Stories by Alisha Evans

The installation of a rainbow crossing in Tauranga is bittersweet, the pride advocate who made it happen says.

Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney has been in hospital since July.

"The horse has already bolted. Those of us who choose not to drink fluoridated water have already figured out what we have to do."

"It's ageism. I should just do a Biden and go away," 80-year-old Ross Goudie says.

Mikaere Sydney is recovering from a rare form of encephalitis caused by a virus.

The High Court granted an interim injunction, which prevented the the sale of Tauranga's marine precinct from being completed.

Tauranga business owners say sales have dropped because of a new road layout and one fears she'll have to shut her store.

A facility with a bombing pool, splash pad, toddler pool, eight indoor swimming lanes and two outdoor lanes was approved to replace the city's outdoor pool and the QEII Youth Centre.

Comments were made on social media in response to posts on Tauranga's marine precinct.

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

Tauranga City Council sold the precinct for $13.987m to a developer who proposed transforming it into a "premier superyacht refit destination".

"We just get kicked around all over the place": Land the local hapū wanted to buy for homes, has instead been sold to a private developer.

The number of empty homes are on the rise despite the housing shortage.

Mahé Drysdale has voted against adding fluoride to the city's water supply, saying he has "real question marks around safety" and wants more assurances it did not pose a risk.

Gordy Lockhart campaigned for six years to get a rainbow crossing in Tauranga - and complaints started as soon as it was approved.

Mahé Drysdale spent $41,409 on his successful campaign. But his rival and uncle, Doug Owens, spent the most at $56,012 on his own run at the mayoralty.

Residents are calling out the NZTA's proposal to toll a new $655m route.

It's the most controversial road in Mt Maunganui and a newly elected councillor is asking why a major change was allowed to happen.

Tauranga getting a rainbow pedestrian crossing after a six-year campaign is a sign it is "growing up".

Median barriers on SH2 near Katikati are "severely limiting" access and hurting horticultural and agricultural businesses, farmers say.

Western Bay of Plenty councillors have stood by their decision and reaffirmed a Māori ward for the district.

Tauranga's new council must decide whether to continue work to fluoridate the city's water or try for an extension ahead of a looming deadline, otherwise it risks large fines.

A change in funding for Tauranga's civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa, could save ratepayers $1million a year in interest.

A Tauranga woman is locked in a row with council over unpaid rates because she believes the city has been "denied democracy".

Originally it was going to be a four-month trial in response to safety concerns around the high traffic volumes while children travelled to and from school.