Andrew von DadelszenFormer Regional Councillor Reading the feedback as a result of the community consultation for the Smartgrowth Strategic Review, I worry that staff will place too much weight on emotive issues, rather than following good science. The... Read More

Brian AndersonThe Western Frontwww.sunlive.co.nz There is a hole somewhere in the council structure, a black hole which seems to accept ideas, innovation, dreams, consultation, reports, planning submissions, our rates and heaps of money. Council... Read More

Gourmet Guideby Jo Blennerhassett of The Good Food Trading Co. Leanne and Michel Chinnery are the passion behind this divine product based in Mangawhai, producing a range of olive oils and pomegranate balsamic vinegar. This is one of my favourite... Read More

Graeme Elvinof Mackenzie Elvin When you look to market your property you may be told, 'yes, go to auction, your property is sure to sell …..before the auction….. at the auction….. or after the auction” - hmmm. There are... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz While the start of construction overlooking the Bay of Plenty Cricket Oval at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui appears of little consequence - in reality it is a further building block... Read More

John ArtsAbundant Living www.johnarts.co.nz When identifying nutritional links with disease, we need to distinguish between problems caused by outright nutrient deficiencies and those caused by nutrient inadequacy. While true deficiency diseases... Read More

Dazz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz In this country we are surrounded by water and mussels cling to the rocks all along the coastline. This harvest from the sea is one of New Zealand's favourite affordable seafoods... Read More

Pete MorrisArt blogger www.sunlive.co.nz From time to time we are blessed with a new art gallery. In October our rapidly growing city will be enriched by the opening of the Lightwave Gallery at 31 Totara Street Mount Maunganui. The new gallery... Read More

News HoundAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz Flo and I are country girls at heart, but we spend a lot of our time together at the office while the bosses are pretending to work. But every day we get out to romp in the green, green grass. The days have... Read More

Brian RogersRogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz What are the chances? Not very good if you're a base jumper. One in sixty of them die, as a New Zealand bloke found out unfortunately. Maybe he thought he was number 59. Whatever the reason that possesses... Read More

First ImpressionsBy Brendan Horan Exports have always been our economic lifeblood but the flow is being interrupted by the high value of the New Zealand dollar. One of the heart's pumping chambers is the Port of Tauranga, which ships out more... Read More

Cr Bill FaulknerFaulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz Tsunamis are back on Council's radar screen this week as elected members were presented with a draft version of 'How to escape a tsunami” at a workshop. As the facts get sorted from the fiction,... Read More