Regional News

On the second Saturday of each month, the Apanui Salt Marsh care group and volunteers come together to tidy up the Whakatāne Riverbank.  

Temperatures across the Bay of Plenty are forecast to be above average this weekend, as the remnants of an Australian heatwave cross the ditch.

The drive to Ōpōtiki will be filled with roadworks again from next week as construction resumes on the Matekerepu roundabout and starts on two new roundabouts at the Waiōtahe River Bridge.

MetService says afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected for inland parts of the Bay of Plenty, east of Rotorua.

The event features varying track lengths to encourage people of all abilities to participate, says Matthew Bryson, event organiser and Edgecumbe local.

A 47-year-old man is set to appear in the Whakatāne District Court on January 6, charged with arson and assault on a person in a family relationship.

Emergency services received reports of a two-vehicle crash around 10am, between Hawera Street and Nelson Street. 

Around 3pm on Thursday, Police were notified of a woman who had died at an address on Old Coach Road. 

Since the start of November, Coastguard volunteers have spent more than 30 hours on the water responding to a range of incidents.

MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty, about and east of Rotorua.