Regional News

NZTA said, the Waioweka Gorge remains vulnerable to slips and flooding so road closures during winter could become more common.

NZTA said repair work at two slips at Tōrere are now complete, and the road has reopened to two lanes, as work along State Highway 35 continues.

After a week, Ngāti Tūwharetoa kaumātua have lifted the rāhui that was put in place over the Tarawera River.

The Navy marched through Whakatāne this morning, celebrating ten years of the Freedom of the District Charter.

Police have released the names of the two boys who died after a bank collapsed along the Tarawera River on 16 April.

Local music lovers are fundraising for Whakatāne and Rotorua Oncology Units while celebrating music month with four open mic nights in May.

Fire and Emergency responded to a natural event call out in Murupara this morning.

A community group in Kawerau is expanding its focus from litter clean-ups to tackling invasive plant species as part of Conservation Week.

A local club has been left feeling devastated following fuel and battery thefts from its bulldozer, but the group said it is part of a growing problem in rural forests.

Eastern Bay of Plenty residents faced intense weather yesterday, with strong thunderstorms in the morning and evening.

An Ōpōtiki Doctor is helping drive national changes to rural healthcare, while continuing to advocate for better access and support for patients closer to home.

Slips overnight and fallen trees closed State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge this morning, however it has since reopened.

New tsunami evacuation maps are now available for people living, working and visiting coastal areas of the Bay of Plenty.

Following Cyclone Vaianu, NZTA cancelled the scheduled qauterly maintenance work for Pekatahi Bridge and it said crews are still working to set a new date.

A group of schools in the Eastern Bay of Plenty is launching a two-year education pilot today, aimed at reshaping how teaching is delivered across New Zealand classrooms.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty until 9am today.

The local Curtain Bank is continuing to keep kiwis in the Eastern Bay of Plenty warm and healthy this winter.

The Whakatāne District Council has approved a scaled-back design for riverfront enhancement works, opting for a baseline plan that balances cost pressures with public amenity improvements.

For St John Ambulance volunteer and Subway franchisee Wendy Stewart, business has never just been about profit; it has always started with a simple question: “How can I help?”

State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge is once again open 24/7 under stop/go traffic management.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at Boyce Park at around 11.30am today.

Category 2 tropical Cyclone Vaianu hit land on Sunday, April 12, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the North Island.

Police said two people have died after reports of two people missing in the Tarawera River this morning.

Communities across the region are being urged to prepare for ongoing disruptions as power crews work to restore electricity following extensive damage from Cyclone Vaianu.

Following wide spread infrastructure and property damage, some are calling for changes in communication processes during major events.

Police are appealing for information following a fight that broke out in Kopeopeo on Wednesday, 15 April.

The Tarawera Awa Restoration Group has adopted its draft Tarawera Awa Restoration Strategy Document, outlining nine key strategic objectives.

Community groups in the Eastern Bay of Plenty initially responded to immediate needs after Cyclone Vaianu and are now shifting focus from emergency response to longer-term recovery.

Reports of trees uprooted, garages blown away and fences down have been flooding in from across the district. 

Obstetrics and gynaecology services have returned to the Whakatāne Hospital maternity ward after a 15-month absence.

Whakatāne police said a woman has handed in a two-year-old boy to the station, found wandering the McDonalds car park around 7:30am this morning.

Ōpōtiki District Council has issued mandatory evacuations for coastal and low-lying areas from Ōhiwa Harbour to Whangaparaoa.

Whakatāne District Council said parts of Ōhope and Thornton need to evacuate by 5pm tonight, with other coastal properties encouraged to self-evacuate.

Whakatāne District Council said there is a high likelyhood coastal areas of Ōhope, including West End, will need to be evacuated tomorrow.

With Cyclone Vaianu expected to reach New Zeland on Sunday, more surface flooding and road closures are expected across the Bay of Plenty.

NZTA said due to incoming weather the scheduled qaurterly maintenance on Pekatahi Bridge next week has been cancelled.

Air Chathams has cut flights to Whakatāne by 45 percent, citing rising jet fuel costs and falling demand.

NZTA said following a slip causing road closures this morning, the road is unlikely to open today.

A heavy rain watch remains in place for the Bay of Plenty, about and east of Whakatāne, until 4pm Thursday, April 9.

The return of the Ocean Ford Kai Ika Charity Tournament went swimmingly this year, raising $39,000 for Eastern Bay Blue Light groups.

Weather related damage has caused a power outage in Matatā and surrounding areas, intially impacting over 560 customers.

Whakatāne District Council said the mouth of Maraetōtara Stream will be undergoing urgent stabilisation works on Thursday.

A strong wind watch has been issued for Te Ika-a-Māui, North Island, from 1am Sunday, April 12 to 1am Monday, April 13.

The long-running wastewater project in Matatā has reached a key milestone, with a resource consent application expected to be lodged in the coming months.

NZTA said geotechnical investigations and design works are underway for the new Pekatahi Bridge.

Emergency services were notified of a two-vehicle crash on Waiotahe Beach Road around 8:30pm yesterday.

Hato Hone St John said eight people have been injured in the crash, and a helicopter was dispatched to the scene.

Experts have lowered the aviation colour code to yellow, a week after the volcanic alert level was lowered to level two.

Nearly $300,000 in funding has been awarded for hands-on educational science kits to be distributed across the Bay of Plenty by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

A major upgrade to stormwater infrastructure in Whakatāne is now complete, with a new pump station already proving its effectiveness during recent heavy rain.

A heavy rain warning is in place for the Bay of Plenty, west of Whakatāne, including Rotorua, from 11pm Tuesday, April 7, until 9pm on Wednesday, April 8.