BAY BUCKS PROPERTY TREND

Western Bay of Plenty's property values have bucked the national trend. Property prices throughout much of the country are starting to flatten, according to the latest QV property statistics. However, the Western Bay area went against that trend, with February values up four percent on the previous February. That took the average selling price last month for the area to 376 thousand dollars. Meanwhile, Tauranga's values were also up, with an increase of 1 percent in the year to February. The average selling price reached 422 thousand dollars.

PORT APPLIES TO DREDGE SHIPPING CHANNELS

There's a thought that dredging the inner harbour to allow for bigger ships, would benefit the region. Port of Tauranga has applied to dredge the inner harbour shipping channels, removing up to 15 million cubic metres of sediment. Environment Bay of Plenty's hearings into the issue begin today. EBoP's consents manager Aileen Lawrie says nine public submissions see the move as a good one.

KIWI FESTIVAL WRAPS UP WITH CARNIVAL

The organiser of this week's Kiwi Festival expects tomorrow's closing event to be a sell out. The nine day festival has been running since late last week. Festival director Jamie Joseph says tickets are selling well for tomorrow's Carnival concert. Ms Joseph says many ticket holders are coming from outside the region just for the concert.

PUB DEBATE OVER BAYS BEST CITY

Bay of Plenty was in the spotlight last night as local MPs fought to prove their city was best. Tauranga MP Simon Bridges and his Rotorua colleague Todd McClay went head to head in a pub debate last night, to argue over the region's best city. Mr Bridges says his argument that Tauranga was best, came easy.

CALL TO FAST TRACK WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT

Tauranga's City Centre Action Group is calling on the council to fast track the city's waterfront redevelopment. Around 20 million dollars has been earmarked to convert current car parking by the water into greenspace and boardwalks. Priority One is the city's development organisation and spokesman Richard Kinzett says there's been a lack of public information from the council. He says the sooner the development takes place, the better.