Cr Bill FaulknerFaulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz Elected members met with Crown representatives for the local Treaty of Waitangi settlements in a confidential meeting this week. It was confidential at their request, not ours, and was to update... Read More

Ian McLeanSpokesperson for the Green Party Mr Rabbit, let's go on a ramble through the 100 acre wood and chat about why Russel Norman thinks printing money might be a sensible thing to do. 'Printing money” is properly called 'quantitative... Read More

The Jigfrom Wish4Fish Hello all Fisho's, The Jig is back for his weekly column. Thanks to all those who sent us positive feedback about our column last week, we will strive to inform you on the fishing in the Bay of Plenty. Due to the spring equinox... Read More

First ImpressionsBy Brendan Horan The hardest task for a new MP to learn is how to react rationally to irrational policies - like training hundreds of school teachers to work overseas. This is hard to believe, but primary teaching students were... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz As our section sizes get smaller and people live in more intensive-type housing, our public network of parks and reserves becomes increasingly important. We are very fortunate here in the western... Read More

Andrew von DadelszenFormer Regional Councillor Last Thursday I joined more than 100 local residents who heard how strong science is monitoring the effects of the Rena grounding - one year on. Waikato University chair of coastal science, professor... Read More

Graeme ElvinMackenzie Elvin It feels like it is a real war out there. Everywhere you look the banks are fighting for business, offering competitive interest rates; contributions to legal fees, to valuation fees, and to bank fees. After all, when... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz The Steamers season came to a close last Sunday when the Bay side ran into the Canterbury juggernaut, which was intent on booking a home semi-final in the top echelon of the ITM Cup. All... Read More

Dazz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz The longer daylight hours mean we can have Barbecue time. Friends and family may invite you to one as the weather warms up-so what do you take? These days making something... Read More

David MortimoreSport Development Team Leader Sport Bay of Plenty We all know that sports clubs and organisations need funds to survive so why not look at other ways to reduce your costs whilst at the same time doing something for the environment. At... Read More

Pete MorrisArt blogger www.sunlive.co.nz Tauranga based Artists Berys Suridge and Elizabeth Cross both began painting 5 years ago after retiring from their business commitments. Both Berys and Elizabeth work predominantly in acrylics and enjoy... Read More

John ArtsAbundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz Over the past year I have been helping a woman in her 30s who has a serious skin condition. In her case her immune system had for some reason launched an extreme inflammatory attack on skin cells, causing... Read More