Stories by Diane McCarthy

Whakatāne Hospital's Maternity Unit will be downgraded to a primary birthing centre from mid-January with women needing specialist care being transported to Tauranga.

"The objectionable nature of these odours ranges from very unpleasant to nauseating and unbearable, " one submitter to a hearing says.

Just days after a high school club finished their mural, they discovered it had been covered in graffiti.

Residents around Sullivan Lake are bracing for another smelly summer from decaying vegetation and decomposing wildlife.

A Tāneatua early childhood centre has now suffered three floods in as many years and its owners say the town's stormwater system is failing residents.

Ōpōtiki council is being urged to ban or limit the number of overnight campers due to fears the public toilets are putting pressure on the delicate environment.

The economic benefits of catering to carvanners by updating freedom camping laws could be huge for Whakatāne District, a local told the council.

A frightening near-miss incident has left Kathe Davey-Emms concerned for those having to use East Bank Road's intersection with Thornton Road.

Brent Sheather says he has spent a lot of effort over many years into maintaining the steep bush-clad hillsides around his home, near Whakatāne.

Retired businessman Clive Wickham says his rates have jumped more than 20 percent.

Councillor Nandor Tanczos has denounced new Māori wards legislation and wants the council to seek legal advice.

The subject of risks to the safety of both horses and people caused by stallions in the town was discussed at an Ōpōtiki District Council meeting on Tuesday.

The family wants to allow monitoring of the volcano, but feels stymied by the court case over the explosion, lawyer says.

Dumped roosters are roaming Whakatāne, but residents concerned for their welfare say it's hard to get anyone to take responsibility.

Alan 'Bill' Whiteman spent his last years in Motueka, but was independent till the end and loved to have a good yarn, his daughter says.

A management plan to dig up contaminated wood waste from a boat harbour development site on Keepa Road in Whakatāne has been signed off by council.

A disgruntled ratepayer who police believe may be behind a bomb scare that saw a council's offices evacuated has appeared in court.

Whakatāne needs to prepare for an earthquake and tsunami similar to the 2011 Japan event which killed 20,000, scientist says.

Ripeka Lessels says a 15.1 percent rates rise on top of increases in the costs of living would be "a double whammy for people already struggling".

He wants to know how police are adequately staffed, when they're telling a man's family they don't have resources to investigate his disappearance.

Tracy Watson has repaired the same fence over and over times.

Dead birds and fish, and "out of control" lillies are pushing residents along a lake in Whakatāne over the edge.

Kawerau is one of 14 councils that has been directed to add fluoride to its water supply by the Director General of Health.

Boaties using the Whakatāne River entrance will be relieved that dredging has started on the narrows, where the shallow water has been causing concern.

A Bay of Plenty woman spent 16 months to try and get a tiny home built on her daughter's property.