Bay Of Plenty

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

The 99-year-old was the last man standing from the Māori battalion, serving in B company from 1942 to 1945.

When the service for Tā Bom ends, he will be carried away from his marae and taken inside St Faith's Church where a gun salute will follow behind.

Geoff Thomas - of Outdoors with Geoff fame - has called a council's claim "scandalous".

Te Papaiouru marae in Rotorua is welcoming manuhiri from across Aotearoa to say their final goodbyes to Sir Robert "Bom" Gillies.

Will Rotorua motels house the homeless for another year? Commissioner to consider evidence, following emergency housing motel hearing.

Three youth have been arrested after police say a tracking dog followed their scent after an armed robbery at a petrol station.

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.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says those claiming children were left on their own following police raids on homes in Ōpōtiki are "wrong".

While the judge declined permanent name suppression, the offender still cannot be named after indicating plans to appeal.

Rotorua police are on high alert ahead of a tangi for a teenager who died following a police chase.

At least 15 people have been injured after a bus carrying Tongan workers rolled, between Rotorua and Taupō.

An environmentalist group says it is trying to stay positive over a promise by Mount Maunganui industrial businesses to clean up their act.

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.

Its lawyer has told a court that the owners' conviction would not have a "chilling effect" for other land owners or managers.

He captained the Sevens side and was a health board official. Now, he's been sentenced for illegally onselling guns.

A lawyer for the owners of Whakaari/White Island says the conviction of their company has "concerning implications" for other landlords permitting adventure activities on their land.

Their lawyer says the appeal does not diminish their sorrow at the tragedy.

Whakaari Management Limited - which has been ordered to pay $4.8 million in reparations - is challenging its conviction at the Auckland High Court.