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 Steamers All Blacks. Bay of Plenty has a proud history of rising to the occasion for major matches, on many occasions, often as part of combined teams in the first half of the 20th century, the Bay has pushed touring teams to the limit in memorable encounters that have ranked as the toughest provincial matches on tour. Although often gallant in defeat the Bay has also recorded some memorable victories over stronger opposition – the 1982 Wallabies were thrashed by 40–16 in Rotorua a week after having defeated the All Blacks, and again in 1990 the same nation was lowered 12–4.