Bay of Plenty Times growth since Mt Maunganui became an export port. However, from the early 2000s it began to face challenges of declining circulation and advertising. On 5 February 2011, the Saturday edition was re-branded as the "Bay Of Plenty Times Weekend". On 4 March 2013, the weekday "Bay Of Plenty Times" changed from broadsheet to tabloid format and from afternoon to morning delivery. The "Bay of Plenty Times" has the ninth-largest circulation of New Zealand's 19 daily newspapers, at just over 11,500. The "Bay of Plenty Times" also publishes the following newspapers: The "Coastal News" is delivered free every Thursday to Whangamata,
Bay of Plenty rugby league team Alex Chan. The Stags drew players from both the Bay of Plenty Rugby League and the Coastlines Rugby League competitions. Between 2004 and 2008 they were represented by the Waicoa Bay Stallions in the Bartercard Cup. The Stallions represented the Waikato Rugby League and Coastlines Rugby League as well as the Bay of Plenty Rugby League. In 2008 and 2009 the Bay of Plenty provincial side competed in the National Provincial Competition. Former Kiwis coach Graham Lowe was the coach of the side for 2008. In 2009 they did not win a game and finished sixth. Bay of Plenty rugby