100% Audi. 0% Finance.
Three equal payments across a select range of Audi vehicles.*
This Audi Finance offer is based on 0% p.a. interest rate fixed over a 2-year loan term based on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). On-road costs, $10.35 PPSR fee, UDC loan fee of $130 and a dealer origination fee of $395 will apply. This offer is based on an up-front deposit of one third of the MSP plus on-road costs and the cost of any accessories fitted and the fees detailed above; a further payment of one-third of the MRP to be paid on the one-year loan anniversary; and a final payment of one-third of the MRP to be paid on the two-year loan anniversary. This Audi Finance offer is only available from <insert dealer name> on new Audi A1 35 TFSI S line, A3 35 TFSI Advanced, A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e, Q2 35 TFSI Advanced, Q3 35 TFSI Advanced, Q3 45 TFSI e, Q3 45 TFSI q S tronic , SQ7 TFSI 373 kW, Q7 50 TDI, and pre-registered Audi Q8 e-tron S line and Audi e-tron GT quattro vehicles purchased between the 29 November 2024 and the 28 February 2025 (while stocks last) at MRP only. Audi Finance is provided by UDC Finance Limited. UDC Finance Limited’s lending criteria, standard terms and conditions apply.
YOUR COSMETIC INJECTABLES AND SKIN EXPERTS IN THE BAY
flavoursofplentyfestival.com
Founders Rachelle & Christopher Du y
Creative director Christopher Du y
Editor Zoe Hunter zoe@ourplacemagazine.co.nz
Social manager Millie Guest social@ourplacemagazine.co.nz
Advertising inquiries
Rachelle Du y 021 032 7873 rachelle@ourplacemagazine.co.nz
Contributors
Zoe Hunter, Holly McVicar, Cherie Metcalfe, Christopher Du y, Katherine Whittaker, Cira Olivier, Scott Yeoman, Sue Ho art, Marcel Currin, Eliza Murray, Rose Treadwell, Zoe Wallis
Photographers
Peter Hlinka, ilk Photography, Cam Neate, Jane Keam, Ross Campbell, Rambo Estrada, Anne Shirley, River Dantzler, Jamie McCready
Pick up your copy from The Little Big Markets, plus at selected cafes, restaurants, shops and businesses.
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Cover & contents
Cover photography: Shaun Boucher by Peter Hlinka (page 29). Contents photography: Andy Armstrong by Jane Keam (page 84).
Follow us @ourplacemagazine ourplacemagazine.co.nz
As the vibrant colours of summer begin to fade and a crisp autumn palette casts a golden glow across the region, a brand new set of stories fall across the pages of our latest issue.
We learn some new tricks from some Bay of Plenty dads who are embracing the sport of skateboarding (29). In our Kōrero series, we find out about how Leigh Patuawa plans to use her ‘superpower’ to help change the world (74). Plus, we step into the colourful backyard of Andy Armstrong (84) and join an utterly joyful community of ukulele fans (93), as well as help to recover lost treasures with the region’s metal detectorists (116).
In our foodie feature, Holly McVicar shares some fresh and fragrant recipes from her favourite time of year, including a Veitnamese Bun Cha salad and lemon passionfruit coconut cakes (111). Plus, Cherie Metcalfe encourages us to taste test some of the newest eateries popping up around town (122).
We take a closer look into a way of life that unites generations and tells stories beyond just the cars, with a photo essay of the lowrider scene (100). Meanwhile, we meet one of the foodie stars showcasing their best dishes in the famous Flavours of Plenty festival beginning in March (61), and how one organisation is helping ‘glass children’ find their colour (52).
Here’s to another issue giving us the confidence and curiosity to learn new things, explore our creative sides, and celebrate our community.
Warm regards, The Our Place team
Beast of a Feast
What’s Up
Holi Colour Splash
Experience Tauranga’s ninth year of Holi Colour Splash at Memorial Park on Saturday, March 8, from 2pm to 6pm. You will find yourself in a huge splash of dance, music, community and vibrant creativity. Holi is more than throwing colours, so immerse yourself in divine energy and awesome vibes!
Feed the belly and the heart, with tasty Indian street food, Henna art, live dance performances, popular Holi music and fun kids games on site. Get ready for a packed dance floor and sore feet from singing, dancing and laughing for four hours. Get blown away by the energy, the crowd and the pure joy of the Holi celebration.
The event is free and there will be heaps of colour packages on site for sale, so everyone can toss colours with laughter and light-heartedness and share a special moment of divinity and fun with friends.
Invite beautiful new beginnings and clear positive intentions into your life. That is what Holi is all about! Wear white for best results.
→facebook.com/coloursplash.nz
Beast of a Feast is back for 2025! Your not-so-typical beer festival is returning to Soper Reserve in Mount Maunganui on March 1.
Proudly presented by ZM, this iconic summer’s day in the Mount features a stellar line-up of music artists, brewers and foodies. Artists include headliners Drax Project, The Butlers, Fleetmac Wood, Red Hot Chilli Peppers Tribute, Nathan Haines DJ and more.
Pouring the drinks will be brewers including Mount Brew Co, Good George, Garage Project and many more. Plus, serving up the food will be Johney’s Dumpling House, Rice Rice Baby, Humbao, as well as many more.
Whether you’re a craft beer aficionado, a music connoisseur, or a sausage sizzle queen, BOAF will fulfil your needs.
→ Tickets via beastofafeast.flicket.co.nz @beastofafeast
Ginger’s
Ginger’s is more than just a pop-up event. This is a space not just about the nightlife, but about fostering community, connection, and belonging. It’s a welcoming space to celebrate sapphic and lesbian culture and connect with others in the rainbow community. There is a Tauranga pop-up event on February 14 and Ginger’s is also hosting a Bush Camp in the Bay of Plenty on Anzac Weekend, offering outdoor activities, mental health support, food by local recipe developer Malika Ganley, a traditional hāngi by The Little Paua, and evening entertainment. Expressions of interest are currently open.
The event has already attracted hundreds of registrations from across New Zealand and even Australia. “Ginger’s stands as a beacon of hope and belonging, showing that connection and community are not just vital – they’re transformative,” says founder Lisa Rooney.
@gingerspopups
Words by Zoe Hunter
The Little Big Markets
Photography by
From games, arts and crafts to beauty and skincare products, our weekend markets have a range of handmade treasures for you to discover one-of-a-kind pieces made with love!
↑ Backyard Games brings good ol’ fashioned games to New Zealand in a unique and beautiful way.
Backyard Games
Backyard Games has a simple yet super fun mission: Bringing giant wooden outdoor games to the people of New Zealand.
A concept born four years ago around the dinner table among family and friends, Backyard Games brings good ol’ fashioned games to New Zealand in a unique and beautiful way.
The wooden products are something special, with the wood grain and knots making the games attractive in all environments. They’re a talking point wherever they end up!
At The Little Big Markets, the games instantly create a lovely sense of play between families and friends. The smiles the games create and the easy way they get people of all abilities and ages outside and off their phones is a joy to see.
Apart from the markets, Backyard Games’ absolute favourite thing to do is activate play sessions at schools.
This involves providing game packs that are tailored to the needs of the students and school. The games are completely child-led and seeing the joy on the teachers’ faces when they see the children empowered by play is just awesome.
Set up, play and pack down is all done by the students and the teachers are blown away by the team work and active, thoughtful play that the games create.
Backyard Games embodies all things community. They support Gumboot Friday with their annual New Zealand Cornhole Competition, where all abilities come to play.
They also work closely with Sport Bay of Plenty to provide free play sessions, alongside other sports, for tamariki throughout the region.
Backyard Games fills the community with fun and laughter.
backyardgames.co.nz
@backyardgamesnz
Aimee-Leigh Scott
Aimee-Leigh Scott unknowingly started a business while in her final year of university. Studying land surveying at the time, she needed a creative outlet and started drawing different landscapes.
Posting her artwork on Instagram, Aimee-Leigh’s friends began messaging her asking to buy it! It gave her the confidence to launch Aimee-Leigh Designs.
Now, the Tauranga-based artist creates landscape and map art prints. She designs pieces of various locations, focusing primarily on New Zealand but additionally other places worldwide. She also designs custom pieces for clients, making a unique and personal addition to their space.
Her landscape series feature colours that are subtle and harmonious. The art also has many textures woven throughout the piece and is framed with specific details of the location, such as the coordinates, the region, and the elevation of the land. All of the series of Aimee-Leigh’s artwork are unique, elegant and timeless. Aimee-Leigh loves connecting with people from the community at The Little Big Markets and hearing the amazing and kind feedback from everyone attending.
@aimeeleighdesign aimeeleighscott@gmail.com
Colourful Me
Lara Fox is adding a little bit of sparkle, colour, and joy to Tauranga. Her company Colourful Me offers high-quality, reusable, tie-in hair extensions for the young, and young at heart, who love to play dress up.
“Our Colourful Ponytails are made with highquality synthetic hair that is soft to the touch, in beautiful ombre colour variations, with a sprinkle of tinsel,” Lara says.
Perfect for little ones longing for luscious locks, birthday parties, dress ups, or special occasions, these colourful hair extensions add a magical flair to any outfit and allow the imagination to shine!
Colourful Me was launched in July 2023 after Lara’s three-year-old daughter started dancing. She wanted her daughter to be part of the magic on stage, with all the glitter and glamour, but also “to just be three”.
“I searched for something that could give little girls a confidence boost, with beautifully-coloured long hair that swished and swayed, but could be taken out to enjoy again another day.”
When she discovered the Colourful Ponytails could be reused, she was sold! It soon became so much more than just playing dress up.
colourfulme.co.nz
@colourful.me.nz
Mi Tru IQ
With over 15 years of industry experience and a deep understanding of what truly works in skincare, Niki Gibbison set out on a mission to simplify beauty routines without compromising on effectiveness.
Her journey began long before the launch of Mi Tru IQ in 2023, with a successful career operating multiple beauty salons in the Waikato region. Through her years of hands-on experience, Niki observed a growing trend in the beauty industry. Skincare was becoming increasingly complicated, with more products, steps, and ingredients than ever before. This complexity often left consumers feeling overwhelmed, unsure of which products were essential, and struggling to achieve the desired results.
Niki’s vision for Mi Tru IQ was born from a desire to cut through this noise and provide a solution that would be both accessible and highly effective. She recognised that many people were searching for a
streamlined approach to skincare, one that didn’t require a dozen products but still delivered noticeable, scientifically-proven results. “I watched as skincare routines became more about following trends and less about what was genuinely beneficial for the skin,” Niki explains. “So, I wanted to return to the basics, creating something simple, intuitive, and universally effective.”
Harnessing her deep knowledge of skin biology and the latest advancements in cosmetic science, Niki crafted Mi Tru IQ to meet the needs of all skin types and concerns. By focusing on the core essentials — hydration, protection, and the health of the skin’s microbiome — Niki developed a range that simplifies the routine while ensuring every product serves a meaningful purpose. This approach not only makes skincare more manageable but also more enjoyable, allowing users to connect with their skin in a way that feels both nurturing and empowering.
mitruiq.co.nz @mitruiq
↑ Mi Tru IQ products aim to simplify the skincare routine while also serving a meaningful purpose.
Hobec’s Big Move
Words by Zoe Hunter
Established in 1937, Holland Beckett has grown with the city they call home. Now, a major milestone move marks a new chapter in Hobec’s history book.
It was the mid 1970s and freshly-minted lawyer Bill Holland junior had been given the ultimate sign of respect and autonomy in his firm: his very own office.
At the time, the world of law was one of privacy and hierarchical structure – something Bill says the firm he’s worked in for nearly 50 years was never about.
Holland Beckett – established by his father in 1937 – has always been about treating people with respect and running an open door policy.
“A good firm is built on good relationships and good people,” Bill says. “It’s as simple as that.”
Fast-forward to 2025 and the firm is preparing for a major milestone to support that belief.
Leasing 2000sq m of the 5500sq m of office space, Holland Beckett will become the lead tenant of the new and innovative Northern Quarter building when it moves from Cameron Road in July.
“Great things are happening in the CBD with a number of new developments underway and it is exciting to see,” Bill says.
“Moving our offices and our people into the CBD is not only good for business, but it is a show of our commitment to downtown Tauranga.”
“A good firm is built on good relationships and good people,” “It’s as simple as that.”
↑ Looking back and looking ahead. Signage from Holland Beckett’s Mount Maunganui office from the late 1960s and an artist’s impression of what the Northern Quarter development will look like once completed.
“The city is growing and we want to be part of that growth and revitalisation.”
“When I first started in 1976, there were only eight lawyers. Now, we are one of the largest law firms in the region with over 60 lawyers in the Tauranga office and a further 15 lawyers in our Rotorua and Whakatane offices.
“That says it all,” he says. “We have grown with Tauranga and the move to the new space marks the next chapter in Hobec’s story.”
In 1936, a fresh-faced 21-year-old lawyer named William Sydney Holland, Bill’s father, arrived in Tauranga to take over the Beale Legal practice in the old wooden National Bank building on Spring St.
More than 10 years later in 1949, Barney Beckett joined the firm which was renamed Holland Beckett, and moved into a new premise at the Churchill Building on Grey St.
As Tauranga grew, so did Holland Beckett. New partners joined, the firm was renamed Holland Beckett and Co and expanded with offices in Mount Maunganui and Katikati, and relocated to purpose-built offices at 96 Cameron Road.
Bill joined the firm in 1976 and became a partner after his father died in 1978.
“My father was hugely respected, and basically, I wanted to carry that on,” says Bill. Anyone who knows of Bill will confirm that he has indeed carried on this
legacy, as a leader of the firm for many years and as a champion of the Tauranga community, values which continue to be instilled in the culture of the firm today.
The firm moved to the current location at 525 Cameron Road in 2008, the purpose-built open plan space facilitating a more collaborative way of working for the specialist legal teams.
“It was very bold for a law firm to embrace an open plan environment, but it was key to the success of the firm,” Bill says.
“The open plan meant everyone was treated equally. We all have a role to play.
“We have around 130 staff in our Tauranga office. As a full service firm, having lawyers who specialise in different areas side by side means they draw on one another. Our people develop into better lawyers and our clients benefit from that teamwork between experts.”
Bill says the new CBD offices in the Northern Quarter development will help to foster the firm’s collaborative and open work culture now and in the future and is a move he says his dad would be “quietly proud of”.
“It is positive for our firm, our clients, and is certainly good for Tauranga.”
hobec.co.nz
@hollandbeckett
New Skating Generation
Words by Zoe Hunter
Photography by Peter Hlinka
When these Bay of Plenty dads take to the skatepark, they aren’t just reliving their youth. For them, it’s a chance to step off the sidelines and bond with their children.
Whether it’s overcoming a fear of falling or seeking the thrill of mastering a new trick, more adults are embracing the sport of skateboarding.
But when these Bay of Plenty dads take to the skatepark, they aren’t just reliving their youth. For them, it is a chance to step off the sidelines and bond with their children.
With skateboarding gaining exposure on the Olympic stage and the region now home to some world-class skateboarding facilities, more adults are rediscovering their love for the sport.
Paul Kite is one of those adults. The 53-year-old picked up the skateboard for the first time about six months ago.
“I was never much into skateboarding in my youth. I just never really got into it,” he says.
After encouraging his nine-year-old son Eddie to take up the sport, Paul decided to join in too.
“From my perspective, it was either stand around in the cold or learn to skate. So, I started learning from scratch and I absolutely loved it.”
Paul tries to go out early in the mornings before the skateparks get busy and enjoys skating with his son on the weekends.
“It makes you feel so alive,” he says. “It’s exciting and scary at the same time. It’s the constant
progressions, learning something new in a day. You’re always improving, always progressing.”
He also enjoyed being able to show his son he could face his fears and give it a go too.
“It’s fun. There’s a reason all the kids love it,” he says. “There is certainly a massive sense of achievement and knowing you can do it.”
Dave Manville, 49, used to take his skateboard to college as a teenager growing up in the Hutt Valley.
“I caught a 15-minute train ride to and from school, and skating was more fun than walking to and from the train platforms,” he says.
“There were no local skateparks around back then. Doing an ollie up a gutter was the extent of my tricks.”
At age 15, Dave stopped skateboarding and only started again when he was 44 years old.
Dave and his wife Charlotte bought their children, George and Emma, skateboards when they moved to Mount Maunganui.
Dave says his children, now aged 9 and 11, were really supportive of their dad learning a new skill.
“I find it hard to watch any sport and prefer to be doing it than watching it.”
↑ Paul Kite, 53, started skateboarding for the first time about six months ago after encouraging his nine-year-old son Eddie to take up the sport. Paul and Eddie (pictured above) skate together often.
Dave and Charlotte, who has also begun improving her skateboarding skills, used to take George and Emma to Arataki and Pāpāmoa skateparks.
“This often required some encouragement and persuasion, but now the kids are frothing to skate everyday.
“Before long they both surpassed my ability, and the gulf of ability between them and myself continues to widen.”
When Destination Skatepark opened in Mount Maunganui earlier this year, Dave says the family started to skate even more.
“It’s an amazing resource, and the feeling of skating in the bowl and down the snake is so cool.”
Dave says the Mount skatepark had changed their lives.
“I love the friendly, supportive and encouraging environment that exists there. There is no more: ‘What should we do after school?’.”
Shaun Boucher of Mana Skateboarding says skateboarding became more mainstream once the sport was exposed on an Olympic platform.
“That’s when we saw the growth in the sport. It became more accepted by the general public.”
Born and raised in Mount Maunganui, Boucher is one of New Zealand’s top skateboarders.
Boucher says more funding became available as people began to catch onto the idea of skateboarding being a professional sport.
“The level of skating has risen rapidly over the last five years.”
Boucher says more adults are taking up the sport too.
“You’re only as old as you feel. More parents are catching on to it. They see their kids having so much fun and they want to challenge themselves,” he says.
“It’s kind of like a rebirth of their childhood. Plus, it’s addictive once you get the bug.”
The 31-year-old has taken out the titles of some of the country’s best competitions, including Wellington’s annual Bowlzilla, the Mangawhai Bowl Jam and the New Zealand Bowl Skating Championships over the years.
Taking his career overseas, Boucher moved across the ditch to completely immerse himself in the world of skateboarding where he competed in some of Australia’s top competitions, including Bowlzilla Gold Coast and Australia Street Skate Championships.
When the multi-million-dollar Destination Skatepark opened in May 2024 in his hometown, Boucher says it was a defining moment in his career.
“It is the perfect precinct to launch and nurture skating, and continue to grow the sport.”
In 2024, he founded Mana Skateboarding, which teaches children as young as three years old to adults aged in their 50s and 60s how to skateboard.
Boucher says he has always loved skating.
“It’s the feeling of landing a good trick, feeling like you’re gliding on a concrete floor, the sense of freedom, and the fact there are always new ways to learn.”
“You’re only as old as you feel. More parents are catching on to it. They see their kids having so much fun and they want to challenge themselves.”
Mount Maunganui’s Shaun Boucher (pictured above) founded Mana Skateboarding, which teaches children as young as three years old to adults in their 50s and 60s how to skateboard.
Boucher loves the feeling and freedom of landing a good trick.
Shaun
Sam Robertson, who runs free skateboarding classes every Friday afternoon in Pāpāmoa as part of Sam’s Skate School, says more adults have been keen to learn to skate in the last few years.
“We have 100 per cent seen an increase in adults who used to do it as a kid and want to get back into it, or want to join in the lessons with their kids.”
Sam says while a few women in their 20s and 30s are taking lessons, it is mostly 35-to-50-year-old men.
“It is generally the dads, but there’s been a couple of mums too.”
The 31-year-old says there has been a shift in culture over recent years, with more investment going into upgrading or building skateparks, alongside skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport.
“It’s on people’s radars that you can do it competitively and there’s heaps of cool skateparks now between the Mount, Welcome Bay and Pāpāmoa.”
These days, Sam says, dads also want to spend time with their kids joining in rather than cheering from the sidelines.
“With skateboarding you can do something together at the same time. That’s unique.
“Skateboarding is way more fun doing it with someone else. It’s the camaraderie.”
Sam says skateboarding can be a “scary” sport for adults.
“Fear is a learned concept and kids are generally much more fearless.”
“Skateboarding can be hard and kids love being better at something than their parents. It’s cool seeing a 12-year-old kid showing their dad how to do a trick; it’s good for their confidence.
“It’s also a respect they gain for their kids. It’s a humbling experience.”
Sam says it is mind over matter when it comes to skateboarding. With adults, it is all about taking it slow. He won’t teach anything above anyone’s ability and he also sets homework.
“I’ve taught some kids where their dads have bought a skateboard on the sly and have been sneaking out to skate while the kids are in bed.”
Living in a coastal city meant most dads learning to skateboard were surfers and most of the skills are transferable, Sam says.
“There’s a rich history here and a bright future.”
@manaskateboarding @samsskateschool
Sam Robertson (pictured above and left) runs free skateboarding lessons in Pāpāmoa as part of Sam’s Skate School.
Kung Fu Science
Words by Marcel Currin Photography by Ross Campbell
When he’s not performing outrageous martial arts feats, James Dare specialises in something entirely different. Meet the water quality scientist tasked with answering the big questions.
James Dare has a great party trick, although he’s only done it once and it wasn’t his idea — it was a directive from a kung fu grandmaster.
“He got me to lie shirtless on a bed of nails,” James says casually, “and then he hit me in the stomach with a sledgehammer.”
The stunt was performed at a showcase dinner in Singapore after a week of intense training for senior Nam Wah Pai kung fu instructors. It’s an anecdote that provokes a stunned silence, followed by a flood of questions.
James has made a career out of answering questions, usually to do with science rather than martial arts.
“My role is all about trying to answer the big questions with regard to water quality across the region,” he says, shifting his enthusiasm from kung fu to his day job.
When he’s not performing outrageous martial arts feats, he specialises in water quality, working as an environmental scientist at Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
“Everything people do on the land affects the things people care about in the water,” he says, citing algae blooms and sediment build-up as some of the more noticeable effects of human activity.
He grew up in Plimmerton with unlimited access to the beach and the estuary. Today, when he talks about scientific field work, he still calls it ‘the fun stuff’.
“I loved the fun stuff early in my career,” he says. “Gumboots and estuaries. Doing coastal ecology at NIWA: that was some of the most amazing field work I’ve ever done, watching the sun come up at 5am in a little bay in Auckland. It was my introduction to environmental work, an absolute dream at that time.”
These days it’s other people doing most of the fun stuff and sending the water quality results back to James. (“They’re actually wearing waders, not gumboots,” he clarifies later, intent on accuracy.)
The numbers that come in from the field are meaningless in isolation. James says his job is to put the results into context with those big questions: “Like, what will happen as the climate changes in the future? Are any of our waterways degrading? How do we restore them? How do we ensure that rivers, lakes and estuaries retain the things we value?”
“A natural system is in balance, but humans come along and the system gets overstimulated. If we understand how things are changing over time, we can adjust our land management approach into the future.”
“The aim is to find the right balance that will allow us to maintain a sustainable relationship with our environment.”
That word ‘balance’ comes up a lot, whether he’s discussing his work as a scientist or his approach to martial arts.
He discovered Nam Wah Pai kung fu when he was studying for his Masters in environmental science. He had previously played hockey at a high level and was looking for a physical outlet. There was no hockey turf where he was living at the time, but there was a Nam Wah Pai club.
“I just walked in,” he says. “I became enthralled with the culture, the technique and the mental conditioning. I remember going to my first national tournament and watching these black belts breaking bricks and coconuts with their bare hands, and I thought, ‘I have to learn how to do that’.
“The physical and mental discipline also helped support my academic pursuits at the time. It was like the perfect balance.”
In pursuit of the answers, he works closely with other scientists in his team.
“My colleagues may specialise in ecology, groundwater, or coastal dynamics. I specialise in water quality, and I need their input to get a complete picture.
“When you think about the way that water flows down from the hills and ends up in coastal areas, you need experts in everything: Water quality, river ecology, ground water, estuaries and the coast. It’s the whole mountain-to-sea approach.”
Despite spending less time in the field, he loves the detective work that his job requires.
“I like to zoom in, look at the results, really dig into the data to identify where excess nutrients are coming from.
“A natural system is in balance, but humans come along and the system gets overstimulated. If we understand how things are changing over time, we can adjust our land management approach into the future.”
He has developed his own computer models to generate better results, spending much of his time in a statistical programming environment, in what he describes as a big, open-source world where scientists share and learn from other scientists.
He is also working part-time on a PhD, the crux of which he says is to better understand the ‘dynamics
James Dare has made a career out of answering the hard questions as an environmental scientist.
of contaminants’. It’s all in service of providing better information to the council’s Land Management team who are out on the ground talking with farmers and landowners.
“There’s no one-size-fits all with people or nature. Every catchment is different. When we understand what’s going on in a specific area, we can have more efficient, targeted management advice for the people who live and work on that land,” he says.
James is often called on to present and speak to community groups, and this is where we circle back, again, to kung fu.
“Martial arts helped me develop my public speaking confidence,” he says.
“When you’re by yourself on stage, swinging nunchucks around for your set routine, you need a particular focus. It’s a similar focus to explaining science to a community.
“It’s given me a lot of self belief. You’ll think, ‘There’s no way I can do that’. But chip away at it, and suddenly you’re breaking bricks on a stage.
“Explaining science to a community group is not so hard after that.”
boprc.govt.nz
Twelve Tables
Words by Eliza Murray
Photography by Rambo Estrada
Specialising in transforming rural backyards into dream wedding venues or event spaces, Eliza and Nic know it’s not just about the details and decorations, but celebrating life, love and everything in between.
Behind Bay of Plenty-based premium marquee and furniture company – Twelve Tables – is a husband-andwife team who are hands-on with every single event.
You can trust that Nic and Eliza Murray are quality-controlling everything and working tirelessly to create a beautiful experience for all their amazing clients.
The journey to get here hasn’t always been easy. But every challenge has led them to this point, where they get to do what they love for the most incredible people.
When Eliza was 26 years old, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, just two weeks after their wedding.
“That period of our lives opened our eyes to what a wedding or event is truly about.
“It’s not just about the party, the details, or the decorations; it’s about coming together to celebrate life, love, and everything in between with the people who matter most.”
Eliza is so grateful to say she has beat cancer. But at the time, she thought having children wouldn’t be part of their story.
The couple was fully immersed in their corporate careers in Wellington. Eliza was a corporate event planner for 10 years, and Nic worked as a regional manager for a large company.
After three years of battling and with the help of a beautiful friend, their precious son was born.
“After everything we went through to build our family, we decided we wanted more and to be closer to family. That’s how we ended up in the stunning Bay of Plenty, carving out a life that’s all our own.”
Now, through Twelve Tables, they create events for others — and they deeply understand how meaningful those moments are.
“It’s not just about the celebration; it’s about connection, milestones, and making memories that will last a lifetime. This is our passion, our livelihood, and what we absolutely love to do.”
When Eliza reflects on what drives them in their business, it is their past experiences that have shaped how they operate today.
“We understand the significance of these moments, which is why we put so much heart into everything we do.
“It’s not just about the celebration; it’s about connection, milestones, and making memories that will last a lifetime. This is our passion, our livelihood, and what we absolutely love to do.”
are passionate about the wedding and event space because they help bring to life some of the most important occassions in people’s lives.
Eliza and Nic Murray (Pictured above by Erica Jane Photography)
“We ensure our furniture and marquees are of the highest quality and go above and beyond with our preparation and delivery to provide every client with the best possible experience.”
That’s the foundation of Twelve Tables.
Nic and Eliza offer beautiful, high-quality furniture and stunning marquee options, including their Noir Marquee — a unique black-framed marquee that adds a stylish touch to any occasion.
They also provide clear, white, and black roof options, giving you the flexibility to customise your look and make your event amazing, no matter what the weather does.
Twelve Tables specialises in transforming rural
properties and backyards into dream wedding venues or special event spaces. Their variety of marquee and furniture options can accommodate different styling preferences, and can customise every order to match your vision.
“We’re passionate about the event space because we help bring to life some of the most important occasions in people’s lives — and we never take that responsibility lightly.
“We know how much these moments mean to you and that’s something we’ll always value.”
twelvetables.co.nz
Twelve Tables can transform rural properties into dream wedding venues or special event spaces.
Football Family
Words and photography by Scott Yeoman
If it takes a village to raise a child, can a social football league help grow a teenager?
The Wellsbury brothers have been immersed in the world of indoor social football their entire lives.
The speed, the sound, the passion. The banter, the rivalries. The community of colourful characters.
Growing up on the sidelines, Morgan and Caleb absorbed it all. They’ve never left.
Their introduction came through their dad Richie and his beloved team, The Bone Rangers FC, which has been playing for over 20 years.
Morgan and Caleb have fond childhood memories of cheering on their dad every Wednesday night, urging him to score a goal.
“But he never scored,” Caleb clarifies with a grin (and the cheekiness of a 16-year-old teasing his old man).
Richie’s love for the game – and for The Bone Rangers – passed down to the boys. Soon, supporting from the sidelines wasn’t enough, and the brothers were “begging dad to get on the court”.
Morgan and Caleb joined the team as soon as they were old enough, and then started refereeing as well, at just 13 years old. They couldn’t get enough.
“I was there for most of the night anyway watching, because I just enjoyed it that much, so I was like, I may as well get paid doing it,” Caleb says.
Like many of the young referees, it was their first part-time job, running matches in the busy league with 60 mixed teams and players aged from 13 to 70.
“I’m sure I have a few football tops older than a lot of the players in the league,” quips one veteran.
The brothers dove into their new roles and say the experience has left a lasting impression. They talk about the confidence they’ve gained, the friends they’ve made, and the life skills learned, particularly people and social skills.
“Customer service skills as well,” Morgan adds.
“The most important thing, I think, is being around people and talking to people,” the 19-yearold says. “It’s a really good community and a good space.”
Richie says he’s seen his sons grow in confidence and learn about work ethic, the value of money, and the responsibility and commitment of having a job.
That’s always been a strong focus for Grant Webber, who mentors the team of young referees and runs the courts like clockwork at Mercury Baypark Arena.
The 71-year-old has decades of football experience and is passionate about both the sport and the development of young men and women.
He believes the social football league is the ideal training ground, and classroom, for new referees – and teenagers in general.
“This is real life,” Grant says.
He says the referees are learning about communication, body language and tone of voice. About the different behaviour patterns of adults. About mediation, decision making, and resilience. Real life situations, all out there on the court, in real time.
Not to mention the forever evolving rules
Opener: Caleb, Richie and Morgan Wellsbury play for The Bone Rangers FC in the indoor social football league at Mercury Baypark Arena.
← Grant Webber mentors the team of young referees and runs the courts like clockwork.
of football.
“It’s giving them the confidence within themselves to speak up, to stand tall and to make those decisions and not be afraid to speak your mind,” Grant says.
The familiar faces in the league – people who return week after week, season after season, year after year – have watched Morgan and Caleb grow and seen their personal development.
Similar stories are found in many of the other teenage players and referees, several of whom also play alongside their parents.
“It’s more than just developing youth, it’s almost a family thing that we’re generating here,” Grant says.
Richie recognises the role that also plays in the big picture; the power of community and spending quality time with your kids. He doesn’t take it for granted.
No matter what’s going on at work and school, the Wellsbury boys rarely miss their Wednesday night football match together.
“It’s just really quite cool, for me anyway, to be playing football in the same team with the young fellas,” Richie says.
“It’s going to come to an end at some stage, so I’m just enjoying the moment. It’s pretty special to me.”
Social football and netball leagues are held at Mercury Baypark Arena throughout the year. To register, head to bayactive.co.nz
The Glass Children
Words by Cira Olivier
Photography by ilk
Young carers can sometimes feel invisible. But this organisation is helping ‘glass children’ find their colour. One brave young woman shares her story as an Unseen Hero.
Tyler Reid’s beaming smile is a testament to her resilience.
A proud mother-of-two and a graduate with honours in physiotherapy, Tyler has built a future filled with both purpose and happiness.
Yet, her journey to this point hasn’t always been smooth and behind her achievements lies a story of strength.
Growing up, it took a while for Tyler to realise her home life wasn’t healthy. In retrospect, she likens it to the harrowing film ‘Once Were Warriors’.
It was a lifechanging moment with a holistic healer at Unseen Heroes – an organisation dedicated to providing specialised support for young carers – that saved her life.
Now, a volunteer at that same organisation, Tyler wants to ensure other young carers get the help they need.
The oldest in a family of six, Tyler doesn’t remember a life before being a young carer – someone who supports loved ones with a disability, health condition, injury, addiction, or is an older person.
“I can remember at five-or-six years old, I was having to take care of my siblings, cousins …,” says Tyler.
“As the oldest, it’s expected of you.”
Everything fell on her. Tyler was a mother figure for multiple siblings and cousins at once – while a child herself – and cared for her parents, who she struggles to describe.
furniture being pawned to pay off bills. By the time she reached high school, Tyler began noticing her family was different. From the food in friends’ homes compared to the one egg in her pantry, to having her jokes about family members partying Thursday to Sunday falling flat. Her cries for help to others were also dismissed.
She would be told, “Get on with it. You’re just exaggerating”. Or, “I had to do that when I was younger”.
She says drug, alcohol, and poor mental health issues around her, contributed to her decades of trauma.
Her childhood was bouncing between houses in low socioeconomic areas yearly until she was in intermediate school. It was food only guaranteed the day the benefit was paid. It was uncertainty around money, which was spent on booze and cigarettes, or
“You can only do that so many times before you realise no one’s helping,” she says.
“I just needed someone to listen. To say I understand how you’re feeling or say it’s not okay, it’s not right, and I’m going to stand up for you.”
That much hurt and anger was overwhelming and it was almost too much after becoming a mother to her now nine and four-year-olds.
“I felt like I couldn’t do anything … There were so many moments where I didn’t care if I didn’t wake up,” says Tyler.
“I just felt really grey. A void. A deep sense of dread. I don’t know how else to explain it. I carried that for a long time.”
She tried conventional therapy, unsuccessfully, for seven years.
Three years ago, a friend connected Tyler with holistic healer and Unseen Heroes co-founder Char Rain.
Char helped Tyler understand her trauma, navigate her feelings and triggers, be a better mum, learn how to love herself, and reignite her desire to live.
“It was something I’d never experienced before. I was checked out and ready to go. She gave me a second chance at life. There’s no doubt I wouldn’t be here without her.”
“I just needed someone to listen. To say I understand how you’re feeling or say it’s not okay, it’s not right, and I’m going to stand up for you.”
← Tyler Reid (pictured with her daughter
Wai) has come full circle
Unseen Heroes.
Te
at
Te Rina Ruru-Pelasio is Unseen Heroes co-founder.
“If I hadn’t met Char when I did, I definitely would not be here today. She helped put the broken pieces of me back together.”
It’s been confronting, scary and empowering. And she’s proud of herself.
“Nothing feels daunting anymore,” Tyler says.
“Being a young carer stripped away so much.”
“I realised there was a lot of ‘wrong’ in my life and now that I know what’s ‘right’ I’ve been able to put in boundaries and start using my voice.
“I realise [now] it’s not a hard choice to stand up for your kids and provide them with a safe environment.”
Tyler says Unseen Heroes would have changed the trajectory of her life had it been around for her.
“It’s quite literally suicide prevention. There’s no other way to put it.”
Unseen Heroes co-founder Te Rina RuruPelasio says young carers are like “glass children”.
“You feel like nobody sees you … like a burden. You don’t feel like you deserve any support because you’re looking at your loved one who needs it.”
Te Rina became one of her brother’s primary carers at 16 years old, alongside her mum and sister, after a crash left him with a severe brain injury, unable to walk or talk.
She juggled caring and studying for her Bachelor of Law and Social Science – despite dropping out at 14 – but felt guilty and selfish for studying, moving away or being happy.
Countless weekends were spent between Hamilton and Rotorua as she sacrificed friendships and a social life.
Te Rina says the stress, worry, and overwhelming responsibilities seriously impacted her mental health and she turned to self-harm, alcohol and drugs to cope.
At age 19, Te Rina met Char.
“If I hadn’t met Char when I did, I definitely would not be here today,” she says with certainty and sadness.
“She helped put the broken pieces of me back together.”
Unseen Heroes was founded in the Bay of Plenty in 2017. Initially called Camp Unity, the organisation ran annual camps as a place for young carers to open up and have fun.
It was a time for the “glass children” to start feeling and seeing their colour.
Now, a third of the 82 Unseen Heroes young carers (aged 12 to 24) look after multiple family members – mainly siblings, parents and grandparents. Over a third cared for multiple people.
The organisation has recently developed Te Ara Mārama, a six-to-eight-month holistic mental health support programme that is “all about Taha Wairua (spiritual wellbeing)”.
It starts with a three-day camp, weekly group or individual Zooms, and aspiration pathways including tutoring, mentoring and work experience. A whānau navigator works with parents. Volunteers are chosen for camps or help with tutoring and fundraising.
“A lot of young carers can’t see outside their current environment or a future past caring,” Te Rina says.
Unseen Heroes focuses on mental health and building self-love and worth, encouraging young carers to want to do well in school or chase a dream.
“Seeing all these other kids get access to Char and her support … there’s just no words really,” Te Rina says, with her smile so wide you could see it with your eyes closed.
“That’s what drives me.”
If you need help, or wish to fundraise, donate, or volunteer your time or service to Unseen Heroes, visit unseenheroes.org.nz
Grocer Gallery
For Daniel Leigh, Tauranga’s newest contemporary art space is a way to channel his hunger to experience Aotearoa art, to meet artists and to share that experience with others.
Daniel Leigh had been considering the idea of creating a gallery space to exhibit emerging and mid-career Aotearoa artists for some time.
When his friend Ryan Glover took on the opportunity to develop a space in Mount Maunganui, the concept for Grocer Gallery came together naturally.
Now, the city has its newest contemporary art space — a venue where art enthusiasts, the general public, and collectors can engage with art while fostering connections between the local community and the broader art world.
“Galleries, to me, play a crucial role in ensuring that art remains a valuable and integral part of society,” Daniel says.
“For me, Grocer Gallery is a way to channel my hunger to experience Aotearoa art, to learn more about it, to meet artists and to share that experience with others.”
When it comes to art, Daniel says there is always something new to learn or feel.
“It’s nice to share that with people.”
The gallery opened its doors with its inaugural exhibition ‘Frontier’ last November to December and explored a range of contemporary art practises including painting, photography and sculpture.
The exhibition featured a selection of new
works by artists including Jaime Jenkins, Salome Tanuvasa, Ruby Wilkinson, Grace Mirams, and Liam Philp, from Tauranga, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), and Pōneke (Wellington).
Now the gallery welcomes its newest exhibition ‘Angle, Direction & Pressure’ showing from January 25 to February 22.
The group exhibition features works from Daniel Kerr, Gavin Chai, and Rose Pickernell.
The title comes from something Daniel Kerr came up with around this body of work he is showing.
Daniel Kerr says he knew he was going to be an artist since he was 14 years old.
“I wanted to be a music producer, then I became a guitar player and finally I became a painter.”
In 2018, his band broke up and Daniel says he was in a dark place within his body and mind.
“I had driven a vintage green Mercedes all the way to Wānaka to escape the Auckland music scene and heal.”
Daniel was living in a cottage on the side of Mt Iron when he began working with charcoal on a sketch pad.
It was during a visit to The Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū where he saw paintings
Grocer Gallery’s newest exhibition ‘Angle, Direction & Pressure’ comes from something artist Daniel Kerr (pictured) came up with around his body of work he is showing.
by McCahon ‘Tomorrow will be the same but not as this is’ and Allen Maddox ‘No mail today’ that inspired him profoundly.
From there, a new artistic direction grew. He moved back to Auckland in 2020 and started working on larger scale artworks with water colours, oils and acrylics. In 2021, he got a studio in Mt Eden where he has been flat out ever since.
Daniel calls himself an intuitive painter.
“I make a mark, I look and then I respond to that mark. I read a lot of literature, specifically Proust,” he says.
“Listening to classical music helps me find new rhythms while painting. I see correlations between the notes of music and the colours on my palette thus transforming themes deep within my unconscious into the work. I finish every painting in silence.”
Through his artwork, Daniel intends to heal and change people’s consciousness.
“I aim to plant a seed inside the viewer’s soul that hopefully grows into a beautiful tree.”
He also draws inspiration from the environment and the people in his life, with the winter of 2024 influencing his current paintings in Grocer Gallery.
It is Daniel’s first time exhibiting in the Bay of Plenty and he has been spending time fishing in the Tauranga Harbour with friends. He has even joined a saltwater fly fishing group.
“The people I have met in the Bay of Plenty are very welcoming and warm hearted. It’s been a pleasure connecting with the land and sea and the people here,” he says.
“Working with Daniel Leigh has been a great pleasure. He really has great taste in art and his guidance has been very insightful.”
Grocer Gallery is located at 5C MacDonald St. For more details and updates, visit grocer.gallery
Yiayia’s Little Kitchen
Words by Sue Hoffart
by ilk
but what you don’t get is the intergenerational storytelling and rituals that go along with that.”
Visitors to this year’s Flavours of Plenty Festival can expect an especially rich dose of culinary culture alongside abundant kai. We meet one of the foodie stars in the fourth annual food festival. As a girl, Caterina Murphy relished standing alongside her mother whenever she cooked Greek desserts. The youngest-by-far daughter would lean in to watch the precise and particular way her mother squeezed loukoumades doughnut dough through her hands or soaked biscuits in honey syrup.
“What I loved most as a child were the rituals,” Caterina says. “Anybody can share a recipe,
Those early days in her mother’s kitchen sparked an appetite for Greek Cypriot food and culture that has inspired her new culinary business in rural Eastern Bay of Plenty. The longtime educator, who still works part-time at a local school, cut her catering teeth at a twiceyearly market at Awakaponga
Community Hall. Everything always sold out at her food stall, which featured a framed photo of her inspirational mother.
“People started coming from further away to buy from my stall. Once, a famous New Zealand chef arrived at the market and I was blown away by his feedback. He said he could smell it, that it looked amazing.
“That moment was key. It gave me a boost of confidence.
Photography
“The passion for doing something with food has been stirring in the background all of my life. I just decided to take a leap of faith and make it happen in some way.”
In July last year, Caterina reduced her day job hours and launched catering company Yiayia’s Little Kitchen. The home-based business focuses on vegetarian and plant-based Greek Cypriot and Mediterranean food.
“I’ve had a wonderful and stimulating career in education and I still love it, but now I understand what it is when you’re doing something you truly love that is so dear to your heart. I’m just happy on a level I haven’t known before. For me, it’s about the expression of my cultural identity.”
Caterina grows her own herbs and takes pride in using honey from a local apiarist in her baklava and orange citrus cakes. Husband Anthony is the resident
vegetable gardener, who also supplies countless lemons and other fruit.
The importance of sharing food skills and stories is something Caterina also learned while completing her PhD in Anthropology, majoring in Indigenous Studies. Her doctoral thesis examined local cooking traditions and how they strengthened the cultural identity of New Zealand immigrants, Māori, and NZ Europeans.
Caterina encourages her grandchildren to watch or work alongside her in the kitchen and speaks with them about her own food memories.
“Two of our children have an annual baklava competition, usually on New Year’s Eve, and we judge it. So I know the taste and yearning for those foods does carry on through generations.
“It’s strengthening ties, affirming roots.”
Meet Caterina at the fourth
annual Flavours of Plenty Festival, which features about 50 foodrelated events across the coastal Bay of Plenty from Waihī Beach to Ōhope, between March 27 and April 13.
The festival will also showcase an Indian chef working in a Mexican restaurant, a Cambodian Chinese Kiwi making dumplings with his aunty, and an Italian restaurateur in Paengaroa.
“We have discovered this amazingly international cast of foodie stars who’ll be creating dishes and events for us,” says festival director Rae Baker.
“There’s some really exciting talent and all these people are showcasing the best of what we grow right here in this region.”
Rae says this year’s ‘edible stories’ theme allows chefs, bakers, makers, distillers, educators, and growers to express themselves and their cultural connections through food.
“In many cases, they’re
↑ Caterina Murphy has swapped the school classroom for a catering company rich in flavour and family.
weaving their personal stories into the food experience that they’re offering. In others, they’re creating entire menus around a legend or fairytale.”
Ticket buyers will be able to visit a marae, join intimate dinners, and choose from several cook school offerings in a chef’s own home and garden. Brunches and long lunches will lead into seafood feasts and degustation dinners where courses are matched with local brews.
Inspirational educators will deliver panel discussions
and hands-on workshops, master classes, and child-focused events.
Once again, cafés and restaurants are participating in the popular Plates of Plenty Challenge, where eateries create a signature festival dish made using a mystery box full of locally produced goodies.
Visitors can also expect a return of the competitive snack-making event that pairs younger talent with established chefs. Tickets will be released on February 14 and food fans must be ready to jump as soon as programme details are launched.
Rae says the event, which is delivered by Tourism Bay of Plenty, raises the region’s profile, brings visitors from out of town, and helps locals discover the culinary treasures on their doorstep.
“We’ve become a serious contender on the national foodie calendar, thanks to the success of previous festivals.
“But this is our most exciting festival yet.”
flavoursofplentyfestival.com Yiayia’s Little Kitchen @yiayiaslittlekitchen
Words by Rose Treadwell
Photography by Anne Shirley
Creativity Belongs to All
Public art aims to enrich cultural identity, boost economies and build communities. We speak to two local artists about how and why they’re adorning the city in art.
Tauranga’s city centre is buzzing with artistic energy. From fresh murals brightening up walls, to a landmark street art festival around the corner, creativity is taking centre stage in our city.
Research from Creative New Zealand and Colmar Brunton has found 76 per cent of Tauranga residents have recently attended or participated in the arts, while 60 per cent agree the arts contribute positively to the local economy.
Public art aims to enrich cultural identity and civic pride, boost economies, curb vandalism, and build community. It can be a powerful win for everyone.
A major driver behind this momentum is the Tauranga Tiahuia Mural project, commissioned by Tauranga City Council (TCC) and funded by the Department of Internal Affairs Hine te Hiringa Fund.
Tauranga Tiahuia celebrates wāhine of prestige and talent through large-scale murals across the region.
Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre, Waihīrere Lane and Red Square have been transformed by artists Millie Pidwell, Rhianna May, and Louis Mikaere, with two more murals slated for 2025.
Tauranga Tiahuia artist Jasmine Kroeze has unveiled her mural on Grey St that honours the Tauranga Women’s Refuge.
Jasmine says she drew inspiration from the refuge’s core values (manaaki, aroha, tautoko and awhi), realising them as shapes and colours in a free-flowing, abstract composition.
“I start in my sketchbook, just making marks with no pressure. If I see something I like, I’ll explore it. It’s more about an emotional feel than a literal depiction.”
In addition to her family’s tradition of supporting a chosen charity instead of exchanging gifts at Christmas, Jasmine has also previously donated her artwork to the Women of Impact She Is Unleashed gala fundraiser for the women’s refuge.
“I wanted to honour them through my art, but also honour them with a donation,” Jasmine explains.
This ongoing relationship gave Jasmine insight into the crucial support the refuge provides, further inspiring her to weave their values into her mural’s visual narrative.
Lily Ivana’s Grey St mural brings a slice of nature into the heart of the city.
Funded by TCC and commissioned by Creative Bay of Plenty, Lily’s piece underscores her dedication to sharing her love of the outdoors with the community, especially its youngest members.
“I’ve been focused on nature in my artwork for the last four or five years,” Lily explains.
“Raising a one-year-old has made me even more aware of the magic you can find just by slowing down and noticing your surroundings.”
With a steady stream of pedestrians passing by on Grey St, Lily says she wanted to offer a moment of calm, a view into a familiar bush track scene complete with native plants.
“Sometimes we forget how much is right here on our doorstep,” she says. “If this mural encourages
Tauranga
“I start in my sketchbook, just making marks with no pressure. If I see something I like, I’ll explore it. It’s more about an emotional feel than a literal depiction.”
Jasmine Kroeze’s Grey St mural honours the Tauranga Women’s Refuge.
↑ Lily Ivana’s mural on Grey St will bring a slice of nature into the heart of the city once completed.
someone to buy a plant, go for a bush walk, or simply pause to appreciate birdsong, then it’s done its job.”
In parallel to Tauranga Tiahuia, the upcoming Tauranga Street Art Festival promises to grow the city centre’s free walkable outdoor gallery. Spearheaded by Craig McClure as Lighthouse Creative Productions and supported by TCC and CBOP, the three-day art festival on March 21-23 will bring the city’s walls to life with large-scale murals and interactive experiences.
Craig, who directed Hamilton’s Boon Street Art Festival, says there is an exciting parallel between the current growth of Tauranga’s city centre and the changes that spurred Hamilton’s transformation.
“The rejuvenation of the city needs to include art,” he says. “Murals can beautify and inspire local pride, telling local stories and celebrating communities. They also deter vandalism and are really accessible.”
A key goal is to champion Tauranga’s homegrown talent and Craig says the festival’s call-out for artists received an excellent response of about 80 expressions of interest. By selecting a mix of local and out-of-town creators, the festival aims to
showcase a range of stories and styles and is a free walkable art gallery designed to bring creativity to everyone. During the festival, artists will be painting simultaneously and out in the open. Passersby can watch the process unfold and attend artist talks.
“Public art doesn’t have opening hours,” Craig says. “It’s always there and available.”
CBOP Strategy and Capability Lead Annie Hill says the festival will foster a sense of community and creativity, allowing people to connect with artists and art lovers while celebrating Tauranga’s emerging urban culture.
“We are delighted to increase vibrancy and visitation in Tauranga city centre through these innovative new artworks.”
Annie says property owners have also embraced the festival, with many landlords happy to have public art on their properties saying it boosts aesthetic appeal, increases property values and distinguishes their buildings as culturally rich locations. In Hamilton, more than 100 murals have transformed the city’s visual identity, becoming a source of local pride. The legacy of the Tauranga Street Art Festival
Tauranga City Council Promotion
Rhianna May’s mural ‘In Her Presence’ (2024) on Waihīrere Lane is part of the Tauranga Tiahuia project.
lies in transforming public spaces into canvases for creative expression — art that reflects the city’s culture, fosters dialogue, and becomes part of Tauranga’s identity for generations to come.
“Murals and creative expression are bringing Tauranga’s walls to life, opening a new chapter that unites artists, businesses, and the wider community to celebrate fresh perspectives,” says Museums Director Greg McManus.
“From Tauranga Tiahuia’s tributes to the inaugural Tauranga Street Art Festival, public art is weaving stories into our cityscape and inspiring us all to take pride in what makes Tauranga truly unique.”
Whether you’re drawn in by the colours,
meaningful themes, or the simple joy of discovery, these artworks remind us that creativity belongs to us all. Get involved by taking a walking tour during the festival to see murals in progress and chat with artists or share festival highlights on social media, invite friends, and encourage them to explore Tauranga’s colourful new art corridor.
Thank you to the Tauranga Street Art sponsors Lighthouse (supplier), TCC and Creative Bay of Plenty (gold), Resene and Fosters (silver), and Height For Hire (bronze).
@lilyivana_creative @jasmine.kroeze
Tauranga City Council Promotion
↑ Shane Walker’s mural ‘Devonport Reserve: A Walk into Nature’ (2018) at Red Square on Spring St.
J o i n T a u r a n g a ’ s o n l y c o w o r k i n g s p a c e d e d i c a t e d t o n o n p r o f i t s .
T h e K o l l e c t i v e - H e l p i n g y o u h e l p o t h e r s
C o m m u n i t y
A s p a c e w h e r e y o u w o r k w i t h p e o p l e e v e r y d a y w h o e x u d e a p a s s i o n f o r
o u r c o m m u n i t y , w h e r e e v e r y o n e w i l l b e g r e e t e d w i t h a s m i l e a n d m a d e
t o f e e l w e l c o m e W e l o v e a l a u g h a n d a c h a t a r o u n d t h e c o f f e e m a c h i n e
T h e K o l l e c t i v e i s o u r h o m e a w a y f r o m h o m e
C o l l a b o r a t i o n
B e n e f i t f r o m s h a r i n g k n o w l e d g e , s k i l l s , a n d s i m i l a r e x p e r i e n c e s . O u r
r e g u l a r e v e n t s a n d o n l i n e c o m m u n i t y c h a t p a g e m a k e i t e a s y t o f i n d
s o m e o n e w h o c a n h e l p . W h e t h e r y o u n e e d t o k n o w m o r e a b o u t X e r o ,
g o v e r n a n c e , f u n d i n g p r o c e s s e s , o r y o u j u s t w a n t t o t a l k w i t h s o m e o n e
o t h e r t h a n y o u r t o d d l e r , T K i s w a r m
c h e e s y , b u t w e a r e f a m i l y !
C o w o r k i n g
O u r s p a c e i s b e a u t i f u l C h o o s e a f i x e d o r h o t d e s k , o p e n p l a n o r p r i v a t e ,
s t a n d i n g o r s i t t i n g , f u l l t i m e , p a r t t i m e , o r j u s t p o p i n f o r m e e t i n g s S c a l e u p
o r d o w n d e p e n d i n g o n h o w y o u r o r g a n i s a t i o n c h a n g e s , a n d w i t h n o l o n g -
t e r m l e a s e , y o u h a v e t h e l u x u r y o f c o m p l e t e f l e x i b i l i t y B o o k a m e e t i n g
r o o m o r e v e n t s p a c e f o r 2 t o 1 2 0 p e o p l e ! H o s t a Z o o m m e e t i n g w i t h e a s y -
t o - u s e t e c h i n a p r i v a t e b o o t h E n j o y o u r s o c i a l , n e t w o r k i n g , a n d
p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t e v e n t s W e ’ l l d o t h e p l a n n i n g , a n d y o u j u s t
s h o w u p ! E a s y
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Meeting and event spaces
Fun Social Events
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Soul Learning
Words by Zoe Hunter
by Jane Keam
She might not wear a cape or wave a magic wand, but Leigh Patuawa has a special ‘superpower’ that she plans to help not just one student with, but the world. Here is her story.
Photography
Leigh Patuawa has a superpower – just not in the traditional sense.
She doesn’t wave a magic wand or wear a cape, but her students feel her gift all the same.
When the Tauranga secondary school teacher of 20 years stepped into a school classroom, it was as if the weight of the world lifted.
It was her gentle presence and patience that made those carrying emotional pain seem like it was a little more bearable.
But her extraordinary gift comes from a deep, dark place.
At age nine, Leigh (Ngāti Whatua, Nga Puhi) lost her beloved mum and her world turned upside down.
“I just remember at the funeral looking at my little sisters and deciding to be brave,” Leigh says.
“I became the mum of the house, so I just pushed those feelings down and never really spoke about them again. I just went through the motions of life without really living.”
It was through her own journey to selfdiscovery and healing that Leigh found her purpose.
vulnerability in conversation.
Soul Learning’s vision is to break systemic constructs preventing people from reaching their full potential and making access to mental health education more accessible, with a self-empowering toolkit for everyday use.
school, it would have helped me so much.”
But Leigh doesn’t just want to help one student here and there – she wants to help the world.
“I have changed my perspective on loss and I now feel pretty lucky that I have a superpower that can help me whenever I need it.”
“I was born to help people,” Leigh says with a warming smile.
In 2022, Leigh launched Soul Learning, a preventative programme to help people reconnect to who they are, including simple wellbeing strategies to incorporate into their daily lives.
Leigh says mental health is a growing issue, often exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, poverty cycles, reliance on electronic devices and lack of
Part of that toolkit includes ‘The Handbook Towards Happiness: Kahupō ki te Ao Mārama – From Inner Darkness to the World of Light’.
Leigh wrote the handbook, as well as other resources, to let others going through similar experiences to hers know they are not alone.
“That was the start of something beautiful and it was so simple,” she says.
“I just look back and think if I’d have had something like this at
She has also developed the Soul Learning In-School Programme, supported by the Wright Family Foundation and Acorn Foundation, to remind students of who they are and provide them with simple wellbeing strategies to help them in their everyday life.
Through presentations, teacher resources, digital content and an individual student journal, the in-school programme aims to support students in their journey toward finding themselves and their happiness.
It includes te ao Māori resources and hauora for students, staff, whānau and the community.
Resources include breathing activities and videos, as well as topics related to balance, letting go of worries, social media, self-love, trust, vulnerability, resilience and understanding emotions.
Each resource is based on real-life stories from students who have struggled. The 15-to20-minute lessons are flexible in where they can be placed in a school’s timetable.
Leigh has also developed wellbeing packages for corporations and organisations
“I have changed my perspective on loss and I now feel pretty lucky that I have a superpower that can help me whenever I need it.”
↑ Part of Leigh’s self-empowering toolkit is ‘The Handbook Towards Happiness’.
↑ Leigh says we all need a little bit of help with our wellbeing to strengthen who we are on the inside.
based on the Te Whare Tapa Whā, a wellbeing model developed by leading Māori health advocate Sir Mason Durie in 1984.
This programme enables organisations to provide support in creating an environment that fosters positive mental health practices and resilience through in-person presentations and workshops, employee journals, and collaborative digital presentations and resources to help facilitate wellbeing.
“We all need a little bit of help with our wellbeing,” Leigh says.
“We are strengthening who you are on the inside so that when challenging times come up in your life, you have the tools to be able to tap into.
“It is helping you to release and normalise talking about things that you don’t want to.”
The idea is that everyone works on their wellbeing together.
“There is so much out there that makes people feel helpless, broken, or like they are not good enough,” she says.
“Whether or not you need help with your wellbeing now or
in the future, you can learn some skills that one day when you’re going through a tough time in your life, you have those skills to tap into.”
One young woman, who chose to share her story using only her first name, says Leigh has helped her rediscover who she really is.
Bre was only in Year 7 when her family moved from where she grew up in Australia to New Zealand.
“We had less than two weeks to move everything. It was very abrupt.
“I didn’t really have time to wrap my head around the fact I wasn’t going to be where I grew up and have the time to say goodbye to everyone I wanted to say goodbye to.”
Bre began struggling emotionally and losing sight of who she was as a person.
That was until Leigh put on a guided breathing video in one of Bre’s classes.
“I instantly felt in a better mood. I noticed everyone around me was too. They were smiling more, talking to each other. There
was this sense of kindness.”
Over the last two years, Bre has learned tools and strategies to be able to deal with her emotions when she feels herself getting overwhelmed or feeling down.
“In many ways, Leigh has saved my life,” Bre says.
Having graduated from high school, Bre is now thriving and studying a psychology degree.
“Life is a journey and sometimes the hardest things that happen can end up being the things that make you who you were meant to be,” Leigh says.
Soul Learning is currently in 15 secondary schools throughout the country from Whangārei to Dunedin, and Leigh hopes to one day see her programme in primary and intermediate schools as well as organisations, across the world.
“We all need help to remember who we are. No matter how old we are,” she says.
“You are only on Earth for a moment in time. You need to make the most of every opportunity to enhance your wairua and live life for your highest good.”
soullearning.co.nz @soullearningnz
CREATIVE DIRECTORY
ARTISTS WRITERS PERFORMERS MUSICIANS SCULPTORS
Write What You Love
Words by Zoe Wallis
Katikati College’s Zoe Wallis (pictured) loves to write. She was lucky enough to gain some insights from Tauranga’s award-winning author, editor, essayist, poet, and screenwriter Lee Murray.
Photography by ilk
Lee Murray dreamed of being an author since she was 12 years old. Now, at age 59, it’s become a reality, and a career.
Studying Latin in high school helped to set her up as an author.
“Not many schools offer the classics now — after all, what relevance can a dead language possibly have today? And even in the 1980s I was the only student in my senior class,” she says. “But it gave me an understanding of etymology, of history, mythology, travel, and epic adventures spanning decades. It also offered me a wonderful head start in science, since so much scientific vocabulary has its origin in Latin.”
In some ways, Lee’s been incredibly successful, receiving multiple international awards in a range of writing disciplines. Her accolades include appearing alongside household names like Stephen King, Josh Malerman (Bird Box), and Celeste Ng (Little Fires Everywhere).
“And I’m the first Kiwi writer
of Asian heritage to receive a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement.” Lee was also made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year 2025 Honours. On the other hand, Lee says, it can be hard to be visible on the world stage when you live in Tauranga.
“I’ve struggled to break into the larger publishing houses — those with big marketing budgets.”
When asked what fellow authors inspire her, Lee names a few of her friends trying not to leave anyone out. She also mentions Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Serpent’s Wake: A Take for the Bitten, by Australian author Lauren Elise Daniels.
“I love dark speculative tales exploring monsters and the monstrous, around themes like otherness, mental health, and social change,” Lee says.
When writing, Lee says she ruminates over sentences, chopping and changing them until she’s fully satisfied before moving on to the next one.
“That explains why I’m a very slow writer, often completing less than 500 words daily.” The longest time Lee says it’s taken her to write a book was a four-year meander, while the shortest time was just three months, under a deadline by the publisher.
Lee’s advice for young writers is to: “Think of it like a Mad Hatter’s tea party. No room at the literature table? Sit down anyway. Take the rabbit hole to the underworld. Conjure shrinkgrow monsters, evil queens, the perfidy of time, and lonely, spiralling madness. Choose chaos as a ruling principle. Ask the hard questions. Say what you mean. Talk when you want to. Debate the intricacies of language. Hide the bodies of your friends in teapots. Cut off their heads. Reference Poe. And drink more of the beverage of your choice.”
Her final tips for being a writer? “Grow a carapace. Win the Lotto. Write what you love.”
leemurray.info
‘Take that, every other scientist ever!’ She’d invented time travel.
Turning in a circle, Julia basked in the sun. The sun. She hadn’t felt its warmth since she was a two-year-old. And the air. She took a deep breath. She was inhaling real, plant-filtered oxygen. It was all so good, so fresh, so… alive.
She smiled. There was still hope of fixing things in this time.
Her smile dropped, when she spotted a hose leaking in someone’s garden. A hose, leaking. In her time, something like that would get you killed.
Storming over to the house, she didn’t bother knocking as she barged in. The owner was slouched on a beige couch.
‘Your hose is leaking!’ she yelled, striding over to him. ‘Don’t you know that a single lost drop per second adds up to 246 litres of water a month! That’s more than the average person uses in two weeks.’
Dumbfounded, the hose owner stared at her. How can he not care? She was about to berate him more when her gut clenched. There was a blur and all at once her surroundings changed, and she was inside someone else’s house.
Weird. She’d teleported without her time machine.
This time, the homeowner, a woman, was fixing a lightbulb. She was putting in an incandescent light bulb.
‘What are you doing?’ Julia exclaimed, almost incandescent herself.
‘You should be using an LED light bulb. LED light bulbs use less electricity, and nearly all their energy is emitted as visible light. Incandescent light bulbs waste 90% of their energy on things other than light.’
The woman stared at her from the top of the ladder, her arm frozen mid-twist on the bulb.
‘Who—?’
Julia was cut off as a new pull in her stomach and another blur tugged her away. Suddenly, she was outside again. Someone was about to throw their empty glass bottles in the trash.
‘No!’ she yelled once more, slamming the lid down on the rubbish bin. ‘Recycle those. It can reduce air related pollution by 20% and water-based pollution by 50%’
She went to yell at them more, but she was teleported again. Again, and again, and again, Julia would teleport, see someone doing something unsustainable, yell some statistic at them, and then teleport.
‘Donate that top. 90% of clothes thrown in the trash end up in landfills.’
‘Get a composter! If you throw that organic matter in the trash, it’ll produce gas methane which is 34 times worse for the environment than carbon dioxide.’
‘You should recycle that paper. One tonne of recycled paper saves up to 17 trees.’
On and on and on, it went. Someone else might’ve gotten tired of the cycle. Someone else might’ve even given up. But that wasn’t Julia. She’d seen firsthand what the world came to if things carried on the way they were, and she knew that every single step taken towards a better future mattered. Sustainability mattered.
↖ Katikati College’s Zoe Wallis. ↑ Zoe has an interest in writing entertaining fantasy or sci-fi stories. Her sustianability-themed written piece above was shown to award-winning author Lee Murray.
Words by Zoe Hunter
Andy’s Art Legacy
Everywhere you look, abstract sculptures are sprawled across the grass in a perfect cacophony of natural forms. You stop, take a breath and enter at your own risk. This is Andy Armstrong’s legacy.
Photography by Jane Keam
Walking through Andy Armstrong’s backyard is like exposing an artist’s mind.
Driftwood twists and curves into wooden figurines and stacked stones spark the imagination.
Everywhere you look, abstract sculptures are sprawled across the grass in a perfect cacophony of natural forms.
To the left, recycled metal, tired timber, and discarded sliding doors form a make-shift art studio overflowing with bits and bobs.
To the outsider, it may look like chaos, but to Andy, every curve, angle and shape is a verse in the poem of life.
A self-confessed “hoarder”, the 72-year-old father-of-three has been collecting “trash” for as long as he can remember and turning it into treasure.
You enter his backyard at your own risk.
“You need to breathe a little and keep calm,” he says with a chuckle.
Born in 1953, Andy grew up in Whangārei before moving to Auckland at six years old.
There, he worked as a builder’s labourer and a postman, before discovering his artistic side.
Having never done art before, Andy put together a portfolio of his paintings and enrolled at Auckland University of Technology.
After university, Andy worked at the NZ Herald in the art department and later as a studio manager at
an advertising agency, before deciding to change tack and study teaching.
Graduating from Teacher’s College, Andy was offered a job at Tauranga Boys’ College as an art teacher where he stayed for four years before moving to Mount Maunganui College.
In his 40s, Andy extended his qualifications at the Waiariki Institute of Technology – now named Toi Ohomai – before landing a job at after school programme provider YMCA.
Five years later, Mount Maunganui College offered Andy a job working as a mentor for students facing expulsion.
There, he wrote his own “units” and on Fridays they would go kayaking, beach walking or boxing with extra padded gloves and no head shots.
“The success rate was just that they would turn up really and that we could talk through things.”
After seven years, Andy became a relief teacher at the college for a further six years before retiring at age 70.
“That was when I started trying to use some of my junk I had collected over the years to make artwork, to justify it,” he says with a laugh.
“They say hoarding is a disease…so it’s not my fault.”
Andy finds inspiration from scrap metal and stones.
↑ Recycled metal, tired timber, and discarded sliding doors form a make-shift art studio overflowing with bits and bobs. Andy has been collecting “trash” and turning it into treasure for as long as he can remember.
“Picasso could paint and draw like a master at the age of 16, but he spent the rest of his life trying to paint and draw like a child.”
↑ One of Andy’s unfinished works taking shape in the carport.
“The stuff that goes out to the dump is unbelievable,” he says with a glint in his eye.
“Lately, I’ve become fascinated with shells. I found a scallop shell once that had three perfectly formed red triangles on it. Ever since then, every single shell I pick up has a little message on it. It really got me thinking.”
He’s started adding shells to the dozens of his own paintings hanging on almost every wall in his home.
Admiring a three-dimensional painting he has been adding to the last few days, Andy recites a quote from the famous Spanish sculptor and painter Pablo Picasso.
“Picasso could paint and draw like a master at the age of 16, but he spent the rest of his life trying to paint and draw like a child.”
Andy says a child’s drawing almost always has perfect composition. “A child always gets it right.”
He believes there is an artist inside everybody.
“Just do it and stop worrying about what it looks like. Just get the paint out, smear it on your hands, have a bit of fun.”
Andy’s artwork comes together in the same
way his poems come together – another pathway to his creative mind.
Andy didn’t put pen to paper until he started writing poems for life’s milestones, including a tribute to his late father and brother.
“It is very therapeutic,” he says.
“You can have two lines that are totally unconnected when they are read alone, but when they are read together, they can build something great.”
It also relates to how the very first artwork came about, he explains.
Cavemen, he says, would see a stone that looks like something shaped like an animal, for example, and that would have been the first work of art.
“There is certainly quite a bit of that in what I do. If I am putting together two or three bits of driftwood or material, I will start to see a face or a figure.
“I’ve realised I need another 10 lifetimes to do what I want to do, seriously.”
Andy has never sold his artwork for big money. Although, he did sell three sculptures to the Katikati
GIFT FROM GOD
Bird Gardens about 25 years ago for a small amount.
“I don’t know if they’re still there or not,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.
He hopes to display some of his works during the Tauranga Garden and Art trail in 2025.
Andy doesn’t do it for the money, he does it for the enjoyment. He hopes his legacy will be that his sculptures will one day be dismantled and recycled.
“Otherwise, I’ve just left a hell of a big mess,” he says jokingly.
“I would be so happy if my artwork were one day sold for charity.”
For now, Andy will continue finding joy in creating.
“I like being creative. I just can’t help building stuff. I think some of it is meditative,” he says.
“The human mind is developed to be creative and that creativity has also manifested as wonderful medical drugs, philosophy, psychology, space travel… the list goes on.
“The breakthrough will be if l don’t ‘meet myself coming back’, as my dear Irish Mum used to say all those years ago. Creativity might help with that.”
A poem by Andy Armstrong
As he enters the studio
He checks himself in the mirror.
A hint of stubble comfortably Affirms his gender
He wears his clothes well
Swears he’s not hard sell
Fiftyish, fit, healthy
Opinionated...wealthy.
He refers to himself as Nothing in particular, but, Knows he is an expert
On everything.
His finger on the pulse
Of ultimate truth.
Except it’s not.
He begins by undermining
Anyone with an intellect.
Every statement delivered
With a knowing look, spin Manipulated with precision.
But the pattern smirk cannot hide
The hurt he feels inside when He compares intellect....
This woman makes him seem…so small. Worse, she has heart.
She cares about all those non entities
Who just need to find some purpose
Get a life.
Maybe, just maybe, They could become as successful
As he is, then, they could have a say. If he can do it, anyone can.
A year’s rent would
Buy the chequered bigotry
He wears with designer jeans
Boots made for trampling
Inferior beings into feeling shame
Except they’re not and they don’t.
When you are this influential, You can say pretty much
Whatever you feel like and Always be right.
Except that 87 per cent of the time you’re not.
Nearly time to head for his car.
Anybody could own a car like his, If only they worked as hard as he does.
Except they can’t and they do.
Leaving the studio he checks
His appearance in the mirror
All he can see is smoke.
Anything But Dusty
Words by Katherine Whittaker
What started as a casual get-together at the pub is now an utterly joyful, inclusive and colourful community of ukulele fans strumming stories, plucking notes and raising funds for charity.
Photography by Cam Neate
It started as a casual get together at the pub on a quiet Monday night, ukuleles perched on laps as people swapped stories and plucked notes. It has become Jack Dusty’s Ukulele Players – an utterly joyful, inclusive, colourful community of uke fans, gathering, playing, making friends and raising money for charity.
It was after inquiries for individual help with the ukulele, that long-time Bay of Plenty music enthusiast and educator Jill Leighton decided to get a group together. From a friend’s house, they quickly migrated to Jack Dusty’s Ale House in Ōtūmoetai. With the owner’s blessing, a small group started having casual gatherings on a generally quiet night at the pub.
Now, Monday nights at Jack Dusty’s look very different, with about 100 people through the doors. “We were five in a corner and people just kept asking their friends,” Jill says,
chuckling. “We’ve evolved into quite the musical force.” Now, they have booked gigs, and play at residential care facilities, for cruise ship visitors at the Historic Village, as well as other events.
Whatever money they earn, they donate to charity. That includes the Otumoetai Social Supermarket, which the group raised about $2000 for from performing at Christmas time.
The diverse group of people includes Rāwini Ngaamo.
Growing up in a musical Auckland household, where her father played guitar and ukulele, Rāwini learned ukulele from about seven years old, along with her siblings. “It was a bit like a second language in our house. There was always some music or movement going on,” she says.
Rāwini hadn’t played the ukulele for years until, as the story often goes, she walked into the pub one evening, saw what was happening and thought, “Wow,
that’s a bit of me”. She has been a key ukulele member for more than a year. The session is opened with a waiata and closed with a rendition of Te Aroha. Rāwini, who speaks te reo Māori, says one of her greatest joys with the group is its pull-up-a-seat, totally inclusive door-wide-open policy.
“Anyone can participate. Bring a uke or don’t. Play or listen. Borrow and have a go. It is so simple. Once you learn three chords you can learn lots of songs, you’re away and you’re hooked!” she says.
Rāwini says while the music is an absolute joy, it is the unity, open nature and community of the group that makes her happiest.
“For me as a Māori woman, I would never have imagined myself spending time in a space with mostly older Pākehā women, women who have become friends, and see how much fun we have.” Rāwini says Jill has made the group that way.
“The vibe is just so positive it has taken over my life in a good way. You go out there and it fills you up. You just leave the place buzzing.”
↑ Monday night at Jack Dusty’s Ale House is packed with people playing ukulele. Rāwini Ngaamo and Jill Leighton (pictured top right) enjoy the community that has been created over ukulele playing.
Every Monday, Rāwini takes her 91-year-old dad Tony out for the evening to watch her play ukulele.
The diverse make-up of the group, she says, gives her hope about New Zealand’s future: “I see the potential of the country in our group”. Every Monday, Rāwini takes her 91-year-old dad out for the evening. While he may have his ukulele under his arm, Rāwini’s dad doesn’t often play.
“He just absorbs. He absolutely loves coming.”
Rāwini says her dad also looks on proudly as she is up front leading the way with the players. It is the absolute highlight of his week – and hers. Jill says there are a few factors that have allowed the special, relaxed atmosphere to develop. “One is that people arrive and are a bit nervous. They’ve never sung or played. But in a room full of people playing and singing nobody hears you,
nobody knows if you make a mistake. You just do your thing.”
The other is location. “If it was in a big hall, you go in and haul out the seats and sit looking at each other, wondering who should start. In this case, you walk in, and you are in party mode!”
The members will use any occasion or any reason to dress up – no other theme but colour, no other reason but fun. “We are like a symphony of colour arriving at gigs.” Other band members, who are pivotal to the group, include Robin Wikingi on bass, ukulele player and harmony singer Gail Farquar and trumpet player Gary Hoekstra. Gail leads the group when Jill isn’t available and Robin is their full time bass player.
“Robin’s contribution is huge, keeping us in time and ‘grounding’
↑ With the number of friendships and abundance of joy created by the group, there is no sign of them hanging up their ukuleles any time soon. Pictured bottom right is group secretary Sue Windmill.
the music, which we all really appreciate,” says Jill. Many of their songs hail from the 1960s such as ‘The Wanderer’ and ‘Another Saturday Night’, though there are a variety of eras and styles. With the number of friendships and abundance of joy created by the group, there is no sign of them hanging up their ukes any time soon.
“I am always thinking of new songs. First thing in the morning, and during the night. They just keep on coming,” Jill says. “The vibe is just so positive it has taken over my life in a good way. You go out there and it fills you up. You just leave the place buzzing. “I look down at the uke and say, ‘Thank you, little uke’.”
Jack Dusty’s Ukulele Players
Bush Camp, Bonding and Belonging
Photography by River Dantzler
Rainbow communities across the globe are in a time of contrast. Ginger’s stands as a beacon of hope and belonging, showing connection and community aren’t just vital, they’re transformative.
It was an idea dreamed up at 2am in Singapore while wide awake and jet-lagged on her way home from her honeymoon last year.
Lisa Rooney and her wife had visited one of the last remaining lesbian spaces in London, which shocked her.
Ten years ago, while Lisa was running lesbian events during university in Manchester, there were still a few venues. Now many are gone. Lost, she says, to gentrification and the assumption that inclusivity means queer spaces aren’t needed anymore.
“That realisation stayed with me, and back home in Mount Maunganui, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much we lack safe spaces, and that these spaces don’t have to be boring.”
That’s where Ginger’s began.
But Ginger’s is more than just a pop-up event. This is a space not just about the nightlife, but about fostering community, connection, and belonging.
It’s a welcoming space to celebrate sapphic and lesbian culture and connect with others in the rainbow community.
“People come for the music, comedy, DJs, and panel discussions, but I’ve learned they mostly come for connection and community,” says Lisa, founder and director of the brand.
“Our intersectional events within the rainbow community go beyond traditional Pride celebrations, offering meaningful opportunities to connect, celebrate diversity, and create spaces where all identities are seen and valued all year round.”
Ginger’s is hosting a Bush Camp in the Bay of Plenty in a few months, offering outdoor activities, mental health support, food by local recipe developer Malika Ganley, a traditional hāngi by The Little Paua,
and evening entertainment.
The event has already attracted hundreds of registrations from across New Zealand and even Australia.
The first-ever Ginger’s event in Mount Maunganui sold out in less than 48 hours.
“Every event across the country since has sold out, leaving people asking for more,” Lisa says.
“In Christchurch, one attendee told me Ginger’s was the first place she’d felt safe and seen since moving to New Zealand.”
That moment reinforced for Lisa why these spaces are vital.
“Globally, we’re in a time of contrast for rainbow communities. While representation in pop culture is higher than ever, political movements in countries with high influence threaten to roll back rights, sparking fear and uncertainty.
“Ginger’s stands as a beacon of hope and belonging, showing that connection and community are not just vital — they’re transformative.”
Ginger’s aligns perfectly with Lisa’s company, Blabla Events, which focuses on giving a voice to minorities and embracing diversity.
“From the start, I’ve had incredible support from people like Lana Searle, Alice Soper, Tory Whanau, Rachelle Duffy the founder of this magazine, the founders of Girls Get Off and other epic humans who’ve amplified Ginger’s mission.”
It was while listening to a podcast with Cassie Roma that inspired Lisa to leave her job and start her own events company.
“Fast forward, and because of Ginger’s, she’s now a close friend and partner in growing Ginger’s as a brand.”
Cassie is known for her roles on The Apprentice and Celebrity Treasure Island, head of marketing at big brands like Air NZ and The Warehouse Group, and as co-chair of Auckland Pride during one of the most successful Pride months in New Zealand history.
“Her passion for storytelling, inclusion, and leadership makes her a perfect fit for Ginger’s vision,” Lisa says.
Together, Cassie and Lisa are launching the Ginger’s Podcast, which will feature inspiring queer voices from around the globe, sharing stories of truth and connection.
They hope listeners will feel empowered and more connected through these stories because every human has something valuable to share.
Cassie first learned about Ginger’s from a friend’s Instagram post and was immediately intrigued.
“After chatting with Lisa, I couldn’t wait to be part of this unique, magical community. Ginger’s is about so much more than loud music or late-night venues; it’s a space for connection, fun, and shared experiences.”
Cassie says in a world where loneliness is
Pictured top left: Lisa Rooney and Cassie Roma. Bottom left and right: Every event so far has sold out across the country, leaving people asking for more.
epidemic and finding inclusive communities can feel impossible, Ginger’s is a lifeline.
“My first pop-up was amazing — seeing people laughing, dancing, and supporting one another in such an open, kind space was unforgettable. It’s not just representation; it’s the feeling of safety and belonging.”
She has received countless messages from attendees saying Ginger’s gave them a place to be themselves and feel more connected to the rainbow community.
“That’s the power of these spaces — they’re not just fun; they’re transformative.”
Lisa says for anyone curious about Ginger’s, please know it’s a place of safety, celebration, and solidarity.
“Whether you’re part of the rainbow community or an ally, you’ll always have a home here. Strength comes from being part of a supportive community, so let that connection be your source of resilience.”
@gingerspopups
@blablaevents
Rolling Low Riding High
Photography by Jamie McCready
The lowrider scene is more than just customised cars; it’s a vibrant blend of artistry, culture, and community. With their gleaming chrome, intricate paintwork and bouncing hydraulics, these vehicles are rolling expressions of identity and pride. Beyond the cars, the lowrider culture is a celebration of tradition, craftsmanship and connection — a way of life that unites generations and tells stories through every curve and colour.
Photograph: Christopher Duffy
Photograph: Christopher Duffy
I first tried a glass of Dragon Bones’ 2023 Pinot Noir at Camina restaurant and bar in Whangamatā and it instantly transported me into the persona of a Druidic crystal gazer. In hindsight, repeatedly shouting, ‘Dragon Bones!’ in a shamanistic voice to everyone in the restaurant was likely unsettling, especially for my wife who was sharing the table with me. But when my inner juju takes hold, resistance is di icult. Now, I’m thrilled to be transfixed by Dragon Bones once again. But for everyone’s safety, this time, it’s in the comfort of my own home.
Dragon Bones 2023 Pinot Noir
This wine hits you like stumbling upon an abandoned forest temple — a discovery so surreal it makes you question whether you’re awake or lost in a lucid dream as a medieval cosplayer, sword-fighting among ancient trees. The first sip lands like a velvetwrapped brick, with firm tannins that somehow dance across your tongue instead of stomping on it.
There’s an almost haunted botanical garden vibe to it — a blend of flowers and herbs that feel like they’ve only just been unearthed. Then there’s this sneaky elegance, like finding out your flatmate, whom you’ve harshly judged for streaming way too many rom-coms, secretly has a PhD in philosophy. It’s sophisticated but refreshingly understated.
As far as I know, this wine won’t solve any social, environmental, or political crises, but it does have the power to make you forget them for a while as you embrace your inner witch doctor. It’s the kind of indulgence that doesn’t demand answers or solutions, just a moment to revel in the magic of the present. Sometimes, that’s more than enough.
Dragon Bones 2024 Pinot Gris
A liquid enigma from the depths of New Zealand’s wine country, this wine has me questioning everything I thought I knew about white wine. The first sni is like stepping into a market stall — red apples and nectarines locked in a Lambada, while yellow peaches linger on the sidelines, plotting an intervention. Then comes the wildcard: Crystallised ginger, an unexpected intruder who, truth be told, is more than welcome to stay. Take a sip and things get serious. The wine peacocks across your tongue. Rich, but not in a trust-fund-kid way. More like a self-made hustler who knows how to put in the work. The stone fruits return and now it’s kick-ons with that ginger, and I’m not calling noise control. The finish? Opulent, but only if opulence means your taste buds just inherited a fortune and spent it all at the fruit stall. Dragon Bones isn’t just making wine, they’re bottling chaos theory and somehow, it works. It’s a wine that doesn’t just demand your attention; it earns it, leaving you wondering what other secrets it has hidden in the bottle.
Dragon Bones 2024 Riesling
This wine is a revelation, yet Dragon Bones has somehow managed to elevate it further, infusing it with pickled sunshine. It bursts with vibrant preserved lemon notes — not your usual citrus, but something far more refined. Hints of white flowers drift through, delicate and airy, balanced by a minerality that feels like you’re brushing against some ancient sea fossils — not strange at all. It’s dry and crisp, leaving a lasting impression—like discovering an unassuming café serves the best co ee you’ve ever had.
Dragon Bones 2023 Late Harvest Riesling
This Wutz Late Harvest isn’t your typical stickysweet dessert wine that would have your dentist waking in a cold sweat. Despite its hefty 173 grams of residual sugar — enough to suggest imminent tooth decay — the razor-sharp acidity cuts through like a samurai sword, creating a balance that would make the world’s best tightrope walker blush. Each glass unfolds like a cosmic video game, revealing new levels of complexity. Just when you think you’ve mastered its trick moves and are ready to claim the top score, it shifts again, unveiling yet another dimension you never knew existed. Simply put: It’s liquid gold struck by lightning. Unleash the mythical magic with a bottle of Dragon Bones from greatlittlevineyards.com @dragonboneswine
Fragrant & Fresh
Words, recipes & styling by Holly McVicar
In honour of her favourite time of the year, our culinary queen Holly McVicar is sharing some fresh and fragrant recipes to dish up for the summer.
Photography by ilk
This is hands down my favourite time of year. Warm summer days give way to long shadows, and the garden is giving a final push of fragrant and fresh produce.
I was fortunate to take the brand-new Best Behaviour Spiced Rum for a spin and paired this delicious drop with a dark ginger syrup, fresh mint,
and fresh lime to take the classic mojito to a new level.
A big thank you to local suppliers CM Props & Backdrops @cmbackdrops, as well as Best Behaviour @onyourbestbehaviour
Vietnamese Bun Cha
Salad
SERVES 4
For the meatballs:
500gm of pork or chicken mince
2 spring onions finely sliced
½ cup coriander sprigs, finely chopped
2 tbsp of fish sauce
1 tsp of finely minced lemongrass
1 tbsp of caster sugar
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
A pinch of salt
1/4 tsp of ground white pepper
For the salad:
3 cups baby cos or buttercrunch lettuce, roughly torn
1 cucumber, finely sliced
2 carrots, peeled and then finely julienned or grated
2 cups of roughly torn herb leaves such as mint, coriander, Thai basil & Vietnamese mint
½ cup of roasted peanuts, chopped
4 portions of dried vermicelli noodles, cooked according to packet instructions drained and rinsed in cold water
2 spring onions, finely sliced
For the dressing:
1 long red chilli, seeds removed for less heat if preferred and finely minced
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup white rice vinegar
2 tbs of fish sauce
1 tbs of caster sugar
2/3 cup of warm water
To prepare the meatballs, place all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well to combine, then roll the mince mixture into golf ball sized patties. Place on a tray in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before cooking.
Place the dressing ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine until the sugar has dissolved. Place in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
On a barbecue or pan, grill the meatballs until golden on the outside and firm to touch.
Arrange the salad ingredients around each plate. Top the noodles with the meatballs and spoon half of the dressing over all of the ingredients, leaving some for dipping either on each plate or in the centre of the table. Sprinkle over the toasted nuts and spring onions and serve.
Lemon Passionfruit Coconut Cakes
MAKES 12
Cakes:
125g butter, softened ½ cup caster sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 cup coconut milk
1 ½ cups self-raising flour
1/4 cup passionfruit pulp
Fine zest of 1 large lemon
Frosting:
2 cups icing sugar
125g butter, softened Juice of 1 large lemon
Garnish: Passionfruit pulp (or topping) Toasted coconut flakes
Preheat the oven to 170°C. Butter and flour a muffin tray.
Cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (around 3–4 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Mix in the coconut milk, passionfruit, and lemon zest, then fold in the flour until just combined.
Bake for 20 minutes or until done. Cool for 10 minutes, then run a butter knife around the edge to loosen the cakes, ensuring the sides are loosened. Remove the cakes from the tins and cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the butter, sugar, and lemon juice until pale and smooth.
To decorate, top the cakes with the frosting. Make a small indent with the back of a spoon and fill it with passionfruit. Add toasted coconut flakes and serve.
These light and fluffy lemon and passionfruit coconut cakes are perfect for afternoon tea in the summer sun.
Best Behaviour Ginger Mojitos
SERVES 8
Dark Ginger Simple Syrup:
½ cup dark brown sugar
½ cup water
50g fresh ginger, sliced
1 vanilla pod, sliced lengthwise
In a small saucepan, heat all ingredients until sugar dissolves and set aside to cool completely. This syrup can be kept in the fridge (leave ginger and vanilla in the syrup to steep).
Mojitos:
30mL Best Behaviour Spiced Rum
15mL dark ginger simple syrup
½ fresh lime juiced
½ lime sliced
Fresh mint
Ice cubes
Grilled pineapple wedge to garnish (optional)
Soda water to fill
Combine all ingredients and serve in a tall glass. Enjoy, on your best behaviour of course!
For more recipe inspiration, follow @madebyhollys and visit ourplacemagazine.co.nz
My Precious
Words by Zoe Hunter
Photography by Cam Neate
Losing a wedding ring can feel like the end of the world, but don’t lose hope — these metal detectorists are skilled at recovering treasures, no matter how deep or hidden.
You may not have met Jo Forrest, but you are likely to have seen her before.
With her head down and metal detector in hand, the Tauranga woman is usually spotted searching through the sand along Bay of Plenty’s beaches for lost jewellery.
“People know me as that detectorist lady,” she says with a laugh.
She’s also somewhat of a miracle worker.
Jo has found “hundreds and hundreds” of lost jewellery – mostly wedding or engagement rings.
She’s reunited a lot of people with their most prized possessions even when they thought they’d lost them forever.
But Jo doesn’t do it for notoriety or praise.
“It’s my way of giving back,” she says. “I do it because when you lose something, you feel like all hope is lost and it makes people feel whole again. It’s such a cool feeling.”
She also likes the challenge.
Jo has lived in Tauranga for more than 30 years, but it was during the second Covid-19 lockdown that she picked up metal detecting.
“I got bored,” she says with a shrug of her shoulders.
for people’s lost treasures.
“It’s my free space to think, to find solitude. I just put my head down and walk.”
She’s found phones, necklaces, watches and rings.
“I’ve never found a ring that I haven’t been able to return to its owner.”
Just before Christmas, Jo found a $20,000 ring for a woman who had lost her wedding ring after going swimming with her friends.
Using the GPS location of a photo the woman had taken on her phone before jumping in the water, Jo was able to narrow her search to a particular spot in the surf.
“Boom! There it was under the water. She was standing on the dunes and when she saw me put my metal detector down, she knew I had found it. She just ran down the beach and screamed.
“Stories like that are just crazy and why I do it.”
Jo also remembers another story of a man who was throwing around a rugby ball with his friends on the beach when his wedding ring flew off into the sand.
“They were searching the beach for about four hours before I came down again early the next morning and found it for him. He was almost in tears
“I do it because when you lose something, you feel like all hope is lost and it makes people feel whole again. It’s such a cool feeling.”
“I had been interested in the hobby for a while and was watching all of the things on the telly you wouldn’t normally watch.”
It was while she was watching the television series Gold Rush that Jo decided it was time to buy her own metal detector. She also bought one for her daughter.
“It was about doing something different and the thrill of finding something,” she says. “It was my daughter who actually found the very first ring.”
While her daughter stopped after about a year, Jo carried on. As Jo began finding more and more, that is when she was invited to be part of New Zealand Ring Finder – a community group of detectorists from across the country.
Eventually, she upgraded her metal detector to the latest and greatest.
Jo doesn’t do things by halves. “I always want to be the best I can be,” she says.
Her latest metal detector can go underwater, “so I can go up to my neck in the water and go where nobody else goes. I just want to be a bit different”.
Jo will go out every two or three days to search
when I handed it back to him.”
Snapping a photo of the man and his wife walking hand in hand into the sunrise after being reunited with the ring was a special moment.
“I thought, ‘This is so cool’. You can’t replace that.”
Ian Scott and Tony Duffy, are the men behind the community Facebook group New Zealand Ring Finder. Although it is Ian who facilitates every find.
“As a kid, I always loved the thought of treasure hunting,” he says.
So one day he bought a metal detector online.
“It really started out as a hobby; it was just for fun.”
Ian began using his metal detector along the beaches in Auckland where he grew up and before long he was finding treasures like jewellery, sunglasses, watches and other lost items.
He wanted to be able to find the owners and reunite them with their lost treasures, but didn’t know how.
After some research, Ian stumbled across an international group online for people to subscribe to
Jo Forrest (opener) has reunited a lot of people with their most prized possessions. But she doesn’t do it for the praise, it is simply her way of giving back.
“It is a passion. It is also quite therapeutic. You never know what you’re going to find.”
There are about nine Ring Finders in the Bay of Plenty who can be called upon to help find lost treasures.
for a yearly fee. A year later, he joined a Facebook group called New Zealand Ring Finder with a smaller following of about 20 people.
In 2020, Ian answered a local reporter’s call for help after she lost her wedding ring. After being reunited with her precious jewellery, the reporter suggested Ian share his story with the local media.
“So I did, and three days later the phone didn’t stop ringing. Now our page has about 2000 followers.”
When people of the metal detecting community came forward wanting to help, Ian had to think of a way to verify the treasure hunters and ensure the lost items would be reunited with the rightful owners.
He started multiple messenger chat groups to help organise and facilitate the finds.
“The page is basically a free directory with about 60 people around local communities who can be called upon to help,” Ian says. “They are all volunteers.”
The ideal request, Ian says, is a message including what exactly has been lost, contact details, a location and a pin drop of where they believe the item was last seen.
The closest treasure hunter, or Ring Finder, is then allocated to that search.
In the Bay of Plenty, Ian says there are about nine different Ring Finders who can be called upon and most searches are beach hunts.
Searches so far have also been on farms, people’s back gardens and inside people’s homes.
“There was one find in Tauranga where someone lost their ring while gardening. We asked them to shake their garden gloves and out it came.”
Ian says the pieces they find are usually sentimental like family heirlooms and wedding or engagement rings.
“But, we also find lost cellphones, keys and earrings too.”
Ian says he enjoys reuniting people with the lost items.
“It is a passion. It is also quite therapeutic. You never know what you’re going to find.”
Ian suggests anyone interested in learning more about metal detecting should join their local community group.
“Don’t just go to your local park and start digging holes. There are Bylaws and rules,” he says. “Be courteous and polite, and remember you are representing our metal detecting community.”
New Zealand Ring Finder ringfind.co.nz iansctt9@gmail.com
19 MAR 16 MAR
Addison Theatre
7 - 21APR 23 MAR
Addison Theatre X Space Baycourt Complex Star of Netflix’s Fisk, brings her award-winning, laugh-packed live show to Tauranga. A spellbinding afternoon of classic cinema, opera, and Baycourt’s Mighty Wurli.
Join Papa for a heartwarming show celebrating Samoan culture, family, and love.
Tauranga’s jazz celebration returns with top international and Aotearoa artists.
Cherie’s Foodie Finds
New and Noteworthy
Words by Cherie Metcalfe
Photography by ilk
Cherie’s Foodie Finds
Our foodie queen Cherie Metcalfe has been busy taste-testing some of the newest cafes and restaurants that have been popping up around town. She encourages you to do the same!
We have been absolutely spoiled over the last few months with some real new gems popping up in the hospo world! I’ve done my best to get around as many of them as I could, and eat as much as I can (you are welcome), to report back! If I’ve missed any, please let me know, as I’m always excited to get out there and support our new cafes and restaurants. After a very hard year for hospo, I’d love to inspire you all to do the same where possible.
Pablo
In the far, far depths of Pāpāmoa East, we have a lovely new endeavor from the owner of Henry & Ted, called Pablo. Pablo is bringing Latin-inspired traditional dishes, combined with modern tapas style dining, resulting in a fun and delicious menu. The
fit-out is stunning, drinks are on point and service is exceptional. Highlights for me were the picanha steak, croquettes and the Dulce de Leche flan. Also, check out the Saturday bottomless brunch! Big fan.
Coco’s Trattoria
Look, I know going to the shopping centre for a nice meal is a hard one to get our heads around. But there is some exceptional cuisine going on at Bayfair Shopping Centre right now. New spot Coco’s Trattoria is one of them. I was a huge fan of the food here! Burrata with a crunchy green salad, house made bread, a stunning lamb ragu papadelle, amazing pizzas, and they cater very well to kids! We managed to squeeze in a white chocolate mousse and tiramisu, which was everything I dreamed it could be. This one is a must visit.
Pablo is bringing Latin-inspired traditional dishes combined with modern tapas style dining.
Rare Grill & Bar
One of Mount Maunganui’s newest dining spots has two of our hospo greats at the helm. Marco (Alma Eatery) and Nick (Solera) are bringing you a really people-pleasing menu that everyone will enjoy. The tuna tataki was amazing, heirloom tomato salad a delight and the satay monkfish skewers epic. We had to order the steak Fiorentina as it’s very rare to see this in New Zealand. It’s a 900gm T-bone grilled to medium rare and sliced to share, which came with showstopping sauces. I somehow managed to fit in pannacotta and tiramisu, which I will boldly say are the best desserts I’ve ever had. Spectacular! Definitely worth a visit for some casual, but delicious, dining.
Kneed
Also based at our lovely new The Sands shopping centre (Pāpāmoa East) is a beautiful bakery from the baked goods gods of Rise Artisan. You will find all manner of treaties here, Biscoff-stuffed doughnuts, custard tarts, amazing pies, loaded chicken focaccia sammies and excellent fresh bread and coffee. They also have an epic build-your-own breaky sandwich menu, which is a really clever way to bring us a hot breaky on the go. Great fit-out, great vibes. I’d like to encourage you all to venture out to the East side for a visit to support our locals and enjoy some deliciousness. Plus, the jalapeno steak and cheese pie is out the gate!
You’ll find all the usual suspects at Surf Road, including a delicious eggs benny.
Cherie’s Foodie Finds
Agave Bistro & Drinkery
This new hidden sensation is tucked away in The Cruise Deck at The Mount, but it must not be missed! A bistro serving modern food with a strong influence from their Mexican heritage, you’ll find delicious contemporary dishes here, with vegan options available for most of their menu. There’s been a huge gap in our dining scene waiting for this cuisine to arrive and impress everyone. Prawn tostada, octopus risotto, chipotle habanero olives, beef chicharron, an array of tacos — and why not a side of jalapeño fries? If you’re into the tequila and mezcal scene, there’s a talented barman crafting incredible creations, or you can opt for a tequila or mezcal tasting flight. Don’t forget to pop into The Cruise Deck and check it out next time you’re walking past!
Surf Road
Oh my goodness, what a fit-out! Combined with
beach views, this new Omanu cafe already has queues out the door daily and it’s not hard to see why. Fresh cinnamon scrolls on the counter lured us in, a good solid cheese scone option, and a very well-known menu. You will find all the usual suspects here, including eggs benny, avo toast, big breaky, eggs on toast etc.
Solara
Over in Tauranga’s CBD on Saint John Street, we have a new food spot for the heath lovers! The vibes are ON at Solara, with very Instagrammable smoothie bowls, matcha situations, loaded toasts, Biscoff lattes and acai banana granola type situations. It’s cool to have something different join us. Grab your wholesome friends and get down for a visit!
@cheries_chat
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Starting at $100 per week
Our Place Events Guide
Thu Dinner in the Domain
5.30–8.30pm, Pāpāmoa Pony Club
Sat Tauranga Farmers Market
7.45am–12pm, Tauranga Primary School
Sun Pāpāmoa Community Market
8.30am-12.30pm, Te Manawa o Pāpāmoa School, 72 Te Okuroa Dr
February 2O25
10. Youth Artist Academy 4-5.30pm, The Creative Community Campus, The Historic Village, theincubator.co.nz
11. Greenman Clay Mask Workshop 6-8pm, The Creative Community Campus, The Historic Village, theincubator.co.nz
14. Valentines Day Battle of the Sexes Standup Comedy Show 8pm, Luxe Cinema, 4 Golden Sands Dr, Pāpāmoa, eventfinda.co.nz
15. The Little Big Markets
9am-2pm, Papamoa Pony Club, Pāpāmoa
Salty & Sweet at The Jam Factory
7-10.30pm, The Jam Factory, Historic Village theincubator.co.nz
Make your own Art Materials from Plants
10am-3.30pm, The Creative Community Campus, theincubator.co.nz
Wine Tasting Cruise
5.45-9pm, The Strand, Tauranga seaside-sippers-wine-club.myshopify.com
A Gluten Free Night Out 5-8pm, Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
16. Dinner in the Park 5-9pm, Matua Park
The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, The Strand, Tauranga
19. Bare Minimum - Life Drawing 6-8pm, The People's Gallery, The Historic Village, theincubator.co.nz
20. Queer Crafts 6.30-8.30pm, The Creative Community Campus, The Historic Village
21. Hayden Chisholm and Unwind 7-9.30pm, The Jam Factory, Historic Village theincubator.co.nz
22. The Petersens - Live in Tauranga 7.30pm, Baycourt, X Space eventfinda.co.nz
The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
23. Dinner in the Park 5-9pm, Matua Park
25. Read Between The Rhymes (Poetry in The Incubator) 7-9pm, The Creative Community Campus, The Historic Village
26. Postmodern Jukebox 2025 7.30pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz
March 2O25
1. Beast of a Feast 2-10pm, Soper Reserve, Mount Maunganui ticketfairy.com
2. Soak n Sounds 7pm, Mount Hot Pools, Door sales only
2. Tauranga Auto Extravaganza & Incorporated
All Ford Day 9am, 1 Dakota Way, Mount Maunganui Door sales only
4. Johnny Cash & The Outlaws
7.30-9.40pm, Baycourt eventfinda.co.nz
5. DayBreak - Festival of Innovation
8.30am, 29 Grey St, Tauranga priorityone.co.nz
6. Standup Comedy Night at Cleaver & Co
7.30pm, Cleaver & Co, Bayfair eventfinda.co.nz
Ocean Film Festival World Tour
6.30-9.30pm, United Cinemas Bayfair oceanfilmfestival.com.au
7. I am Giant 7.30pm, 11 Totara Street totara.flicket.co.nz
8. Holi Colour Splash 2pm, Memorial Park
The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
9. Marra Sprint Triathlon 7am, Pilot Bay Beach
15. The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
16. Thrifted Finds Market 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
Cookbook Club 1.30pm, Pilot Bay
@ourplacemagazine
19. Hot Potato Band 7.30pm, 11 Totara Street totara.flicket.co.nz
Kitty Flanagan - Live 8pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz
20. Tauranga Food Lovers Masterclass 6-8pm, Mercury Baypark wastedkate.co.nz
22. Rotorua Lakeside Concert 2025 - Funkyside 5.30-10.30pm, Village Green Rotorua
The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
Tauranga Multicultural Festival 10am, The Historic Village eventbrite.co.nz
23. Talofa Papa 6pm, Baycourt, X Space eventfinda.co.nz
26. TJS Jazz Jam 6.30pm, Mount Social Club
26– The Vagina Monologues 4 Various times, 16th Ave Theatre, Tauranga April. iticket.co.nz
29. The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
*Find more events on mytauranga.co.nz
