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Jazz party on the Main St!

Katikati is about turn up the beat on

Main St when the annual Jazz Street Party swings back into town on March 28 as part of Tauranga’s 2026 jazz festival.

Hosted by Katch Katikati with support from the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund, the free day of fun for all is this year located along Main St at three key locations – The Arts Junction, Cherry Court and the Western Bay Museum.

Katch Katikati general manager Jacqui Knight said festival-goers could expect to enjoy great tunes from talented musicians who haven’t played in Katikati before, street performers, and a circus workshop for all to attend.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Jazz Street Party back to Katikati this month to entertain both young and old alike with smooth sounds of jazz. The event is all about bringing the community together,” she said.

e Centre - Patuki anawa Library

Bower Real Estate atikati

Caltex Service Station

Fresh Choice Supermarket mokoroa

Omokoroa Superette

Held from 10am-2pm on Saturday, March 28, the Katikati Jazz Street Party would offer a perfect way to enjoy a day with family and friends and celebrate Katikati’s creative energy, Knight said.

Barker Trio from 12.30pm-2.15pm. Outside the Western Bay Museum, La Tina Trio would play 9.45am-11.30am and Ceviche Jam would perform noon1.45pm.

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The line-up

Cherry Court would host Lara Band, which would play from 10am-11.45am and 12.15pm-2pm.

Family-friendly

delicious treats including Thai with Nui, Smashed Strawbs, Lil Orb Donuts, BBQ favourites, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tamawhariua will have a tent with delicious food including seafood chowder inside a fry bread.”

advertise@nzme.co.nz

The Arts Junction would host two musicians inside its building – Caitriona Fallon from 10.15am-noon and Jeff

Knight said adding to the lively festival atmosphere would be plenty of familyfriendly entertainment such as Circus in a Flash, Skew Whiff, face painting and games from Party in the Bay “A range of food trucks will be serving

Knight said the event would be a vibrant celebration of music, community, and summer spirit. “This is a free event that provides a welcoming atmosphere that brings people together in the heart of Katikati – so don’t miss it! Mark it on your calendars now!”

Located close to the township of Waihi, Waihi Lifecare Village is one of the region’s most idyllic yet aﬀordable lifecare villages

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Caitriona Fallon will perform from 10.15am-noon inside The Arts Junction on March 28. Photo / File

Let the dogs out for Doggy Day Out!

Two French Bulldogs – an adventurous female and her laidback male mate – will return to Doggy Day Out on March 28 at Ōmokoroa to make more of an impression than last year

Honey and Winston had just moved to Ōmokoroa, with owners Keith Pace and Ann Barrington-Pace, when they attended their first Doggy Day Out in March 2025.

Not only did they place second-equal in the event ’ s Dress-Up Competition, they introduced their owners to the Ōmokoroa community and helped them make friends and connections

Ann Barrington-Pace said 2025’s Doggy Day Out was a real ice-breaker for her, Keith and their 7-year-old pets. “We don’t go out anywhere now without somebody knowing us from that day, or getting to know us, ” said Barrington-Pace

The couple had owned Honey since she was a puppy and went on to foster Winston. “He was such an amazing dog the first day we picked him up that after two weeks, we said, ‘oh, we ’ ve definitely g got to adoppt him!’”

Free fun galore!

This year ’ s Doggy Day Out is on tomorrow, March 28, at Ōmokoroa Sportgrounds from 10am-2pm, with dogs, their owners and the wider community invited to the free-entry event hosted by Western Bay of Plenty District Council as the finale to the 2025-2026 W Wander Walk series.

Fun and activities galore will be on offer for all who come along. There will be an A Amateur Agility Competition and a Sniff & Seek Arena. Western Bay of Plenty’s former dog guru Betty Hall will be back in town to talk about ‘Harmony in the Home’ when it comes to dogs

Katikati animal trainer Bex Tasker of

Positively Together will offer training tips for four-legged friends There will be food and doggy stalls and a Dress-Up Woofstock-themed Competition For kids there will be face painting, a photo booth, and arts and crafts.

Value for all

Barrington-Pace said Western Bay of Plenty’s annual Doggy Day Out had massive value for all community members – dogs, dog owners and even those who don’t own canines

“[A range of stallholders] give you the opportunity to know what’s available in your community if you have a dog or you ’ re thinking about getting a dog.

“One thing that came out of it for us was Kiwi housesitting, which is where you have people come and house-sit your property for free but they also look after your dogs for you.

“You’ve also got the value of meeting so many people with different types of breeds and being able to talk to them and gain information.”

Barrington-Pace said Honey and Winston have completely different personalities, however they complement each other well and p provide one another with great companionship

“Honey’s definitely the naughty one. She can be what I’d call a diva She’s the one that will instigate play,” said BarringtonPace “Any mischievousness, you know, if there’s anything she could get herself into, she’s the one that will do it.”

Best therapy!

Whereas Winston is very laid back, said Barrington-Pace. “He’d be like a 60s dog, if you know what I mean – just so chilled out, nothing bothers him. One thing I would say, if people really can afford it and they’re prepared, is having two dogs is wonderful ”

Barrington-Pace said she encouraged the Western Bay community to attend Doggy

Day Out “Even if you don’t have a dog it’s a great place to go if you think you could possibly have a dog one day, you know, just for the value of meeting other people ”

Owning a dog is just about the best kind of therapy any human could ever receive, Barrington-Pace said “Just the sheer value of how it will lift your spirits it can just

make you feel better”

As for Honey and Winston, they’re busy trying to inspire Barrington-Pace on costumes for this year ’ s Dress Up Competition “It’s probably gonna be a last-minute make-do – we’ll see…”

Find out more about 2026’s Doggy Day Out at: westernbay govt nz/wanderdogs

Ann Barringt g on-Pace, husband Keith Pace, and French Bulldogs Honey and Winston have settled well into their new community of Ōmokoroa thanks to attending to 2025’s Dogg g y Day Out. Photo / Supplied

Honey, left, is the adventurous mischief-maker while Winston, right, is very laid-back, nothing phases him. Photo / Guy Rencher

Merle Cave

What’s possible when you have pa

It might have been more than 12 months ago – but Katikati A&P Show Committee has been recognised for delivering a 100th show that brought people, town and country together

At the 2026 Western Bay Community Awards, on March 20, the 100th Katikati A&P Show won the Community Event Award. The award recognised a community-led event that not only excelled in its planning and delivery but also made a positive impact on the community by creating memorable experiences and strengthening communal ties. “Celebrating its 100th year, the Katikati A&P Show brought together more than 4000 people to honour the region’s rural heritage with competitions, displays, and family entertainment,” said the award citation.

“Entirely run by volunteers, the event showcased everything from equestrian and home industries to vintage vehicles and children’s activities. It’s centenary display created a special ‘time warp ’ experience, celebrating traditions from 1912 to today The show strengthened community pride, supported local groups, and highlighted the importance of rural culture in Katikati.”

Proud

“We’re just blown away, ” said Katikati A&P Show Committee secretary Sheryl Smith. Committee chair Louellen Davies said the win was “just fabulous!”

“You know you work hard and it’s just rewarding putting on the A&P show for the community – you don’t do it for any accolades,” Smith said “But we are just so proud of winning this award for our 100th show”

Smith said she was surprised by the win due to their committee being up against very high class events around the district.

“It was lovely for little old Katikati to win the award against tough competition.”

Katikati A&P Show Committee is made up of roughly 12 volunteer members who organise the annual show On the day their work is brought to life by more than 20 volunteers helpers, who set up the Uretara Domain, man the gates and help with vehicle parking and other logistics.

The 100th show attracted more than 4000 people, and 70-plus trade stalls.

However many would not realise that the committee worked behind the scenes for most of the year to put together the annual show. “We’ve already started organising next year ’ s show,” said Smith.

The show committee also had to regularly apply for grants and fundraise to finance the show

Appeal to youngsters

The committee paid for a range of entertainment and activities to appeal youngsters each year because they wanted families to come along and enjoy it, Smith said It also offered children aged under-14 free entry to the

Say no to Noogoora bur!

This fast growing, toxic weed is one of the world’s worst agricultural pest plants. It’s poisonous to stock, outcompetes crops, reduces yields, releases chemicals that stop other plants growing, and can carry harmful fungal diseases. It’s bad news for our farms, our economy, and your bottom-line

Whether you’re a contractor, grower, or landowner, here are some top tips to stop Noogoora bur in its tracks:

• Know how to identify it. Look for spiky hooked burs and large, grapelike leaves

• Follow the ‘clean on, clean off’ rule. Clean machinery, vehicles, tools, and gear before entering and exiting a property

• Check your gear thoroughly. Even tiny soil clumps can contain seeds Inspect harvesters, trailers, diggers, quad bikes, boots and clothing

Clean machines stop pest plants spreading! It’s harvest season and machinery is moving Do your bit to prevent weeds and seeds hitching a ride

ati ati & Show Committee members awn

Mellow, Sally Goodyear, Maree Clothier, , Leonie Alder, Sheryl Smith and Phil Christopherson with the Community Event Award trophy Photo / Studio Muse - Shal Addis Photographer

Katikati A&P Show Committee members Christine Wallis, Sheryl Smith, Kimi Johnson, Louellen Davies and Kathryn Johns advertising the 100th show back in December 2024. Photo / Merle Cave

passion, generosity and commitment

show annually, to make it an accessible and affordable family event for all in the community “We want families to come along and enjoy it,” Smith told Katikati News ahead of February’s 101st show “We want the show to keep making a positive impact on the community by creating memorable experiences and strengthening communal ties ” Smith believed the shows were growing and were offering a larger and better quality range of quality stalls and attractions as the years went on.

“And a lot of the improvements are thanks to the volunteers behind the scenes. ”

Another winner from the Katikati News

area was Live Well Waihī Beach and Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services, which together won the Best Collaboration Award

A NZ first

The Best Collaboration Award recognised community organisations and/or individuals who’d joined forces to achieve a common goal, creating a positive change or trying a new initiative The award also celebrated the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change and creating lasting impact

“Live Well Waihī Beach and Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services were working side by side to make Waihī Beach the most accessible beach in Aotearoa,”

said the award citation

Dignity, independence, safety

After successfully fundraising for beach mats and wheelchairs, they are now creating a fully accessible changing room with specialist equipment – a first for any New Zealand beach within 50 metres of the shoreline

True accessibility

“Their partnership improves dignity, independence, and safety for people with mobility challenges while supporting lifeguards in their essential work. This community driven project is reshaping what true accessibility can look like ”

Live Well Waihī Beach community

coordinator Cindy Clare said the award was a testament to her organisation’s commitment to creating an inclusive community –“ one where everyone can participate and enjoy our beautiful outdoors”.

“It means that people who use wheelchairs or have mobility challenges can now enjoy a full beach experience with independence and dignity,” Clare said.

Waihī Beach resident Dave MacCalman said from the outset, the people involved in this project truly understood the brief

Collective effort

“It came to life through a collective effort – with people from a wide range of expertise working together to make sure the space was both functional and achievable within budget From the

lifeguard club management to our local physio with disability experience, to the tradies who generously donated their services – this is a powerful example of community-led development driven by a shared vision ”

Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services board chair Donna Pfefferle said being recognised by the Western Bay Community Awards reinforced the possibility of what can be achieved when groups came together to build community resilience

“The accessible change room project is improving access and inclusion for beachgoers, but at the same time, the newly developed space alongside the club’s first aid room also provides a stronger set-up for surf lifeguards managing major first aid incidents and more complex situations ”

Care deeply

TECT Chair Mark Arundel said the awards celebrated people who quietly and consistently stepped up for their communities

“These awards are about people who care deeply about their community and take action to make things better,” Arundel said.

“The 2026 winners show what’s possible when passion, generosity and commitment come together Their impact reaches far beyond their own organisations and into the lives of countless people across the Western Bay”

A full list of award winners is at: www tect.org.nz/community-awards-2026

Craig g McQuoid, Cindy y Clare, Kelvin Blackwell, Donna Pffefferle, Pipppa Coombes, Ross Goudie, Doug Longdill, Ryan Tesselaar and Jake McDell from Live Well Waihī Beach and Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services at the awards night Photo / Studio Muse - Shal Addis Photographer

A wanted Waihi man was spotted by Police on Katikati’s Main Rd on the night of March 18.

A lengthy foot chase ensued for about an hour, covering about 5km of ground including along the Haiku trail before the wanted person was picked up by a vehicle allowing him to make his escape Inquiries are being made to locate him

Please remember – if you see something, say something!

from machinery on SH2 at Minden.

March 17: A flat-pack shed still in its box was stolen from a Beach Rd property in Katikati.

Theft

A petrol drive-off from a Whakamārama address was reported

Arrests and Apprehensions

March 14: A 43-year-old Te Aroha woman was arrested for damaging a house in Katikati.

Sergeant

Look out for your neighbours – and if you don’t lock it, you could lose it. Call 111 if an incident is happening now –or call 105 after the event.

Burglaries

Katikati policereport

March 14-16: Diesel from fuel tanks and drums of oil was stolen from a commercial property on State Highway 2 at Katikati.

March 16: Fuel was reported stolen

March 14: A 39-year-old Waihi man was charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and possession of methamphetamine after being found in a van stolen from Minden.

A 40-year-old Waihi man, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine and cannabis and possession of utensils for using drugs.

March 17: A 47-year-old Ōmokoroa

man was arrested and charged with breaching a protection order

March 18: A 29-year-old Katikati woman was stopped while driving a vehicle on State Highway 2 in Katikati and charged with driving whilst disqualified. The vehicle was impounded

Twopeople chargedthismonthafterdeathofKatikatiboy in 2025

Two people appeared in court this month charged in relation to the death of a Katikati boy attacked by dogs last year The man and woman appeared together in the Tauranga District Court on March 17 before deputy registrar Dianna Skudder

They did not enter pleas to the charge of owning a dog that caused death to a person

They were granted interim name suppression and released on bail with instructions to reappear in court on April 9

About a dozen members of the public who appeared to be supporting the pair also attended the proceeding Timothy Tu’uaki Rolleston-Bryan, 4, also known as Timoti, died on March 28, 2025, after being injured at a property in Katikati

Lengthy foot chase in Katikati of wanted man KATIKATI

March 19: A 48-year-old man of no fixed abode was arrested at a Te Puna address and charged with receiving a stolen Toyota vehicle, converting a Ford motor vehicle and possessing class B and C drugs. He was also breaching previous bail conditions.

Three dogs were later seized and euthanised by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council Police announced they had charged a 35-year-old woman on March 9 She was originally set to appear in New Plymouth, but the appearance was moved to Tauranga

10.15am - Noon Caitriona Fallon 12 30pm-2 15pm Jeff Barker Trio Cherry Court 10am-11.45am Iara Band 12 15pm-2pm Iara Band Western Bay Museum 9 45am-11 30am La Tina Trio Noon-1.45pm Ceviche Jam

Steve Hindmarsh

Drop-insessions on council’skeybudget decisions

Should Western Bay of Plenty

District Council put an extra $5.8 million towards its local roads, including roadside mowing and road maintenance?

Should people in the district pay more for the water they use?

Western Bay of Plenty residents in Katikati and Ōmokoroa-Kaimai have the chance to attend drop-in sessions in their areas to give their feedback on the Draft Annual Plan 2026/2027, which was approved by councillors last week.

Katikati’s Drop-In Session is on this Sunday, March 29, from 9am-11am at the Katikati Farmers Market Ōmokoroa-Kaimai’s Drop-In Session is Tuesday, April 7, from 6pm-8pm at Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s office at Barkes Corner

Drop-in sessions woulld be helld across the district, where people can kōrero (talk) with councillors, community board members, and sta , said the council

Drop-in sessions would be held at Maketū and Te Puke on March 28 and Waihī Beach held a session on March 21.

Rates increase of 8.13%

According to the council, its Draft Annual Plan 2026/2027 included a total rates increase of 8.13% for existing ratepayers “This was lower than the 8.64% total rates increase planned for 2026/2027 in the Long Term Plan 20242034,” the council said in a statement.

“Much of the proposed increase is made up of $5.8million of additional funding required for our roads,” the council said.

“The actual rates impact per household will vary depending on property type, value, location and the services received.”

Western Bay Mayor James Denyer said the proposed budget reflected a year where council has had to make careful decisions in a challenging economic environment.

“Households are under pressure, councils are being asked to do more with less, and expectations on service delivery

remain high. “This budget is about doing the basics well - keeping essential services running safely and reliably – while being upfront about the trade-offs involved.”

The Annual Plan sets out the work the council was proposing for the coming financial year, how it would be funded, and how costs would be shared across the district

Key choices

The proposed budget included several key choices the council was seeking community feedback on, including: Roads: Whether the council should invest an extra $5.8 million to deliver essential roading services including roadside mowing and vegetation control Water: Whether water charges should move further toward a user-pays approach, with a 15% increase per cubic metre of water used, from $1.75 to $2.01. Or increase fixed charges by about $70 per connection annually

Community boards: How community boards should be funded in a way that is fair and reflects updated boundaries across the district

Local road projects: Whether the council should make a reduction this year on some more discretionary local road projects and make use of unspent reserves that already exist

Waihī Beach: Whether to install a fluoride-free public water tap at the Waihī Beach Water Treatment Plant to provide choice for residents and visitors.

Rates: If the proposed approach is reasonable and what the community may want to see us prioritise or where to look

for additional savings “These are real decisions that will shape the year ahead,” Denyer said

“We know any rates increase is difficult, but holding rates too low can create bigger problems later by delaying essential maintenance and pushing costs onto future ratepayers

“This is about finding a careful and responsible balance, and that’s why we want people to look at what’s proposed and tell us what matters most to them.”

Fees and charges

Alongside the Draft Annual Plan, feedback is also open on the council’s Draft Fees and Charges and Financial Contributions for 2026/2027, and a review of the Policy for Setting Land Rentals for Club Buildings on Council Land

For more information visit: https:// yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/annualplan-2026-27

Give feedback

Community feedback is open until 5pm, April 20.

To give feedback online, visit: https:// yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/annualplan-2026-27

Written feedback forms are available at all WBOP Council Library and Service Centres, or feedback can be emailed to: yourplace@westernbay.govt.nz

People can choose to speak to their feedback at a council hearing on April 23 – to do so, email: yourplace@westernbay govt.nz by April 20 to secure a timeslot.

OnFriday24thAprilintheKatikati News,wewillbepublishinga specialremembrancecolumninour FamilyNoticessection,tohonour& rememberourlovedones.

Foronly$45youwillreceiveyour ownpersonalremembrancenotice. Othersizesavailableonrequest.

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