Brian RogersRogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz Voting papers arrived for the TECT elections this week, signalling to many local folk that it's time to make that difficult decision again: do I recognise any of the names on this paper? It's odd that... Read More

News HoundsAdy & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz It was an exciting day that the boss emerged from the shop with a new throw ball and a mystery bag of goodies. I knew the throw ball meant good things but I was kept in trepidation for at least half an hour... Read More

Cr Bill FaulknerFaulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz In a classic display of overkill in dealing with the minutiae of the day, elected members spent well over half an hour debating the merits or otherwise of dinghies on Pilot Bay beach during the... Read More

Jane NeesBOP Regional Councillorwww.janenees.co.nz Our local councils meet regularly with representatives from the New Zealand Transport Agency, Police and ACC to discuss road safety in the western Bay. They form the Western Bay Joint Road Safety... Read More

John CroninBOP Regional Council Chairmanwww.boprc.govt.nz Parliament is considering, as a Bill, Better Local Government; an eight point programme to 'improve the legislative framework for New Zealand's 78 councils” and to make it easier to... Read More

Brian AndersonThe Western Frontwww.sunlive.co.nz We read in the papers last Saturday that Western Bay of Plenty District Council is not just a ship without a rudder. A better comparison would be with the Titanic. Council has hit an iceberg of rates,... Read More

Andrew von DadelszenFormer Regional Councillor Deliberations announced for the Regional Council's 10 Year Plan I am hugely disappointed that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's deliberations of their 10 Year Plan never appeared to address the... Read More

Gourmet Guideby Jo Blennerhassett of The Good Food Trading Co. Every Friday night at The Good Food Trading Company, our chefs work their magic and whip up delicious artisan pizzas ready to pop in the oven - they are ready for collection every Friday... Read More

Dr Anna Rolleston The Cardiac Clinic This month, instead of trying to persuade you like I always do that better health leads to a better life, I thought I'd let someone else do the talking for once. There is nothing like a 'real' story is there?... Read More

Age Concern Tauranga Where are the suitable affordable houses for older people once they leave the large family home and don't want, or cannot afford, to go to a retirement village? I was very interested to read the good news that Tauranga's social... Read More

Daz SwitallaFlavour SecretsNo.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz Something quick and tasty for our gluten-free guests is often a request. This used to be something that would make some chefs spin out! Thankfully, these days with all the Asian... Read More

Sideline SidSports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz While Sideline Sid had been an avid boxing fan for most of his life - he won't be buying the Pay Per View coverage of the Shane Cameron verses Monty Barrett fight on Sky on Thursday... Read More