012 Sport Bay of Plenty along with a vast amount of recreation providers around the Bay of Plenty will continue to provide more... Read More

Around the Clubs Omanu A team of around 100 went down to the Mount Main Beach to compete in the Junior Eastern Regional carnival over the weekend. A tough two days on the beach saw Omanu come a narrow second to Papamoa. All the athletes gave at... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz Along with the best beaches and coastline in the country the Western Bay has a abundance of green spaces and outdoor recreational facilities. While Sideline Sid tends to bang on about... Read More

Dazz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz This year the garden has gone ballistic and recently after an absence of 3 days, neglect had led to an over-abundance of very ripe tomatoes. There were some shiny green capsicums... Read More

Pete MorrisArt blogger www.sunlive.co.nz I just know that I'm going to enjoy the new exhibition of mind expanding Don Overbeay paintings at Tauranga's Gallery 59 during February and early March. Don Overbeay was born in Columbus, Ohio, USA in the... Read More

John ArtsAbundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz This week we look at inflammatory problems other than arthritis that affect joints and surrounding tissue. The most common are bursitis and tendonitis. Bursitis is a very common, often debilitating, joint... Read More