Stories by Charlotte Jones

Following a representation review, councillors have voted to keep the status quo and Kawerau will continue to be represented by one mayor and eight councillors with no community boards or wards.

Just over half of Whakatāne's homes are occupied by a single person or a couple, yet most homes being built are large with three bedrooms or more, a report commissioned by Whakatāne District Council…

Protests within the Tūhoe nation show no sign of letting up. In the last three months, kaumatua have staged at least five protests.

The future of the ancient Ōpihi Whanaungakore urupā may hang on a small legal technicality.

Whakatāne's rates are among the highest in the country - and will increase by an average of 6.94 percent each year for the next three years.

A petition with over 300 signatures calling on the Whakatāne District Council to clean up the lake and improve its water quality was presented at the council's long-term plan hearings last week.

Bach owners on East Coast land being returned to iwi under Treaty of Waitangi settlement can continue to use an illegal road to get to their homes while the council works to solve the access issues.

Whakatāne Mayor Judy Turner is thrilled Whakatāne Mill has been officially sold.

Interest in the next court hearing for the Whakaari eruption prosecution is so high the Ministry of Justice will livestream to a second location.

The potential closure of Kawerau's paper mill is a "real blow" to the community, Labour MP Tamati Coffey says.

Cheers, waiata, and tears of relief and joy flowed as Whakatāne District councillors voted unanimously to establish Māori wards yesterday.

Te Puna Ora o Mataatua is scaling up its Covid-19 vaccination operations with an aim to vaccinate 120 people every day by the end of May.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has apologised to the family of a young man who died of a suspected suicide four years ago.

Disillusioned Tūhoe are marching against their own after years of growing tension between hapū and tribal leadership.

Water infrastructure, transportation, waste management, upgrading council offices and rates are the five major issues for the Whakatāne District Council's long-term plan.

An Eastern Bay of Plenty leader is disappointed a review of the response to last month's tsunami threat excluded rural areas.

Long-term residents of a holiday park in Whakatāne say they are being kicked out of their homes and have nowhere else to go because the council is reviewing occupancy rules.

Whakatāne District Council general manager community experience Georgina Fletcher said council staff felt privileged to be able to facilitate the first burial at the Hillcrest Cemetery Natural Burial…

Ōpōtiki District Council has received 112 submissions on a proposal by Te Arawhiti Māori Crown Relations to transfer several parcels of council-owned reserve land to Te Whanau a Apanui as part of its…

This year's kiwifruit budding season may be one of the last in which the boom of audible bird scaring devices will be heard across Whakatāne District.

Tears flowed as a taonga with whakapapa to Tūhoe prophet Rua Kēnana was returned home last week ahead of a symposium this weekend to reflect on his life and legacy.

Ōpōtiki District Council will be quick to capitalise on the government's housing infrastructure fund to open up land for much-needed homes.

A Murupara leader says Māori voices are missing from the Water Services Bill, which aims to overhaul drinking water, wastewater and stormwater standards.

It included 27 staff members at its peak, including four investigations managers and 16 investigations inspectors. The investigation team also included specialist, legal and support staff.

Development of wahi tapu land on Whakatane's coast could be stalled by iwi occupation after commissioners consented to a 240-section housing subdivision and retirement village next to an ancient…