Issuu

11 September 2026, Issue 1327

Festival returns! Chilean dancer Andrea Campos, pictured, and many fellow musicians and performers will give Bay of Plenty people the opportunity to travel through Latin America for a day this month. She will perform at Tauranga’s second annual Latin American Spring Festival on

September 19 at Memorial Park and the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre. The full-day festival, from 11am-11.30pm, will offer visitors the chance to experience the colours, rhythms, flavours and traditions of Latin America via live music, dance performances, authentic cuisine, cultural

displays and family-friendly entertainment. “Latin America is made up of 20 wonderfully diverse countries, each with its own traditions, music, dance, food and identity. The festival brings together communities, artists and visitors to celebrate diversity, connection and the arrival of

spring,” festival spokeswoman Yasna Concha said. The festival will offer cultural shows, a food market, children’s entertainment and an evening celebration for adults with live entertainment, a DJ and licensed bar. Find out more on page 8. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

405 Cameron Rd, Private Bag 12002, Tauranga Mail Centre, Tauranga 3143. Phone 07 578 0030 www.theweekendsun.co.nz ads@thesun.co.nz newsroom@thesun.co.nz

The Weekend Sun is published every Friday and distributed throughout the Western Bay of Plenty from Waihi Beach, through Katikati, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke and available to collect at many stand locations throughout the area. For a full list of stand locations see https://theweekendsun.co.nz/stand-locations.html The Weekend Sun is part of NZME - New Zealand Media & Entertainment. We keep Kiwis in the know. Locally produced at 405 Cameron Rd, Tauranga

Editor: Merle Cave Editorial: Letitia Atkinson, Rosalie Liddle Crawford, Hunter Wells, Ayla Yeoman. Publications Manager: Kathy Sellars. Advertising: Cade Hughes, Jo Delicata, Sharon Eyres, Ben Simpson. Design Studio: Kym Johnson, Caitlin Burns.

From Arbuckle to Adonis I’m living in fear of sarcopenia. Sounds like a Sicilian Mafioso hitman. Scarface Sarcopenia: “You dirty rat, you killed my bruddda!” kind of guy. It’s worse than that.

Sarcopenia is an age-related condition, the gradual and progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and function. A general shift in body shape. That’s a nice clinical take on it. Some might call it

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festoons of flab, loose and saggy skin. And unless I confront my “shifting body shape”, do some resistance training, I will not be seen on Mount Main Beach this summer. As a youngster, I was always a bit sniffy about older blokes shoehorning big bellies and other assorted saggy and dangly bits into board shorts, baring it on the beach and ignoring the stares and cruel comments from fat shamers, the sarcopenia shamers. Like, “Who ate all the pies?”, “If there’s a famine, he will have caused it” and “more dangly bits than a Christmas tree”. How hurtful.

That brat El Niño

It was the first of the new month, September 1. “Rabbits!” More significantly, the first day of spring. The calendar tells us winter is done. But unfortunately a few daffs and jonquils do not a spring make. New Zealand’s spring is notoriously volatile – and already that precocious brat El Niño – Spanish for little boy – is playing up. We’re in for hotter, drier, windier and stormier. Lovely. A weather salad. Who gave an extreme, chaotic, disruptive climate pattern a cute boy’s name? El Niño. Why not Vlad, Darth, Olaf or Cruella? A mean, nasty, disruptive name would be more appropriate. Anyhow, every year, at this exact same time, spring time, I smugly resolve to get into shape, some sort of shape, for summer. I have four months. And I will need every one of them because there is work to be done. Like five excess winter kilograms. Maybe 15. Lots of weight, not so much commitment. It’s easy to resolve, hard to follow through. For example. I’m sitting in a Chapel St cafe for a lazy weekend breakfast. That’s how we build big bellies, fuller figures. We treat ourselves. It’s all about what we shove into our gobs.

Granola or burger?

I’m sitting gazing over Waikareao Estuary – “sparkling waters of the new day” – and she’s shimmering and sparkling exactly according to legend. I love her moods – yesterday dark and brooding, today just gorgeous. And because of my new season resolve, I’m thinking of ordering the homemade

granola with seasonal fruits, yoghurt and milk of choice. Holier than thou. And I might have the prune juice instead of my usual 600 calories of Frappuccino. What discipline. Then a young athlete runs into my gaze from left of frame. A long, fluid, effortless, rhythmical stride. Almost in slow motion. It’s not running but gliding, floating. It’s something to behold. If Pele thought soccer was “beautiful”, it’s not a patch on the purity of this true runner’s stride. The runner inspired me. Yep, this is going to be my summer, my time in the sun, my time on the beach. Dust off the road shoes, renew the gym subscription. Then as the runner shimmies out of shot, yes, I order. “Hold the granola waiter. I might have the double-stacked beef burger please. Does that come with fried eggs? Side of fries too? And a mocha please.” Mocha with the 500 calories from the sugar, the fat from the syrup and whole milk, and the whipped cream. So, all told, my new season health resolve lasted through about two and a half minutes of reverie before my stomach took control again. Hamburger for breakfast? Forget it’s only 9.30am. Let’s call it lunch.

Best ever

My new friend “AI Overview” tells me what I want to hear. Anything that validates must be okay. It says it’s

completely okay to have a hamburger for breakfast – the idea some foods don’t belong at breakfast is “a habit and not a rule”. A 100% beef patty gives a blast of protein that’s better than sugary cereals or a Danish. I feel validated. And full. Why do I sense the nutritionists will want to batter me like a piece of hoki at the local chippy? Which reminds me of the best breakfast. Our business house league cricket team used to “chou ”chow down” every Saturday morning before the game at a greasy spoon on the Auckland waterfront. Pan-fried flounder, fries and fried eggs, one New Zealand Herald cannibalised for six readers, and a few ill-informed arguments over coffee. Bliss.

‘Zap!’

If I do embrace svelte rather than slob this summer, there’s another procedure I should seriously consider. An acquaintance said he was having a chest wax because he understood a deforested chest could be a lifesaver. If he had a heart attack on the beach, those operating the defibrillator don’t need to be ploughing through undergrowth as impenetrable as the darkest depths of the Amazon. They need a nice, denuded spot on the chest for the electrodes to work effectively. Perhaps I will start my regime on October 1. Perhaps.

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 11 September 2026

Art gallery draws big numbers since revamp Toi Tauranga Art Gallery has recorded a surge of visitors after its almost $10 million redevelopment and years of construction disruption.

Gallery leaders believe this trend will increase when the first new building in the $306.3m Te Manawataki o Te Papa civic precinct project opens in the CBD. The new library and community hub is set to open next month, followed by the museum and civic whare in 2028, according to Tauranga City Council. The gallery on Willow St closed in November 2023 for a $9.65m redevelopment that included reorientating the main entrance to face Masonic Park, and adding a cafe. It operated from a pop-up venue on Devonport Rd before reopening its revamped space in November. The project also included seismic strengthening, redeveloping the interior to upgrade gallery spaces, moving the education area and expanding the gift shop. Outgoing gallery director Sonya Korohina said the gallery, cafe and retail store recorded just over 98,100 visits between its reopening and the end of the financial year in June. That included about 64,500 through the cafe entrance to the building, and 33,600 through the gallery entrance. Korohina said the counts were for the whole building, not art gallery visitors alone. This is compared with about 20,700 visits while the gallery was operating from the pop-up site in the 2023/2024 year. The last full year in the gallery’s

Indigenous-focused programmes led to strong Māori engagement in the opening season. “It was really important for us that, for mana whenua and tangata whenua, it’s their place too.” Tauranga City Council provided 70% of the gallery’s operating funding in the past financial fi i l year, oor $1.43m. Other key funderss included the Western Bay of Plen nty District Council (about $47,700); grrants, entry fees and donations ($25 55,000); sponsors ($114,000). The reetail store sales and cafe lease collected d income of about $112,000. The city council also funded 54.7% of the $9.65m red development cost while 45.3%, or $ $4.37m, came from the Taurangaa Art Gallery Trust, community grants and foundattion contributions. In the gallery’s annual reporrt, chairwoman Roseemary Protheroe desscribed the reopening as “extraordinary”. She said the gallery p produced a significant ssurplus but said it was largely because of one-off favourable entries linked to financing the redevelopment project. She said normal Outgoing Toi Tauranga Art Gallery operations director Sonya Korohina. recorded a small Photo / Brydie Thompson deficit because of reopening costs.

original site, 2021/2022, attracted about 27,800 visits. Korohina said 18 to 30-year-olds had been the gallery’s largest visitor demographic during summer, despite traditionally being one of its harder audiences to attract. She said the increase refl eflected d more people l reeturning to and working w in the city c centre. Korohina saaid visitor numbers n often depended d on o the programmes p being b shown.

The gallery reported more than 12% growth in revenue from retail, cafe lease income, admission fees, sponsorships and patrons, and retail gross profit exceeded targets by 67%. Māori artist publications and design products were among the strongest sellers. The gallery is planning a major programme of exhibitions and events for its 20th anniversary next year, including revisiting one of its earliest exhibitions and celebrating Tauranga’s artistic history. The gallery delivered 20 exhibitions featuring 45 artists and displayed 500 children’s portraits during the reopening programme. Korohina said it was already benefiting from the wider Te Manawataki o Te Papa development and expected the benefits to grow when the library and museum were fully operating. She said these would create further opportunities for school visits and educational programmes. A report showed 1955 school students participated in education programmes and 185 children attended holiday programmes. Korohina will leave the gallery at the end of next month after nine-and-ahalf years on and off in various roles, including as a director since 2023. Ayla Yeoman

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

A place for or big ideas to take shape With Tauranga’s new He Puna Manawa Library and Community Hub at Te Manawataki o Te Papa set to open on October 16, The Weekend Sun is going behind the scenes of the facility. Across four weeks, journalist Rosalie Liddle Crawford will take a closer look at the people, places and stories behind this exciting new community space, and explore what the new library and hub on Willow St will offer the people of Tauranga City. This first instalment of the four-part series introduces the new Creation Station to the community.

equipment. e A grant from Pub Charity C Limited of about $40,000 had h helped fund key technology, in ncluding the laser cutter, vinyl printer/cutter, p r, 3D scanner scanner, three

Innovation Specialists Ella Keogh and Andrew Parker with creations made on a 3D printer at the Creation Station in Tauranga’s new library which is set to open on October 16. Photos / Kelly O’Hara

Tauranga’s new Creation Station is inviting the community to turn imagination into something tangible - from 3D-printed characters and personalised mugs to laser-cut creations and wearable designs. The hands-on technology space in He Puna Manawa Library and Community Hub at Te Manawataki o Te Papa is set to open on October 16, alongside the new library and community facilities. And while the room is packed with impressive equipment, Tauranga City Council innovation specialist Ella Keogh said the most important thing people will bring into the Creation Station is their imagination. “It’s really going to be a room for fun, discovery and just being creative and using your imagination,” she said. The Creation Station has three 3D printers, a laser cutter and engraver, a vinyl printer/cutter, 3D scanner, sublimation printing equipment, a vacuum former and a range of sewing

3D 3 printers and vacuum v former.

Possibilities P

The equipment would open up a wide range of possibilities, Keogh said. The sublimation equipment can transfer designs onto drink bottles, puzzles, mugs and more, while the vinyl printer/cutter produces stickers, wall decals and other designs. The 3D printers turns digital models into physical objects. Then there is The vacuum former heats where plastic sheets are heated and pressed and presses them over an object, sucking out the air with the air sucked

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out to create a mould, which could be used for anything from a simple shape to a chocolate mould or model race car. Six PCs will also be available, loaded with free software for designing projects. “You can use your imagination and design what you want to make, whether that’s for a 3D printer or sticker,” Keogh said. For innovation specialist Andrew Parker, the technology is only part of the attraction.

Natural extension

He sees the Creation Station as a natural extension of what libraries have always offered - opportunities for knowledge, learning and exploration. “When people come into the Creation Station, they will be expanding their boundaries,” Parker said. “A lot of people don’t know that they can do something unless they’re shown they can do it.” Parker and Keogh will run programmes

The Weekend Sun

Innovation Specialist Andrew Parker with the Thunder Laser machine which can cut, engrave, or mark a vast range of materials based on designs sent from a computer.

and workshops to help people build confidence and skills. Some sessions will require bookings, and certain equipment will require an induction, while other activities will allow people to come in, use a computer and start designing. “We are here to help increase people’s capability,” Parker said. Keogh said the Creation Station could also be a starting point for people who have an idea but don’t know where to begin. Someone wanting to create characters for a stop-motion film, for example, could design and 3D-print them at the Creation Station before taking them elsewhere to make their film. When ideas eventually outgrow the equipment or expertise available in the library, the team would help point people

Friday 11 September 2026

towards other creative facilities and organisations around Tauranga. “We’re kind of like that starting point,” Keogh said.

Sewing

The Creation Station is intended for a wide range of ages and interests, with opportunities for people to work individually, in groups and through organised programmes. The sewing facilities included a sewing machine, coverstitch machine and overlocker. People can bring their own suitable materials, with some basic thread also available. Materials used for projects will incur a charge, while equipment use will have its own pricing arrangements. The Creation Station is not intended

Innovation specialists Ella Keogh and Andrew Parker in the new Creation Station at Tauranga’s new library, which is set to open on October 16.

to be a commercial production facility, Keogh said. People might make one or two personalised items but will not be able to use the library’s equipment to produce products for a business beyond a prototype. “This is more about people learning and doing it yourself,” Parker said. “We’re a space of learning.” The idea is new territory for Tauranga City Libraries.

October 16

Team leader of programmes Anna Hodson said the former library had a learning centre where people could learn to use computers, which expanded into simple robotics and coding. But having a dedicated space filled with creative technologies is new.

Tip of the iceberg?

“It’s been really exciting to see this idea come together as it has been consistently asked for in community feedback about the new library. “For us, it’s a natural evolution of the analogue creative sessions that have been in our libraries as part of our public programmes,” Hodson said. For Keogh, one of the most exciting possibilities is seeing people who might never have considered themselves “creative” discovering what they can do. “Some people don’t really know what they can do,” she said. The new Creation Station will open as part of He Puna Manawa Library and Community Hub at Te Manawataki o Te Papa on October 16.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

Giving back at K Valley planting day For Tauranga 23-yearold Taylor Verhoeven, volunteering at this year’s K Valley planting day is a chance to give back to the community tyy that has given her so much.

Verhoeven, who works for Zespri, became involved after completing the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) course this year. The seven-day leadership experience, which included seminars, team challenges and an outdoor experience, was sponsored by Rotary Club of Tauranga Te Papa. “I was super keen to get involved with really any projects they had on the go, or anything I could give my time to, as a way of saying thank you,” Verhoeven

said. After returning from RYLA, she gave a presentation to Tauranga Rotary about her experience and spoke with Tauranga Rotary Centennial Trust chairman Lyall Holmes, who told her about the Kōpūrererua Valley planting project. She was immediately interested.

Forever

“I just think it’s such a great project. There’s something really rewarding about getting involved in the land and putting

your time into something that’s going to be there forever,” Verhoeven said. “You know that what you’re doing now is going to have an impact for years to come, and I think that’s pretty special.” Verhoeven grew up in Tauranga and attended Aquinas College before completing a Bachelor of Business at the University of Waikato. She returned to Tauranga after university. “I love the beach, the community is always super inviting,” she said. “I’ve lived in Auckland and in Australia in my younger years, but in comparison this place always feels like home, and the people here are a huge part of it as well.” Volunteering is not new to Verhoeven. Two years ago, she volunteered at the Zespri AIMS Games, helping in the company’s tent by cutting up fruit. That experience eventually led to employment with Zespri, where she has worked for two years. She recently moved into a new role supporting growers with the paperwork required for them to pick and harvest their fruit. For Verhoeven, community involvement is something she hopes to continue alongside her working life. “I’ve done a lot of volunteer work through sports, other bits and pieces, so any sort of community work I love doing,” she said.

September 20

The K Valley planting day will be held on Sunday, September 20, with volunteers meeting at the Marshall Ave entrance from 9.30am for a 10am start.

There will be 5000 native seedlings to plant, with holes pre-dug by Tauranga City Council. Holmes expects the planting to be completed by noon, followed by a sausage sizzle. “It’s a great way to have your family involved in the future of Tauranga,” he said. Participants are asked to bring gloves, a spade, hat, boots and water. This year also sees the formation of a Friends of K Valley Care Group, with details about how people can get involved to be outlined at the planting day.

Get involved!

For Verhoeven, the message to locals is simple: take the opportunity to get involved. “Tauranga’s got so many beautiful places and so many opportunities to give back,” she said. “I’d just encourage people to get involved. K Valley is such a great example of what can happen when a community invests time into a place. What you do today might seem small, but you’re contributing to something that will be here and enjoyed by people for generations.” K Valley Planting Day: Sunday, September 20. Meet from 9.30am for a 10am start at the Marshall Ave entrance, Greerton. Planting runs until noon, followed by a sausage sizzle. Bring gloves, a spade, hat, boots and water. To register, go to the Humanitix website. Rosalie Liddle Crawford

We’ll put the kettle on!

Bupa Open Day

Saturday 12 September 10am – 2pm Discover Bupa retirement village living at our Open Day this Saturday. We’re opening our doors at selected villages, so come on over, enjoy a cuppa and a bite to eat, chat to our friendly team and see if Bupa is right for you. Or book a personal visit if one on one is more your cup of tea.

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 11 September 2026

Explore climate action on an e-bike Young people can explore the Bay’s coastal environment by e-bike as part of this year’s Climate Action Festival.

The Coastal Ecology E-Ride on September 19 will take those aged 18 to 35 from Pāpāmoa to Kaituna Spit, with local experts stopping along the way to talk about the dunes, wetlands, estuaries and residential areas they pass through. The three-hour ride will explore the ecology of each environment and why protecting biodiversity matters in the face of climate change. Climate Action Festival project co-ordinator Hannah Cousar said the event was one she particularly wanted to include this year. “This year we’ve got such a diverse line-up of events,” she said. “I really wanted to focus on having at least one event that was targeting a younger audience.” The ride was organised by Envirohub Bay of Plenty and Space for Nature, with support from Electrify NZ. E-bikes will be provided and snacks supplied along the way. Cycling experience is required, although the trail is not difficult. The ride costs $35 and places are limited.

Wider theme

For Cousar, the e-ride reflects a wider theme she wanted to bring to the festival – getting people outside and experiencing the environment they are learning about. “We talk so much about the environment, and the great things that

we are doing with it, and how to be a little bit more sustainable,” she said. “But I really wanted to actually bring that outdoors this festival, to appreciate what we’ve got around us.” The Climate Action Festival from September 14-20 is a weeklong celebration of climate action, highlighting positive work already happening in the community while providing opportunities to learn, connect and get involved. In its fourth year, the festival will feature events organised by Envirohub Bay of Plenty, partner organisations and community groups.

The week

The week begins September 14 with a free lunchtime talk, Making the Switch: Solar, EVs & Home Electrification, at Basestation in Durham St. A speaker from Rewiring Aotearoa will share practical experiences of solar, home electrification and electric vehicle use. On September 15, River Lessons from Europe will explore what Aotearoa can learn from European river restoration. Anna Wentsch and Callum Armstrong will share stories from their 2850km cycling journey along the Danube River, including visits to conservation and restoration projects. A free environmental panel will be held at The Cargo Shed on September 17, bringing representatives from six political parties together ahead of this year’s General Election. The panel will focus on environmental policy, long-term funding and how

parties can work together beyond election cycles. On September 19, The Cargo Shed will host a $1 clothing sale promoting sustainable textiles, with proceeds going to Turning Point Trust. The Cargo Shed will also host The Climate Canvas Art Exhibition from September 17-20 with an awards ceremony on September 20. Other activities include a hands-on seed-growing workshop, a community planting session in Katikati, a walk exploring wading birds and coastal habitats at Cooney Reserve in

Ōmokoroa, and a composting session in Te Puke. Cousar said the festival was ultimately about celebrating the positive action already happening locally. “All the positive stuff that is happening in our community, as opposed to focusing on more of the doom and gloom of some of the crazy stuff that goes on in our world.” Coastal Ecology E-Ride: Saturday, September 19, 10am-2pm, Pāpāmoa to Kaituna Spit. For ages 18-35. Cycling experience required. Cost $35. Places are limited. See: www.envirohub.org.nz Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

Latin Am merican festival returns! Tauranga’s second Latin American Spring Festival is on September 19, with people of all ages invited to celebrate the region’s countries and their rich and diverse cultures.

The full-day festival from 11am-11.30pm will take place in Memorial Park and the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre (QEYC). It will offer cultural shows, a food market, children’s entertainment and an evening celebration for adults with live entertainment, a DJ and licensed bar. “Our vision is to give people the opportunity to travel through Latin America for a day – without leaving Tauranga,” festival spokeswoman Yasna Concha said. People will experience the colours, rhythms, flavours and traditions of Latin America via live music, dance performances, authentic cuisine, cultural displays and family-friendly entertainment. “Latin America is made up of 20 wonderfully diverse countries, each with its own traditions, music, dance, food and identity. The festival brings together communities, artists and visitors to celebrate diversity, connection and the arrival of spring.” Concha said several countries celebrate their independence this month – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua on September 15, Mexico on September 16, and Chile on September 18. “This makes the start of spring, a meaningful time to celebrate and share our culture” Concha said. “For 2026, we’re continuing to grow our festival by welcoming new artists and musical collaborations alongside returning performers. More than 20 artists will showcase music and dance from across Latin

At back from left, Chileans Shirley Beltran, Franco Bustillos, Nicole Huala, Claudio Riquelme, Andrea Campos, Agustín Beltrán and Gabriela González in front, representing Tauranga’s Kunza dance group, who will perform at the Latin American Spring Festival on September 19. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

America. This year’s festival will also welcome Alo Aotearoa Radio, a new collaboration to help connect the celebration with an even wider audience, Concha said. “Most of the festival takes place indoors, allowing visitors to enjoy the event regardless of weather conditions.” An outdoor stage will have performances from 12pm-4.45pm. Also outdoors will be a market of Latin American food to purchase and a kids’ zone. Indoors, stallholders will offer arts, crafts, treasures, trinkets, jewellery, face painting alongside live music.

Concha said the festival is family-friendly during the day, with games and activities. “Kids are welcome to celebrate with us until 8pm.” Concha said last year’s event attracted 2000 people, including children. “Everyone was so happy, the whole day had an incredible vibe. This year, organisers hope to welcome an even wider audience, with visitors and performers coming from Tauranga, the wider Bay of Plenty and other parts of New Zealand. “We invite everyone to come and experience a little piece of Latin American life for one day.”

Told to slow down at 82

Ken just turned 82, and his daughters keep telling him to slow down. He, however, has no intention of doing so. There is wood to bring in from the woodshed, leaves to rake, a big garden to keep on top of, and a house to run. “There’s always something to do,” he says. Ken is a true Highlander, born in Scotland and schooled in Edinburgh. After over 50 years of marriage, Ken has now found himself running the house on his own. Chief cook and bottle washer, he calls it, and none of it does itself. With one daughter in Auckland and one in the deep south, keeping up with family means covering the length of the country. Travel has always been his thing, but his right knee had other ideas. His walking was not what it was, the knee would make itself known, ladders were off the menu, and the man who never sat still was starting to feel his limits. His daughters noticed before he said anything. That is usually how it goes. It was his Auckland daughter who came across Koru Nutrition first, through its natural joint cream, Koru FX. Then Ken spotted the capsules. He was not expecting a great deal. He had worked his way through glucosamine and chondroitin over the years without much to show for it. “I thought, oh, maybe they’ll be of some help.” Koru Joint is a 3-in-1 formula, made in Rangiora, and it goes about the job three ways at once. Curcumin and boswellia, both rich in antioxidants, soothe the

Concha thanked sponsors and local business collaborators, including AKO Immigration Services, Western Union and CS SIGNS. “We are very grateful for their support, and we hope more businesses will see the value of supporting and being part of future Latin American Spring Festival events.” Tickets to Tauranga’s Latin American Spring Festival can be purchased at: https://tinyurl. com/3dehuk6r Children aged under 16 gain free admission when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

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joint and support flexibility. Vitamin C and glucosamine nourish the cartilage. Chondroitin and hyaluronic acid support the synovial fluid that keeps a joint moving smoothly. Soothe, nourish, lubricate. Ken takes his capsules first thing every morning. “Since taking them, they’ve been very good.” The proof came in the shape of a road trip. Ken and his daughters drove the length of the country and caught the ferry across to Stewart Island, where he walked around Ulva Island, one of New Zealand’s great bird sanctuaries. “I couldn’t have done what I did, going down to the South Island and walking around the island, without it.” Would he have gone at all, otherwise? “Probably not.”

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

Tauranga designer returns to Tauranga designer Emma Highfield has achieved a rare record, with her latest wearable art creation selected as a finalist in the 2026 World of WearableArt (WOW) Awards.

It is the sixth time Highfield has entered the internationally renowned competition and the sixth time she has made the final selection. “I’m pretty excited and relieved,” she said. “I spent a long time making it, so to be able to see it get all the way through to being in the final show is incredible.” Highfield’s WOW journey began in

2007, when she was in her early 20s. She was a finalist for four consecutive years, from 2007 to 2010, before taking a 15-year break. She returned in 2025 and was again selected as a finalist. It followed Highfield’s decision when she turned 40 to make more time for creative endeavours. “Creative pursuits for me really got put on hold in my late 20s and my 30s,” she said. “I had babies, young kids and was working on my career, and I just didn’t really have the time to do creative things just for me.”

Tauranga designer and 2026 WOW finalist Emma Highfield at work on her designs. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Different creative outlet

Highfield studied fine arts at Elam, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and developed an interest in sculptural work while studying under New Zealand sculptor Michael Parekōwhai. She later entered Auckland’s Trash to Fashion competition before moving into fashion design. She previously owned a bespoke lingerie brand and has spent the past six years co-founding and working full time on women’s fashion brand Dear Dylan. WOW provides a different creative outlet, she said.

“Making a garment for WOW is very much just doing something creative just for me,” she said. Highfield said she does not feel pressure from being a finalist previously. “I think entering a competition like WOW with a deadline is really good for me because I have something to work towards.” Highfield’s 2025 WOW garment was inspired by her experience with endometriosis and undergoing a hysterectomy at 39. WOW rules mean Highfield cannot reveal details of this year’s garment, but

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Friday 11 September 2026

WOW stage for sixth time

she can say her garden was a major source of inspiration.

A reflection

A keen gardener, she previously ran a flower farm supplying specialty blooms to local event florists and still spends much of her spare time growing flowers. “My garment this year was very much a reflection of my time in the garden,” she said. Her creative process begins with a material rather than a finished design. “I just start making something and then it evolves,” she said. “I see what I can do with the materials and how they work, and then do lots of testing and lots of playing around.” The creation required a substantial investment of time. Highfield estimates one major part alone took more than 200 hours, with work beginning in September last year and continuing through evenings and weekends. Just before the submission deadline, her husband took their children away for four days, giving Highfield time to finish the piece. “You do need to have that luxury of time,” she said. “You need to be able to set that time aside to really focus and have fun creating.” That support is important because Highfield runs her fashion business full time while raising her two children, aged 8 and 12. Designing for WOW also gives her freedom that commercial fashion cannot.

“In my day-to-day design work for Dear Dylan, we’re making wearable clothing that is sellable – people want to wear it,” she said.

No limits

Emma Highfield’s entry ‘Tiers of Resolve’ on stage in the Avant Garde section of the 2025 World of Wearable Art Awards.

“With designing for WOW, it can be Photo / Andi Crown anything you want. There are no limits to the design.” While winning would be “incredible”, the real reward is seeing her creations brought to life on stage. “You can put all this time in and make this incredible creation, but the team at WOW and how they present that on stage, they bring these garments to life,” she said. “They are just so incredible at picking the right person to wear your garment. I think seeing it on the stage is where the magic truly happens.” Highfield encouraged other Bay of Plenty creatives considering entering WOW to take the plunge. “I definitely think people should enter,” she said. There is no entry fee, and designers submit photographs and video of their Something special work during the selection process. “The only thing is that these kids weren’t Highfield said creatives can use 18, so they couldn’t enter,” she said. “But I inexpensive or readily available really hope platforms like that encourage these materials and still produce something kids to keep going and enter once they’re old extraordinary. She saw that potential enough.” while judging the Tauranga leg For Highfield, being one of three Tauranga of Showquest’s Toi wearable art finalists is something special. competition, where some creations “I was born and raised here,” she said. by local schoolchildren impressed her The 2026 WOW Show: GLO! runs from enough to imagine them on a WOW September 17-October 4 at TSB Arena on stage.

Wellington’s Queens Wharf, featuring 108 wearable artworks brought to life by more than 60 models, dancers and circus artists. Highfield plans to attend and is looking forward to seeing her creation on stage. “If my garment has made it that far, then I’m happy,” she said. “I’m really excited to see whoever wears my garment and how they move on the stage and bring it to life there.” Rosalie Liddle Crawford

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Friday 11 September 2026

A new community heartbeat for Gate Pā This month, five Tauranga-Western Bay community centres are running an awareness and fundraising campaign to future-proof their existence. It is shining a light on centres at Merivale, Welcome Bay, Gate Pā, Katikati and Te Puke. This week Merle Cave finds out what the under-construction Gate Pā Community Centre will offer its suburb.

Katrina Taikato has December 15 marked on her calendar. “That’s the tentative date for the building’s completion,” the new Gate Pā Community Centre manager said. The 500m2 facility being built on Anzac Ave will provide an inclusive and flexible space for residents to meet community needs now, and into the future. More than just a building, the centre would serve as a hub where people can gather, feel safe, build friendships, and learn new skills, Taikato said. Gate Pā Community Centre Trust chair Doug Barnes said the Anzac Ave land was purchased from Accessible Properties (part of the IHC Group) by Tauranga City Council. Tauranga’s previous council managed by Commissioners also opted to fund the new build. In the job four weeks, Taikato is busy networking and collaborating with help, health, government and social agencies to stand up a range of services in the centre. Her annual operating budget is $177,000 but it’s a work in progress as more funding is sought and services decided on to meet community needs.

Kai

“Kai [food] support will be huge. I’m trying to source multiple avenues of support for kai,” Taikato said.

She’s planned for nurse consultations, immunisation clinics, Whanau Ora wraparound advocacy, Bay Financial Mentors drop-ins and Plunket sessions. “Our hope is our parents and babies come together not only to socialise but to have Well Child checks and immunisations done while they’re there. “I’m trying to plan how the centre gets utilised in that it’s convenient but also accessible to all, so when people come in to access one service other support services they might need are present too.”

Kaumatua to youth

Kaumatua and youth services would be focuses. “One thing highlighted in our feasibility study was isolation of our elderly. I hope to design programmes where our kaumatua [elders] and our rangatahi [youth] are working together,” Taikato said. “The goal is to have our rangatahi help our kaumatua, and have our kaumatua have that engagement.” Why is the centre needed? “The reality is, Gate Pā is one of our low socioeconomic communities – but it’s never had a community centre,” Taikato said. “There’s nothing located right where they need it. For some whanau, there’s a transport barrier. We’ve also got two schools here – Tauranga Primary and Tauranga Girls’ College – so having support services available to not just

Gate Pā Community Centre’s new manager Katrina Taikato. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

rangatahi but the families of students are needed. I’ve spoken with both schools.” As such, before and after-school and holiday programmes would be worked on, she said. Taikato also hoped to build kai gardens near the centre. “The community can run it – so you learn how to grow it, harvest it and then come inside and learn how to cook it.” She’d partnered with Good Neighbour, Baywide Community Law and ACC and Oranga Tamariki “for navigation for our whānau that may be in those spaces, have questions, need support”. Tertiary students would undertake social work and counselling practicum placements there.

Career pathway

Taikato hoped to fill centre positions

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with Ministry of Social Development jobseekers to provide a pathway for career growth. “My intention isn’t just to bring them off jobseekers and give them an employed role but to get them training and upskilling while at the centre so they can move on to better job opportunities.” She’s also recruiting volunteers to help run the centre. Offerings would evolve as the centre operated next year. Overall, Taikato hoped the new centre would offer Gate Pā people a place to come together and build each other up. “The idea of a community centre is to almost act as a heartbeat for the community it serves. We want it to be a second home for people.” To support the community centres’ campaign, visit www.BOPComCentres.nz

Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

Humility reflected by winners of Excellence Awards There were hugs, laughter and happy tears as Katikati and Waihī Beach’s communities came together at Fairview Golf & Country Club on September 3. Co-hosted by Katch Katikati and Waihī Beach Events and Promotions, and sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson and supported by Western Bay of Plenty District Council, the 2026 Katikati and Waihī Beach Excellence Awards night saw people put the day-to-day grind aside and celebrate those who make the region such a great place to live, work and do business. “Seeing the genuine pride and excitement in the room as our local businesses, organisations and community champions were recognised for their outstanding mahi [work] was memorable,” Katch Katikati event manager Kylie Watkins said. “It was particularly rewarding to see people from Katikati and Waihī Beach in unity while celebrating strength and diversity of our local community.”

121 nominations!

The night’s three local guest speakers – Project Parore’s Brodie Davis, Jason Topp from SMYD Accounting and Chris Simpson from Major Events Group – shared their extraordinary stories. Main guest speaker, former MasterChef New Zealand winner, qualified dietitian, author, and My Food Bag co-founder Nadia Lim did a Q&A. And with 121 nominations across 11 categories, Watkins said there was no shortage of deserving award contenders. “The most striking thing was the humility

of the people being celebrated. Time and again, nominees were quick to credit their teams, customers, families or wider community rather than themselves. That spirit was reflected by the winners too.”

The winners

Katikati Four Square won the Retail Excellence award for transforming its store into a thriving community hub, supporting schools and events, keeping prices low and actively listening to what locals want. Out of the Wild Petfood was second, recognised for growing from a Katikati store into a trusted New Zealand-owned brand. Beach Road Deli won Small Business Excellence and took second in Hospitality Excellence. In 18 months the business had grown into a destination, adding a food truck and bar, employing locals and supporting community events. Debrief Café claimed Hospitality Excellence for creating a welcoming, family and dog-friendly destination where customers are made to feel at home. The Katikati A&P Show took Event of the Year for continuing a proud tradition dating back to 1913. Its 101st show attracted more than 3000 people, bringing together farming, home industries, entertainment and community spirit. The Echo Walking Festival was second, for its 44 guided walks celebrating local history, nature, culture and wellbeing. Jan de Faye was named Employee of the Year following 18 years’ service to Katikati Community Centre. Michael Williams received the Sportsmanship Award for his on-water achievements and work encouraging

Nadia Lim does a Q&A with Brad Martin from Barfoot & Thompson Waihī Beach. Photo / Supplied

others into the sport. Andrew Cochrane was named Local Hero after more than three decades of service as a police officer and Waihī Beach lifeguard, including his commitment to search and rescue. Dez Procter of The Handyman Can took Tradesperson of the Year for his honest, reliable work and going the extra mile. Reon Tuanau was named Cultural Ambassador of the Year for sharing the cultural history of Bowentown and strengthening connections between Te Whānau a Tauwhao and the wider community. Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park claimed Tourism Provider of the Year,

while Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc was named Organisation of the Year after more than 90 years of keeping the coastline safe. Renaturing Katikati took second for the contribution of its volunteers to restoring native biodiversity. Watkins said feedback received included the night was “fantastic”, people “learned a lot from others” and many “wanted to be involved again”. “The awards delivered their share of excitement, but the real winner was the community. Because behind every business, organisation, event and achievement are people who care deeply about where they live.”

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

Tauranga to the world For Tauranga performer Fletcher Oxford, coming home to star as Fiyero in Wicked is more than another acting job.

It is a return to the community that helped launch his career after almost three years performing around the world. Oxford left New Zealand for China nearly three years ago, spending much of his time away working at Universal Studios Beijing. “One of my roles was dressing up in a gorilla suit and a prosthetic mask, singing, dancing and frolicking about as Johnny the Gorilla from the animated film Sing,” Oxford said. He also performed in the Frog Choir at the Harry Potter attraction and was part of Universal Pop, a pop singing and dancing troupe popular with visitors.

Pies, family, animals

Fletcher Oxford will be starring as Fiyero in Wicked at Baycourt from September 17 to October 3. Photo / Media Masters

“Being able to live and work overseas and doing what I love – performing - has been a highlight,” he said. “Singing, dancing and acting in all of these amazing new corners of the world that I might otherwise not have gone to.” In 2023, Oxford travelled to the Middle East with Shrek the Musical, performing in Saudi

Arabia, Kuwait and at Dubai Opera in the United Arab Emirates. He subsequently returned to New Zealand for productions including Kinky Boots and The Music Man with the Royal New Zealand Navy Band. But for all the places he has travelled, there are some things about New Zealand that are hard to replace. “Mince and cheese pies, maybe,” he laughs. “I’ve definitely missed the pies.” More importantly, he has missed his family and animals, including his cat and horse. “It’s nice to be back with the family for a bit and back with my animals,” he said. Oxford said a performing career was often a matter of taking things “contract by contract”. His first Beijing contract was for about 15 months, but he was offered another and chose to stay. Now he is back in Tauranga to take the lead role of Fiyero in Tauranga Musical Theatre’s production of Wicked, at Baycourt from September 17 to October 3. It is a role with particular significance for Oxford. When Tauranga Musical Theatre first staged Wicked in 2019, he understudied Fiyero. Seven years on, he is getting the chance to step into the role properly.

“I absolutely love Wicked. It’s such a brilliant show,” he said. “It’s so vibrant and beautiful, and the music is catchy and moving.”

More experience

Returning to the production allowed him to revisit the character with more experience, he said. “I’m enjoying the process of recreating that character, improving upon what we did last time – just finding new and different ways to do it. “I’ve had a lot of growth as just a human and a performer over those last seven years, so I can bring that extra seven years of experience to the role.” He is also enjoying being back among the local theatre community. “I have a lot to thank Tauranga Musical Theatre for.” Oxford’s connection with the performing arts can be traced back to when he attended Pyes Pā School, Tauranga Intermediate and Tauranga Boys’ College, becoming involved in music, drama, jazz and choral events. He remembers taking part in the Tauranga Music Schools’ Choral Festival, with themes including The Beatles, The Muppets and Sesame Street. “You name it, I was probably involved in it some way,” he said.

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and back on stage

Those local opportunities, and the teachers who encouraged him, helped give him the confidence to pursue performing professionally.

Giving back

Friday 11 September 2026

filmed in New Zealand. He has a message to pass on to young Tauranga performers considering a career in the arts. “This really is a career. It is a real job.

Today Oxford is giving back through Oxford Performing Arts, the Tauranga-based music and drama school he founded in 2019. While he has been overseas, a team here has continued teaching local students. “It’s been really awesome to pop into some of these classes that I haven’t visited in a while and relieve some lessons, or just pop in and Fletcher Oxford with the cast of Kinky Boots. say hi to the tutors and the Photo / Supplied kids,” he said. Oxford has also been Fletcher Oxford (on right) performing in Shrek the Musical in the a career in the arts is recording an independently Middle East in 2023. Photo / Supplied possible. funded album of songs he “I’m really passionate wrote over roughly the past about making the next decade, working with producers and There is sometimes a perception that generation of performers aware of musicians in New Zealand, the United performing is simply a hobby people that and being an example to them of Kingdom and Nashville. eventually leave behind to ‘return to somebody that dreamt of it, wanted it, “It tells stories about my upbringing reality’,” Oxford said. and then went out and made it happen.” and ups and downs and all of those life “The last five years of my life have His next chapter is already waiting. rollercoasters.” proven to myself, and hopefully to Wicked closes in Tauranga on October 3 He hopes to continue working across others, that this is a real thing – a – Oxford’s birthday – and the following the performing arts, including his own beautiful, exciting career, full of day he leaves for Singapore for another music, musical theatre, television and opportunities all around the world.” performing opportunity. film. He cannot yet reveal what that project Is possible He has already worked in the screen is. For now, though, he is home – back He hoped his own journey industry, including on The Lord of the on a Tauranga stage, this time as Fiyero. demonstrated to young performers that Rings: The Rings of Power when it was Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Fletcher Oxford performing as Johnny in Sing at Universal Studios. Photo / Supplied

Friday 11 September 2026

Four projects make Toby an industrial design finalist An industrial design student from Tauranga has been named a finalist for four projects in a national competition.

Toby McGuffie, 21, is in his final year of a Bachelor of Design with Honours, majoring in Industrial Design at Massey University in Wellington, but hails from Tauranga. The Tauranga Boys’ College graduate had two personal and two group projects – Aeron, Fuse, BirdWatch and Zyra – named finalists in the academic industrial design category at this year’s New Zealand Best Design Awards. The awards are an annual showcase run by the Designers Institute of New Zealand. The winners will be announced on October 9 in Auckland, and McGuffie

plans to attend. He entered the awards for the first time after a lecturer suggested entering projects from his portfolio. Aeron is an interface for cross-country mountain biking. The bike’s handlebars, controls, sensors, displays and ride data are presented in a single streamlined system. McGuffie’s project brought his passion for cycling to life. He said there were externally mounted devices for cyclists, but his project built the digital system into the handlebars. “It’s like a smartwatch built into the bike, so you can have your GPS and heart-rate zones displayed.” He enjoyed the creative freedom to develop his concept. “That’s the cool thing about university.

The Weekend Sun

18 8

Industrial design student Toby McGuffie, 21, pictured with his lamp project, Zyra.

They encourage us to think far and wide and come up with crazy ideas. They might not be feasible, but at least we get to explore it as a concept.” One of McGuffie’s group projects, BirdWatch, is a monitoring system for bird species recognition, individual identification and health tracking. He and his group developed a solarpowered bird feeder that collects data, which is stored in an app through which users can track the birds. He said the group contacted the Department of Conservation to discuss its projects, then took their “own spin” designing a consumer-based product. He was “pretty stoked” to learn the projects were named finalists. “I didn’t realise all four had been named. I saw one and was like, ‘That’s so cool.’ It wasn’t until the next day I had a proper look and saw all four of them in there.

“It’s cool to reflect on the time and effort I’ve put in over the last three or four years at Massey. It’ss cool to have the hard work pay off.” He said he “fell in love” with industrial design in the workshop. “I loved the physical aspect of it, actually making physical products.” McGuffie’s future looks bright, with a history of awards behind him. He was awarded the Acorn Foundation Cashmore Family Scholarship in 2022, was chosen – without applying – for Massey University’s Peter and Doris MacDonald Scholarship earlier this year, and was awarded Massey University’s Professor Tony Parker Scholarship in 2025. Looking ahead to entering the workforce next year, he said he was applying for many roles. He had a keen interest in bike and furniture design, as well as homewares. Bijou Johnson

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Friday 11 September 2026

Students will play their own songs on the same stage that touring artists play on at Totara St. Photo / Supplied

Students rock out at Rising Vibes Bay of Plenty’s up-andcoming musicians are set to unleash their original flair this weekend, playing on the same stage that countless international acts have graced in Mount Maunganui. This Sunday, the Totara St performance venue is hosting Rising Vibes – a communitycreated platform built to support and nurture young talent from around the region. Student musos from Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa, Bethlehem, Ōtūmoetai, Tauranga Girls’ and Tauranga Boys’ colleges will perform to friends, family and the

community from 4pm. The gig, which takes place four times a year, near the end of each school term, was created by Totara St directors Jay Munro and Ross Shilling. “It’s giving them a platform to get up and play,” Munro said.

Professional stage

Munro said he’d loved music since he was a kid. Today, he’s a musician in three-piece band KingFish. When he grew up, there wasn’t any kind of event like this, he said. “My mate’s bands would just play at house parties and stuff like that. There wasn’t really anything like this going on.” While his schools hosted productions, the venue quality

was not on par with the set-up that Totara St offers. Totara St has hosted international and globally recognised Kiwi artists Xavier Rudd, The Wailers, Mike Love, Tiki Taane, Katchafire, L.A.B, Hollie Smith, Buster Bloodvessel and more, Munro said. “[Students] just get to roll in and play on the same stage as all the touring acts and international acts that we get through and exactly the same set up, so it’s a real good experience for them.”

Munro said it’s not a music competition and no prizes are given out. Instead, just as the name suggests, it’s all about the vibes – giving students an opportunity to share their own unique songs. “Everyone plays two or three songs, and it’s just really the experience and all their mates come and watch them play.” No genre is off limits, Munro said. “Sometimes we have solos and duos. We’ve got everything from acoustic stuff to metal bands, whatever – there’s no rules around that.”

No prizes, no rules

Growing vibes

Rising Vibes is supported by the Wright Family Foundation and Mauao Performing Arts Centre.

The initiative had seen a lot of growth since it started less than two years ago, said Munro. “It’s taken a little while

to get the brand going. “I used to have to chase bands to play. Now with this one [on September 13] I found that it got booked up like a week after the last one. So, the kids are keen as. “It’s a really good opportunity because a lot of these bands go in Smokefreerockquest and we host the regional finals at our place each year. “It’s really good practice for [them] to experience that live situation before they go into the contest.” Rising Vibes is on September 13 at Totara St, located 11 Totara St, Mount Maunganui. Entry is free. Doors open at 4 pm. For more details, visit: https://totarastreet.co.nz Georgia Minkhorst

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Th hat fi first-step pain in th he morning. Th he sh harp ach he after sitting. The discomfort that buillds during a wallk, workout or long day on your feet. Pllantar fasciitis can affect more than your feet—it can limit your exercise, impact your work and stop you enjoying everyday activities. You may have allready tried new shoes, stretches, inserts or pain rellief, but the pain keeps returning. Whille these approaches may hellp some peoplle, lasting improvement often starts with understanding how your feet and joints are moving. Coulld You Be Experiencing Pllantar Fasciitis? • Sharp or stabbing pain under the heell • Pain with your first steps in the morning • Heell pain after sitting or resting • Tenderness through the arch or solle of the foot • Pain after wallking, standing or exercising • Tight callves or restricted anklle movement • Symptoms that keep coming back Your Feet Are Designed to Move Your feet, anklles and legs work together as a connected system. Restrictions or changes in movement may contribute to ongoing strain around the pllantar fascia. At Corrective Foot Sollutions, we assess how your feet and joints move—not just where the pain is. Using hands-on assessment and Foot Mobillisation Therapy, we aim to identify contributing factors and devellop a treatment ap pproach taillored to you.

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Your assessment includes: • A detailed discussion abou t your heel pain and lifestyle • Hands-on assessment of yo ur feet and joints • Gait and movement analysis • Identification of factors that may contributing to your symptom be s • Personalised advice about suitable treatment options Don’t let heel pain decide wh at you can and can’t do.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 11 September 2026

Travellers reminded not to bring home coral and clams

More than 4.6 tonnes of protected clams and corals have been seized by DoC C from travelllers returniing to New Zealland d. Photo / DoC unaware of the rules. Kiwis heading offshore to holiday In the past three and a half years, Doc abroad are being reminded by the had seized more than four tonnes of Department of Conservation not to protected corals and shells from more than bring home restricted items. 5000 travellers. The haul included 2.2 tonnes of coral and 2.4 tonnes of clams. The Department of Conservation DoC border and species trade manager (DoC) said the seizures were part of Ben Cornelius said officers were handling its obligations under the Convention a steady flow of seized goods, particularly on International Trade in Endangered during the winter holiday period. Species (Cites), which regulates the “Many eye-catching coral species are movement of protected plants and protected by Cites – and they’re often animals across international borders. imported by people unaware they need Many items made from Cites-listed a permit to bring the corals into the species require permits to be legally country,” Cornelius said. transported between countries, but Cites officers manually sort and weigh hundreds of these imports each week, officials say many travellers remain

he said. Popular Pacific destinations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are common sources, with holidaymakers returning with coral and clam souvenirs bought at markets or collected on beaches. DoC said much of the coral was dead white coral, which travellers may not recognise as protected material. “A lot of people think of coral as being alive and in the sea,” Cornelius said. “They don’t even recognise what they’ve bought or picked up as coral. “But it’s still protected, and you can’t import it.” Seized items were held by authorities

before being sent to commercial waste facilities for deep burial. Cornelius said travellers should check the rules before bringing items back into the country. “We understand many families want to bring back memories of their holidays, and we urge them to visit the Cites section of the DoC website to find out more about the permit process and how they can ensure their travel trinkets like coral and clam items can be enjoyed into the future. “Ask yourself ‘are my goods all good?’, and if you’re not sure, check online.”

Spaces available on Tours in 2027

Cruise season set to begin in Tauranga Tauranga’s 2026-2027 cruise ship season is set to get underway next month, with the first arrival, Celebrity Edge, due at the Port of Tauranga on October 13.

The season is shaping up to deliver about 79 cruise ship visits to Tauranga from October 13 through to April 2027, rough hly in line wiith the numb ber record ded d in the previous season.

October will see five large ships visit, including Carnival Splendor and Anthem of the Seas, which can carry nearly 5000 passengers. The latter’s October 26 visit is expected to be one of the season’s biggest early arrivals. Cruise activity builds through summer, with December including another visit by Anthem of the Seas on December 6, followed by a Christmas Eve visit on December 24. However, the busiest periods were expected later in the season, paarticularly January through to March, when several days have two ships sccheduled to be in port. One of the standout dates is January 23 3, when Riviera and Celebrity Edge arre scheduled to visit, with a combined maximum capacity of more than 4400 paassengers. Port of Tauranga recorded 79 cruise viisits in the year to June 2026, down froom 94 the previous year and 109 in n 2023-2024. Passengers disembark at Mount Maunganui during cruise ship season back in 2019. Photo / John Borren

For more information please contact NZ Adventures Please phone 03 218 8569 Mobile 027 550 6727 or 027 4354 267 Email: info@nzadventures.co.nz

Or visit our website www.nzadventures.co.nz

Look forward to hearing from you

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

Speaking te reo Māori, one coffee at a time

John Hodgson (left) and Graham Hoete have both started weekly groups in Tauranga to encourage people to speak te reo Māori. Photos / Jo Jones / Supplied

Two different Tauranga residents have reached the same conclusion: if te reo Māori is to thrive, people need opportunities to use it in everyday life. Graham Hoete’s group using the language comes from his own reo journey and Māori identity, while John Hodgson’s has emerged from more than 60 years as a Pākehā learner. Both have ended up around a cafe table. Hoete, widely known as Māori artist Mr G, started Kawhe Kōrero at Blended Cafe in Pāpāmoa in November 2025. The weekly gathering grew from an idea sparked by Ngairo Eruera, Hoete’s teacher in a full-immersion Māori language course at the University of Waikato last year. The group meets Wednesdays from 7am to 8am. “In its simplest form, it’s just having a coffee

and practising speaking te reo Māori with each other who are on that same journey,” Hoete said.

Safe, relaxed

The group welcomes everyone, from fluent speakers to beginners. “The important thing is just creating a safe and relaxed environment for people to have a go.” Hoete had seen participants’ confidence grow. “One of our group – Laura – didn’t really have any te reo Māori when she first started, and now she can stand in front of everyone and share where she’s from and her name,” he said. “She has since begun a Level 1 and 2 te reo Māori course.” Hoete said people from around the country had contacted him after seeing his social media posts, asking for advice about starting similar gatherings in their communities.

For him, strengthening te reo Māori is deeply connected to identity. “One of the main things that makes us unique in the world is te reo Māori,” he said. “It’s part of our identity, who we are.”

Hodgson also attends another reo coffee group at Hey Jude Cafe in Brookfield. He sees the growing number of informal groups as another step towards making te reo Māori part of everyday community life.

Everyday life

A community language

“I think it’s just another step to making it a Across town, Hodgson started his weekly community language,” he said. Coffee Korero at Grindz Cafe in First Ave For both men, the point is simple: te reo in January. Māori does not need Hodgson began to remain something learning te reo Māori in encountered only in 1962, when he attended a classroom. It can be classes in Hamilton. spoken over coffee, More than six decades while talking about later, he said he was still everyday life or simply learning and looking for introducing yourself. opportunities to speak. As Aotearoa celebrates As a Pākehā living in Te Wiki o te Reo Māori what he described as a from September 14-20, predominantly Pākehā this year’s Te Reo world, Hodgson said Towns theme recognises finding opportunities communities that for conversation had not have helped keep the always been easy. language alive. “There were never any of those in the old days,” he said of the Don’t be afraid informal coffee groups Hoete believes the The Kawhe Kōrero group started by now emerging around Graham Hoete meets at Blended Café best thing people can do Tauranga. is try. in Pāpāmoa. Photo / Supplied At his Tuesday Coffee “Don’t be afraid, just Korero, people of different abilities meet in to give it a go,” he said. “Attend your local the upstairs meeting room and talk about Kawhe Kōrero.” everyday life. He is not looking to turn his Wednesday “Mostly it’s about things that they’ve been gathering into something grand or formal. doing,” he said. “The important thing is just keeping it Some participants are close to complete relaxed, keeping it chill. beginners, but Hodgson said the group is “The most important thing is just providing supportive. an opportunity for people who are on the “The more mistakes you make, the more journey of learning te reo Māori to have a things you can learn if the environment is coffee and a safe space to practise speaking te supportive,” he said. Rosalie Liddle Crawford reo Māori.”

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has grown into a nationwide celebration involving schools, workplaces, community groups, businesses and families. Whether you're fluent, a beginner, or simply curious, Māori Language Week encourages everyone to take part. Learning a new word, using everyday greetings such as kia ora, or incorporating simple Māori phrases into conversations can all help strengthen the language's place in modern New Zealand. Every effort, no matter how small, contributes to ensuring te reo Māori continues to thrive for future generations while enriching the cultural fabric of Aotearoa.

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

Get informed and acct deccisively before flowering fll While cityy slickers enjjoyy the excited tweets of birds earlyy morniingg as sp pringg arrrives, those workingg in the rural sector will need to make some definitive decisions ab bout how th hey polllinate th heiir crops.

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From kiwifruit throough to avocado, blueberries, citrus an nd more, the difference between a successful season and not so successful one can coome down to the pollination window in spring. With honey bee hivves in high demand and an unpredictable El Niño weather pattern foreecast, growers need to make decisions befoore flowering. The Weekend Sun’s Pollination and Spring Th Man nagement featuree offers options for those tryin ng to give their crrops the best edge.

This is the year to secure kiwifruit pollen Pollination planning is about more than simply booking beehives, according to Trevelyan’s head of technical, Gordon Skipage said.

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“With increasing competition for hives, changing economics in the honey industry and ongoing concerns around hive health, this could be the year to have a back-up plan – and that means securing your kiwifruit pollen early.” Skipage said the reason is simple: not all beehives perform equally. “One strong bee colony may collect up to 20 times as much pollen as a weak one. And when pollination directly impacts fruit quality, productivity and profitability, the flip side of that statistic is worth taking seriously.” Skipage said trials in Hayward had shown female flowers could require up to 40 bee visits to achieve full pollination and the minimum 800 seeds required for export-grade fruit. Gold3 may require fewer bee visits and seeds to achieve export-grade fruit, but maximising dry matter – and ultimately grower returns – required more pollen and more seeds, Skipage said. “In short; poor bee activity can directly impact your bottom line. At the same time, the pressure on hive

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availability is growing. Improving honey prices are also creating a tug of war for hives, according to a Radio New Zealand June 2026 news article, with some beekeepers potentially shifting their focus back towards honey production rather than pollination. “So, while you may have your hives booked, the real question is: what is your Plan B if they aren’t strong enough?” Skipage said this is where supplementary pollen can help mitigate risk – the key is not waiting until flowering to make the decision. “Trevelyan’s has pollen available through No1 Road Pollen, a credible, established pollen provider, founded and co-owned by orchard managers and a kiwifruit post-harvest facility. “With deep kiwifruit knowledge and specialist expertise in pollen quality, No1 Road Pollen understands what is at stake for growers. “To ensure you’re covered: secure your pollen now, assess your hive and bee activity during flowering, and use it if you need it,” he said. “If you don’t need it, then you’ve at least locked in the price; kiwifruit pollen stores for at least 10 years when kept airtight at -18°C.” This year, having pollen as part of your pollination risk management plan could be one of the simplest decisions you make. “Book your hives. Secure your pollen. Reduce your risk. Partner with Trevelyan’s and No1 Road Pollen,” Skipage said.

The Weekend Sun

Pollination key to kii kiwifruit success

Precision wet pollination helps maximise fruit frr quality and gives growers the best chance of meeting premium sizing targets. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Pollination is key to a successful kiwifruit crop, says a Bay of Plentybased specialist. Katikati’s All Terrain Pollination general manager Christopher Brown said in the kiwifruit game, the difference between an average season and a massive payout came down to a few high-stakes weeks – the pollination window. “It’s easily the most critical event of the year, directly dictating fruit size, shape, and dry matter,” he said. “At All Terrain, we’ve been in the industry for years, and we know firsthand that getting pollination right isn’t just about checking a box – it’s the single best investment you can make for your bottom line.” The math is simple, Brown said. Kiwifruit flowers need thousands of pollen grains to hit optimal seed set. “If you miss that mark, you miss out on

Friday 11 September 2026

Zespri’ss premium sizing metrics, and that hits your orchard gate returns hard.” To give growers the best edge, All Terrain specialises in wet pollination. Traditional dry blowing works, Brown said, but it’s at the mercy of the wind and unpredictable spring weather. “With wet pollination, we suspend premium pollen in a specialised liquid mix and apply it with precision. “The pollen sticks instantly and, through hydration, initiates germination, ensuring excellent coverage even when the weather isn’t playing ball.” Brown said All Terrain is built on solid communication and top-tier service. “We keep you in the loop every step of the way, show up when we say we will, and get the job done right so you can focus on an exceptional harvest.” For more information, see All Terrain Pollination’s advert on this page.

Trust bumblebees for effective spring pollination Spring pollination is too important to leave exposed to bee shortages or difficult weather.

“With honeybee hive availability looking tighter this season, and a strong El Niño potentially bringing more variable spring conditions, growers have plenty to think about leading up to flowering,” a Biobees spokesperson said. “Adding commercial bumblebee hives offer an extra layer of security and peace of mind.” Bumblebees are active in cooler temperatures and lower light levels than honeybees, and will continue working in conditions honeybees won’t tolerate. “For orchard growers, this means more pollination activity when conditions are marginal – early mornings, evenings, overcast, cold, windy and drizzly days.” Their value is not limited to poor weather insurance either, the spokesperson said. “Bumblebees are big, fast and hairy

pollinators that make excellent contact with flowers, moving more pollen per visit while making more visits per minute. Their ability to buzz-pollinate flowers make them particularly valuable in kiwifruit and blueberries. In avocado, they are the gold standard crosspollinators. “There is a growing body of evidence that bumblebees also influence honeybee behaviour for the better.” In a variety of crops, where both species are present, honeybees move more frequently between rows, trees and flower types, improving their effectiveness in crops where crosspollination is vital, said the spokesperson. “The result is a more diverse and resilient pollination system. If weather conditions are challenging, every extra hour of effective pollination matters. “A Adding bumblebees to yoour pollination programme can help ensure more of those hours count – so don’t get caught short, speak with Biobees to secure your hives for this season.”

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

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Greenffingers get read dy – Te Puna Quarry Park’s plant sale date set Save the date, greenfingers! Te Puna Quarry Park’s annual spring plant sale will be held on October 11 from 10am-1pm. The outdoor event at the Western Bay of Plenty park on Te Puna Quarry Rd will boast an exciting array of garden plants – both vegetables and flowers – plus seedlings, house plants and pots, garden tools, local crafts, textiles, jams and gifts. The event is a fundraiser for the volunteer-run park, which boasts 17 gardens and outdoor artworks among dog- and family-friendly trails on 25ha. The park is open all day, every day, and admission is free. Te Puna Quarry Park was a rock quarry from

the early 1900s until 1979. The Te Puna Quarry Park Society was formed in 1993, and three years later began developing the park into the treasure it is today. Attendees are encouraged to bring cash to the October sale. Food and refreshments will be for sale too. Proceeds raised will go towards park maintenance. Find out more on the Te Puna Quarry Park Facebook page. Volunteers muck in at the park on Tuesday mornings from 8.30am-noon, and a smaller group meets on Thursday mornings. To get involved, just turn up or phone Ian Cross on 021 490 609.

Focus on inputs now for a productive summer C Congratulations! l You Y live l in the h Bay B of Plenty. Our mild climate on the eastern seaboard allows the keen gardener to get growing in spring before anywhere else. One of my favourite sayings, learned as a kid eating Nutri-Grain for breakfast, is: “You only get out what you put in”. This applies to gardening too. Our physical efforts correlate to a garden’s success. This means it’s important to fertilise, fertilise, fertilise. I suggest feeding your plants now using a controlled-release fertiliser. Gone are the days when feeding our plants was a monthly chore, or after a spring rain that leeched nutrients away. Nowadays, the three macronutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (called NPK) can be chosen to suit you and your garden’s needs. Apply a 12-month-release fertiliser to all trees and shrubs, be it citrus or camellia. For seasonal flowers and vegetables, go for a 6-month release option. Choose a fertiliser with a higher

potassium level to benefit fruit and flowers. To boost vegetative growth – think lettuces, spinach and kale – go for a brand that has more nitrogen. Have you considered organically certified fertiliser for your edibles? For many, the whole point of “growing your own” is to control your inputs so you know what you grow is healthy. An organic fertiliser should have a solid NPK base and enrich the soil’s microbial life. Seaweed, if you’ve noticed, rarely has an NPK breakdown on the bottle, and should only be considered as a general “health tonic” for your plants. New Zealand-made organic inputs, whether fertiliser or compost, can be found in any good local garden centre. Remember, a little extra attention and adjustment to your inputs now sets the tone for a productive Bay of Plenty summer.

Win Garden & Art Festival tickets! Spring is in the air, which means the 2026 Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival is near!

The Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival returns November 19-22, celebrating the beauty and diversity of the region’s gardens and the creativity of talented artists. The festival offers the chance to view more than 80 gardens and art festival stops, and meet about 80 magnificent artists. Artists will display their works throughout gardens and studios located around Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty. The festival’s Garden & Art Trail, sponsored d • SUBTROPICALS & PALMS • TREES & SHRUBS by Paalmers Bethlehem • NATIVES & GRASSES • HEDGING & STANDARDS Gardeen Centre • SHADE PLANTS & FERNS and Greenwood Park Village, spans NURSERY LOCATED AT: from Katikati to Te Pu uke with all gardeens open to Mon – Thurs 8am – 4pm Friday 8am – 3pm explore on all four festivaal days. www.wholesaleplantstauranga.co.nz A myriad of

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delights – from small urban gardens to large rolling country gardens – will be open, with many new to the festival and old favourites returning. Plus, people can experience fascinating landscape gardens, exhibitors, live music, tasty food and beverages and the amazing Festival Gallery at the festival hub Bloom in the Bay, partnered by Craigs Investment Partners, along Tauranga’s Waterfront by The Strand. The festival is sponsored by Bayleys Real Estate, with One-Day pass, or Multi-Day pass tickets available from eventfinda.co.nz and Palmers Bethlehem Garden Centre. Thanks to the organisers, The Weekend Sun has a double Multi-Day pass to give away to one lucky reader who can tell us where the Bloom in the Bay festival hub will be located? Enter online at: www. sunlive.co.nz under th he ‘competiitiions’’ tab b. Entries must be in by Tuesday, September 15.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 11 September 2026

Wāhine – Tauranga Have a swing at tennis! Artful Girls’ College exhibition Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty residents – young and old – can fall in love with tennis this Sunday.

Seven local clubs will open their doors and courts to the community from 10am-2pm on September 13 – so why not take the family and give tennis a go for free? Clubs will have activities and membership deals for all ages, including coaching sessions, fun games, prizes, sausage sizzles and more for the Love Tennis event! Plus, don’t miss the chance to scan a QR-code on Love Tennis Day and go in the draw to win an allexpenses-paid trip for two to ASB Classic 2027. Tennis WBOP regional development manager Sussa Bailey said tennis was a great noncontact, safe and very social sport; she’s been playing it for 49 years in various countries. “It’s my mental sanity, my connection to my community, and my second family. It resets and

improves my m physical and mental wellbeing” She said th he region offered inclusive an nd fun programmes, catering forr all ages and abilities. “There aree wheelchair and blind/ low vision options o at various clubs. Tennis teach hes kids – and adults – self-belief, confidence, c assertiveness, how to copee with pressure, and how to deall with the emotions of winning and losing. “Tennis is the best and cheapest life coach yoou will ever meet.” The region n’s tennis communityy welcomes everyone too September 13 Love Tenniss at the clubs listed below w.

Celebrating creativity, courage and the artistic talents of young women, Tauranga Girls’ College students are holding their ninth consecutive annual exhibition Artful Wāhine, at Tauranga Historic Village in 17th Ave. Organised by the college’s art department, the exhibition is open to all ākonga (students) to showcase artworks created either independently or at school. For many students, exhibiting publicly

Stream the BOP Steamers

Tennis WBOP regional devvelopment managerr Sussa Bailey. Photo / File

Love Tennis is on Sunday, September 13, at these WBOP clubs: Gate Pā: clubspark.kiwi/gatepatennisclub Mount Maunganui: mtc.nz Ōmokoroa: clubspark.kiwi/OmokoroaCommunityTennisClub Ōtūmoetai: otumoetaitennis.co.nz

is an opportunity to build confidence, share their creative voice and, potentially, sell their work. The exhibition reflects the diverse interests and talents of the school community, presented in a safe and supportive environment. The community is invited to encourage the emerging artists by visiting the exhibition, with students on-site during weekends. The exhibition is open daily from 10am-3pm in The People’s Gallery Toi Ka Rere.

Pāpāmoa: clubspark.kiwi/PapamoaTennisClub Tauranga Lawn: clubspark.kiwi/taurangalawn Waihī Beach: clubspark.kiwi/WaihiTennisClub

The Bay of Plenty Steamers head south this Sunday, September 13, for a crucial Round 7 clash against the Southland Stags at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill. Sitting ninth on the 2026 Hilux NPC standings, the Steamers are one point outside the top eight playoff zone with four regular season games remaining. A win over the Stags would

provide a timely boost as the race for the NPC quarterfinals tightens. The Steamers will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing 29-12 home loss to Manawatū at Tauranga Domain last Saturday. Kick-off is at 5.05pm Sunday, September 13. Watch the game on TVNZ+ or Sky Sport.

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Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

A Latin-leaningg September p

A few weeks ago I wrote that not much happens in September. That wasn’t quite true.

Across 1. All Black captain (1936) (4,9) 8. Below (5) 9. Expand (7) 10. Stagger (6) 11. Break free (6) 12. Lessen (5) 14. Criminal (5) 18. Soothing (6) 20. Extinct bird (6) 23. River (NI) (7) 24. Vegetable (5) 25. Town (SI) (6,7) Down 1. Sprightly (6) 2. Beg (5) 3. Clothing (7) 4. Conception (4) 5. Movies (5)

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6. Cyclone (7) 7. Cooked (6) 13. Number (7) 15. Charm (7) 16. Increase (6) 17. Game (6) 19. Sidestep (5) 21. Straighten (5) 22. Taxis (4)

S E A R C H E D I F A WN A A C E E A G O I L K O M S T O P E R A N G I O R A A E C L E E G A I R K S M A N T I C F G T E T C H Y A B C C E C G I I J K I M T E K A P O G O C C U P Y A M C D E H G N I U K L M A B L A Z E G H B R I S K A A C B E R G F I R K H M G R E Y T E A L I A V I D A G C S E N G A I N K R M L O S S E T U K I T U K I

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While it may be a little quieter than the following months, and perhaps because they have the advantage of improving weather and the imminent arrival of daylight saving, there’s still a bunch of music happening right now. By way of example, let’s look forward to next weekend when a veritable feast of Latin American culture is upon us as well as other tasty non-Latin treats. But first, if you need a quick entree, there’s a Brazilian day tomorrow, September 12, at 1920 Cucina and Grill on The Strand. They’re calling it Roda de Samba & Brasilidades which, if I were to take a punt, means a celebration of Samba dancing and all things Brazilian, including food, drinks and vibes. Popular Auckland Samba band Ziriguidum lead the dancing at 5pm followed by a Brazilian DJ through the night.

A warm-up

But that’s just a warm-up to the full Latin experience the following weekend. Brazil, of course, is a little different than much of South America. For a start, they speak Portuguese. You’ll hear a lot more Spanish on September 19 at Memorial Park at The Latin American Spring Festival. This will be the fourth year for the festival after starting as a relatively small celebration of Chilean culture. Now it is huge and running from 11am for 12 hours, featuring bands, dancing, storytelling, arts and crafts, a veritable banquet of different regional foods, and more than 25 stalls selling eclectic Latin items. Let’s segue a little... if a whole day out sounds a little energetic, the night before at The Tauranga Club on Devonport Rd, they are featuring Iara, a Brazilian

Tauranga’s Kunza Chilean dance group from frr the first Latin American Spring Festival last year. Photo / Brydie Thompson

family band featuring Paulo Brayner on guitar, Claudia on lead vocals and percussion, and Davi on drums. All three also sing. The family have lived in New Zealand for more than a decade and take great pleasure in sharing Brazil’s musical heritage, drawing from Samba, Forró, Baião and Brazilian Jazz.

Cherry blossom festival

Back to September 19, there’s another event that I want to mention, because it’s one of my favourites and great to see back again. The Greerton Cherry Blossom Festival is returning, with a hot rod parade on Chadwick Rd, live music, Circus in a Flash performances, rides, games and market stalls. This year they’re pairing up with the Greerton Village School Gala so there should be outpourings of community

everywhere you look. To be honest, I never have any idea what’s actually happening but I always go along. It starts 10am, and as usual I’ll bowl up and buy a steampunk hat and enjoy the sunshine. Cool. And I should finish with music. On September 19 at Totara Street, tribute band Lounge Apes is putting on a night of somewhat American-leaning punk covers, while at The Jam Factory, emerging pop sensation Emerson, winner of the Smokefree Rockquest Solo-Duo Award in 2024, showcases the stream of songs that have subsequently brought her nationwide attention.

Hear Winston’s Latest Playlist Scan the QR code, or visit:

www.tinyurl.com/mv9trs84

American football open day Have you ever watched America’s professional National Football League (NFL) and wondered what it would be like to put on the pads and give the code a go?

The Tauranga Tridents invite Bay of Plenty residents aged 16-plus to come along and try it for free at their Contact American Football Open Day this weekend. Held at Waipuna Park in Welcome Bay tomorrow, September 12, from 11am-1pm, the open day is a chance to

experience a new summer sport, learn the basics and meet the Tauranga Tridents. No previous experience is needed, and there’s a position on the field for everyy bodyy shap pe,, size and skill set. The club will provide all the equipment and coaching expertise – just bring boots if you have them and a water bottle. American football is also a great way to stay match fit during summer months. For more information, email: taurangaamericanfootballclub@gmail.com or find ‘Tauranga Tridents’ on Facebook and Instagram.

The Contact American Football Open Day is on September 12. Photo / Supplied

The Weekend Sun

Friday 11 September 2026

Explore, dream and win at RV show Pack your walking shoes and start planning your next adventure at the NZMCA Motorhome, Caravan & Leisure Show at Hamilton’s Mystery Creek Events Centre from September 18-20.

“New Zealand’s largest motorhome and caravan showcase is bigger than ever, featuring more than 230 exhibitors across two indoor pavilions, two dedicated accessory marquees and an expanded outdoor exhibition area,” Classic Events general manager Michele Connel. Classic Events organises the NZMCA Motorhome, Caravan & Leisure Show. “Visitors can compare the latest

RVs, discover innovative accessories, chat with industry experts and take advantage of exclusive show launches and specials,” Connel said. “The show promises something for every adventurer!” Show-goers have the chance to win a new Forthing Taikon PHEV SUV, valued at $39,990 plus on-road costs. Visitors can enter by scanning the QR code in the show guide, at entry points around the show or visit Site 1 in the main pavilion to view the vehicle. Connel said the TrailLite Group Pavilion will boast premium New Zealand-built motorhomes and caravans alongside leading international brands. “Visitors will be among the first to experience ROADCRA RAFT, A TrailLite’s

brand-new motorhome range making its public debut.” The TrailLite Group Theatre’s expertled seminars and Retro lane’s beautifully restored classic RVs also return. “For those wanting to make a weekend of it, the popular Event Park & Stay is open for bookings, with powered and non-powered sites available. “And for the first time, the whole family can come along, including the four-legged members.” Dogs are not permitted inside the show, but a new on-site Doggy Daycare provided by Paws Pet Care will look after them. Spaces are limited, so book in advance via the show website. When hunger calls the Seat & Eat for food trucks and new Little Eatery Café

will be open. There’s also covered seating and live music daily. From expert advice and travel inspiration to the latest RV innovations, the NZMCA Motorhome, Caravan & Leisure Show is the place to be from September 18-20. Gates open 9am-5pm the first two days; the final day is open 9am-4pm. For tickets and more information, visit: www.nzmotorhomeshow.co.nz EASY

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5 7 8 1 2 6 3 9 4 4 1 7 6 8 9 2 5 3 8 6 5 7 3 2 9 4 1

2 9 6 5 3 4 8 1 7 3 6 8 7 5 2 1 4 9 4 2 1 9 8 5 6 7 3

Friday 11 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 11 September 2026

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Animals (Excluding Dogs) and Public Places Bylaws

Computer Services

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council passed resolutions at a meeting held on Thursday, 27 August 2026 to adopt the following bylaws:

Business or Residential Windows or Apple Mac New Computers / Laptops Repairs & Upgrades Phones & Mobile devices Wi-Fi and Printers

• •

Animals (Excluding Dogs) Bylaw 2026 Public Places Bylaw 2026

We come to you!

These bylaws will become operative on 30 September 2026. The adoption of these bylaws follows consideration of community feedback received during consultation from 10 June 2026 to 2 July 2026. You can read more about the review processes and the key changes made to the bylaws in the decision story at www.westernbay.govt.nz/council/planspolicies-strategies-bylaws/decision-stories

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Copies of the bylaws may be inspected: • Online at www.westernbay.govt.nz/rulesregulations-and-licenses/bylaws •

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