Auckland Council planners’ flip-flopping on carparks for Mount Albert townhouses cost developer Williams Corporation about $8 million in sales, its general manager says.

The $5 million cost of Tauranga’s new waterfront destination playground is an example of local councils “treating ratepayers as a bottomless ATM”, a taxpayer lobby group says.

Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale has called the sale of marine precinct land a “s*** deal”, but residents say he is not taking the opportunity to cancel the deal.

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A Tauranga councillor who was among those replaced by the commission has called for an independent inquiry into the decisions and transparency during their tenure.

A private surgical facility is being built in Tauranga’s city centre with plans to open at the end of 2026.

Fifteen boats were damaged in a fire at Tauranga Marina on Wednesday, with the cause yet to be determined.

Tauranga City Council has pulled the plug on plans for a $28 million waterfront walkway as it projects a 12.5% rates increase this year.

Plans to reduce congestion in one of Tauranga's biggest choke points can begin after the government approved funding for the design stage.

Guidelines have been set for how Bay of Plenty Regional Council will sell some of its Port of Tauranga shares.

It was an overflowing courtroom as locals were told the sale of the Tauranga marine precinct should not have come as a surprise to residents who "were widely consulted".

​The sale of Tauranga’s marine precinct could cause “irreversible harm” and drive some businesses out of town, a court has been told.