Regional News

A sudden spike in fuel prices, caused by the United States-Israel conflict with Iran, could have a crippling effect on smaller regional airlines.

NZTA crews will meet over the next week to discuss long term solutions for Pekatahi Bridge maintenance until the new bridge opens. 

Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club said their athletes had the best results in years at the 2026 AON Surf Lifesaving Championships at Ōhope Beach.

Whakatāne District Council said the broken pipe is now fixed, but the water team are refilling the the mains, and the reservoir.

Whakatāne District Council have advised of a water mains break at the Tāneatua water reservoir, where the townships water is stored.

Police are urging people to be cautious when buying firewood online as demand increases ahead of winter.

After nearly a five year wait, long serving Murupara GP Dr Bernard Conlon will face the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal in Rotorua next week.

NZTA said from Monday, during the early morning and early evening stop/go traffic management will be in place for both Ōpōtiki and Gisborne bound traffic.

While La Niña has technically ended, the Bay of Plenty could still see tropical-like conditions over the coming months.

Whakatāne District Council are planning long term urban expansion of Awakeri with a structure plan, influenced by a community reference group.

NZTA said from this morning, Pōtaka to Hicks Bay will be fully open 24/7.

An update on access to Gisborne through State Highway 2 Waioweka Gorge is expected tomorrow.

Staff are excited ahead of the return of Whakatāne Hospital Secondary Obstetrics and Gynaecology Services on April 13th, a sentiment shared by the community.

New Zealand’s top surf lifesaving athletes are descending on Ōhope Beach from today for the 2026 Aon New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships, the much-anticipated event of the surf sport calendar.

A fire at Te Puna o Tarawa Early Childhood Centre on Monday night has left the centre closed with 'significant fire and smoke damage.' 

The change announced last week will remove barriers for on farm and rural workers from using their KiwiSaver to buy their first homes.

Voting, to fill the remaining vacancies on the Galatea Waiōhau subdivision of the Murupara community board and the Tāneatua board, came to a close yesterday, with all positions now filled.

The assault is the second in the past week, but Senior Sergeant Cam MacKinnon said both offenders have been apprehended, and Police believe there is no further risk to the public.

Police were called just before 8.30am yesterday after receiving reports of suspicious activity on Salonika Street, near St Joseph's Catholic School, Whakatāne.

Youth mental health service provider Te Puna Ora o Mataatua said Eastern Bay rangatahi are under significant pressure.

By-elections are being held for the Galatea-Waiōhau Subdivision of the Murupara Community Board, where one vacancy remains, and the Tāneatua Community Board, with three spots to fill.

A man is due to appear in court today after allegedly assaulting a woman in Ōpōtiki overnight.

NZTA said the changes will allow crews to work uninterrupted for longer periods to get the road to two lanes faster.

Emergency services were notified of an accident in Wainui between Burke Road and Paparoa Road this morning.

Kawerau Fire Brigade showed up to support its longest ever serving fireman last weekend.

MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for inland Bay of Plenty this afternoon.

A crash occurred on the stretch of road coming into Whakatāne between R n’ Bees Berry Farm and Extreme Boats.

Health New Zealand said the services will return at 8am on April 13.

The road reopened to light vehicles on Tuesday, but a timeline for heavy vehicles is yet to be provided.

Ōpōtiki residents woke up to an unplanned power outage this morning.

Following 3 boil notices so far this year and community concerns, Whakatāne District Council said it's set aside funding to progress a new water treatment plant for Rūātoki. 

The Government's plan to give police authority to issue move-on orders in public places is drawing mixed reactions in Whakatāne, where homelessness is increasing, and support is stretched.

The Ōpape Marae and Urupā Trustees placed a Rāhui over Ōpape Beach yesterday afternoon to protect people and the whenua. 

The road has been closed since the beginning of February, following a large slip caused by recent storms.

Salt Spray Surf School participants had an unusual instructor on Monday.

Six years on from the Whakaari White Island eruption, survivor Kelsey Waghorn has shared her story in a new memoir, Surviving White Island and Everything That Came After, describing not only the day that changed her life but the long road to recovery that followed.

From today, the Ōpōtiki bound convoys will depart from the Opato rest area, rather than the Te Wera Road intersection in Matawai.

NZTA said there is one stage of work left at Matekerepu Roundabout, and preparation work at teardrop roundabouts well underway.

Yesterday the Whakatāne District Council decided community proposals to repair and re-establish the walkway.

Convoys are being allowed through the Waioweka Gorge to facilitate essential travel between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne, while NZTA crews work to clean up the road.

Whakatāne resident Mack Apaapa, is honoured to be performing and MC at the Aroha in Action fundraiser.

Rōpū from across the Mātaatua rohe will compete at the qualifying competition, Mātaatua Regionals, next weekend to see who will advance to Te Matatini, the ‘Olympics of Kapa Haka’.

Police say four people have been arrested, charged with aggravated robbery, in relation to an assault on February nine, near the Warehouse on Kakahoroa Drive.

Sections of the highway have been closed following severe damage caused by last month's storm.

Four years after the track first closed, Council will meet about a path forward this morning.

Between 10pm and 5am on Sunday 22 February, resurfacing work by NZTA is taking place on the SH30 bridge.

The road closed earlier this month due to a slip caused by recent storms.