Environment Bay of Plenty has today agreed that the draft of a high-level document that outlines management of the Bay of Plenty's natural and physical resources during the next 10 years will be release for public consultation in February 2010.

Competition for a slice of the Government's $1.5 billion ultra-fast fibre broadband fund is heating up with the launch of a Waikato-based fibre consortium.

Whakatane, Dec 11 NZPA - Three men involved in a frightening home invasion in the Bay of Plenty in September have been sentenced to prison for terms of up to eight years when they appeared in Whakatane District Court.

Wellington, Dec 11 NZPA - A Canterbury University pyschologist, researching the impact of nutrient supplements on mood and behaviour in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is among the latest beneficiaries of an Eastern Bay of Plenty philanthropist.

The nine finalists for the 2009 Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand are (in alphabetical order): ANZ, BNZ, Infratil, Newmont, Rio Tinto Aluminium NZ, Rymans, Telecom, Transpacific and Westpac.

Gisborne, Dec 2 NZPA - A crowd gathered today at a small Eastern Bay of Plenty marae to celebrate one of their own, Frances Eivers, becoming a judge.

* Rainfall: Extremely dry in the northeast of the North Island, and eastern South Island. Record low rainfall in Northland, parts of Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Canterbury, Otago and inland Southland.

Maori Party MP for Waiariki Te Ururoa Flavell has welcomed the appointment of Frances Eivers as the eastern Bay of Plenty's newest family and district court judge.

By Peter Martinez of NZPA

Wellington, Nov 26 NZPA - New Zealand sevens rugby coach Gordon Tietjens is confident his squad will give a good account of themselves in the opening two legs of the world series which begins next month.

New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has named the squad for the opening two rounds of the 2009/2010 IRB World Sevens Series, which kicks off in Dubai on December 4-5. The second round takes place in George, South Africa on December 11-12.