The Weekend Sun - 18 September 2026

18 September 2026, Issue 1328

Looming large Old T-shirts are getting a new life – and helping Bay of Plenty people connect along the way.

A new Community Loom Project is inviting people of all ages to turn unwanted T-shirts into a colourful, functional rug while creating something together this month.

Conceived by Envirohub Bay of Plenty Sustainable Textiles programme manager Te Ara Dirkse (pictured), the custom-built wooden loom will make its debut at this year’s Climate Canvas exhibition in Tauranga.

Visitors can spend five minutes or an hour weaving strips of repurposed clothing into

the growing artwork, with each contribution becoming part of something bigger.

“I wanted something people could actually get their hands on,” Dirkse said. “We all know textile waste is a massive problem. This is a nice way to make something positive together and make use of a precious textile resource.”

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In future, the loom will travel to events around the region, creating opportunities for people to connect while taking positive action for the planet.

See it in operation at Climate Canvas, The Cargo Shed, September 17-20. Entry is free.

See more on page 10. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Friday 18 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

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‘Hovel-ton’ – huddle of the luckless It’s not a ghetto. Not yet. Not a slum. Not quite. Not teeming with disadvantaged and displaced.

of us live. “Hovel-ton” is a pathetic array of shacks wedged into a copse of trees, a thicket, on a tight corner bounded by the Kopurererua Stream that spills into the Waikareao Estuary on one side, and the 40,000 or so cars and trucks powering up and down Takitimu Drive on the other.

At 80km/h they might get a glimpse of the problem at the gateway to the CBD. “Haere Mai – Welcome to Hovel-ton. And homelessness.”

More of a shantytown – makeshift dwellings from assorted “crap” – cardboard, corrugated iron, pallet wood, plastic sheeting. Anything scrambled off the street and thrown together as a shelter in a crazy, chaotic and sad attempt to keep warm and dry.

At best ugly, and an eyesore. At worst, a sad statement about how some

One of the huts in the ‘huddle of the luckless’. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

Unwashed, empty belly

If the squatter settlers turned east and looked up over the motorway, they’d gaze on very expensive Avenues real estate on top of the cliff. But they probably have no need to do that. Why kick yourself when you’re down? The “have lots”, and the “have very little or nothing”. There’s probably no envy. I’m told they’re happy roughing. They just want to be left alone. Don’t want to be bothered.

Except ... “You got any of those vouchers?” She’s perhaps in her early 20s, a tousle of tumble-out-of-bed hair and desperately protecting her dignity by grabbing at her grubby oversized trackpants.

She needs a hot shower, clean clothes. And food vouchers. And a little love, care and understanding perhaps.

She points to her “home” in a thicket.

“No, it’s not cold.” She doesn’t know how long she’s been squatting there. No, she doesn’t feel unsafe. She just wants the vouchers. That’s her immediate need.

If she turned west, there’s a sight that won’t fill an unwashed, empty belly, but it’ll warm the spirit. The sun’s dancing and shimmering on the waters of the Waikarearo – “sparkling waters of the new day”. It’s a sight that would sit comfortably on the cover of one of those real estate supplements. “Fulfill your dream, magic estuary views, riparian rights …etc.”

A gazillion times

At least one of the shacks is right at the water’s edge. It’s a privilege the squatters have assumed a right to. However, you and I just walk, run and cycle right on past. We don’t get lulled asleep by a lapping tide, or wake to a twinkling light show on the mudflats, and the squawking and shrieking of the marsh dwellers.

Their neighbours could be those who live eternally on Motuopae Island – the forbidding, deeply sacred and spiritual burial ground. I wonder what the spirits might make of the interlopers among the trees? Hopefully, they’re welcoming, understanding and protective spirits.

I have walked, run and cycled the 9km Daisy Harwick loop a gazillion times. At dawn, at dusk, in all its moods – to exercise, wander, ponder, to reflect, clear the head, or draw inspiration. You don’t need a prescription. A dose of Daisy Hardwick works every time. Sui generis! On its own!

Huddle of the luckless

That was until shantytown, until “Hovelton”. Until a brush with a squatter. I had approached the huddle of the luckless from Waihi Rd on a walk one day. A cluster of ramshackle lean-tos, bivouacs, huts, tents, whatever, all semi-shrouded in the thickest parts of the thickets. They hide but they can’t hide.

I did a double-take of a vehicle, with an awkward awning structure attached, in a carpark off the Waihi Rd ramp to Takitimu Drive. At the time, a temporary structure gaining permanence. How long can someone live in a carpark, even if selfcontained, before being deemed persona non grata? Before being moved on?

There was stuff everywhere, accumulated stuff. Junk. Other people’s junk that had found usefulness. There were even road cones staking out the claim – a nod to health and safety.

Raised middle digits

A guy spied me watching and started yelling and waving like a tarmac marshal.

I waved back … until I saw two raised middle digits. Menacing. Suddenly I was an intruder. “What’s your f***ing trouble?” he yelled.

Once upon a time I would prattle on, to anyone who would listen, about the waves beating a tattoo on Daisy’s seawall, the birdlife recital through McCardles Bush, the cotton wool fog on the mangroves at dawn, and the country’s fifth biggest city careening to work down Takitimu Drive.

It’s an experience. Was an experience. Now I’m being told to “f*** off”.

I suppose the copse is their copse too, public land, their public land too. Just be nice, be respectful, and enjoy it for as long as need be. Live and let live.

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 18 September 2026

3

Dog trainer hopes to return to using park after ban A Te Puke dog trainer who has hosted lessons at a local park for years has been told she needs a formal concession.

Mandy Wood says she is relieved to have a way to return to Donovan Park, after previously being told she could not use it and might face fines if she tried.

She said the Western Bay of Plenty District Council initially told her this was because of concerns about sharing space with a disc golf course, and operating a commercial business in the park.

The council says a formal concession is required under the Reserves Act, and it would help her arrange this.

Wood said she had been “absolutely shocked” initially, as the park had been her classroom and workplace for almost eight years. Alongside paid classes, she’d hosted free training sessions through Hungry Dogs of Te Puke.

No incidences

She said she worked with the dogs on-lead and stayed well clear of the disc golf area. “There has never been an incident involving our groups during these years. We’ve actually worked well together.

We made a compromise and it was okay for me to be in one designated area away from the line of throw.”

She said the council told her in July she would be fined if she held sessions in any part of the reserve.

She stopped her Te Puke-based sessions and shifted to Gordon Spratt Reserve in Pāpāmoa.

She shared her story on social media and her client, Jake Johnson, started a petition

seeking to allow her to continue using Donovan Park, which received more than 570 signatures.

The Tauranga Disc Golf Association (TDGA) created the nine-hole course in Donovan Park in September last year.

Association treasurer Ryan Alderton said the group had shared the park with Wood for “quite some time now”, peacefully and without affecting each other.

“We are more than happy to continue sharing the space with Mandy if she is successful in gaining permission from the council to keep on training dogs at Donovan Park.”

Alderton said the group had not complained to the council about Wood training dogs at the park. He believed they came independently from a member of a family who were not club members.

He said it was great for Te Puke to have someone like Wood who could train dogs that needed extra attention.

The group hoped she would be able to return to training in Donovan Park alongside people playing disc golf.

Relieved

Wood said she was relieved to find out she could resume using the park for her training sessions if she met several conditions. She must apply for a concession to operate her commercial business on council land.

She also needed to secure public liability insurance to protect against third-party liabilities as part of the formalisation process.

Once the licence was approved, the council would publicise that Wood’s business was legitimate and establish clear

Te Puke dog trainer Mandy Woods and Rottweiler Ziya at Donovan Park. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

guidelines for timetables and usage so dog trainers and disc golfers could fairly share the space.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson said under the Reserves Act, commercial activities on reserve land required a formal concession.

“We have spoken with Mandy about what is required and are committed to working with her to establish an appropriate arrangement.”

He said this would help protect her business interests, ensure the council met its obligations under the act, and confirm

appropriate public liability insurance was in place.

“Formalising the activity through a concession will also provide certainty around operating times, enabling other reserve users, including disc golf participants, to better plan their use of the park.”Watson said this would help minimise conflicts between user groups and support the fair and effective sharing Ayla Yeoman of the reserve.

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

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Friday 18 September 2026

5

Te reo Māori: ‘The time is now’ now to start speaking The best time to start speaking te reo Māori is now, says University of Waikato academic Associate Professor Ngairo Eruera.

“There’s no good time. There is only now. You just practise what you can,” said Eruera, who teaches and researches Māori language and has seen a significant increase in the visibility of te reo Māori since returning to Tauranga eight years ago.

His message is fitting during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week, which encourages New Zealanders to bring more te reo Māori into their everyday lives.

For Eruera, the language’s distinctiveness comes from its deep connection to Aotearoa.

Although Māori speakers now live around the world, the language has its roots here, making it a taonga – a treasure – for everyone living in Aotearoa.

“You don’t have to be Māori or Pākehā or any other background or ethnic persuasion or cultural persuasion to appreciate the effect,” he said.

“If you live here in Aotearoa, it’s your taonga as well, your treasure as well.”

Deeply connected

Eruera said people can be deeply connected to Māori culture without speaking the language, whereas learning te reo Māori provides “a window into deeper understanding” and another way to express that insight into the culture.

He’d seen that connection become increasingly noticeable around Tauranga.

When he returned to the city after years

living and working in Waikato, the Māori language was mostly heard at distinctly Māori occasions such as tangihanga, marae gatherings and formal hui.

Now he regularly encountered former students and others speaking Māori in everyday community settings.

“There’s more impetus behind those that can speak Māori to actually speak Māori to others,” he said.

Tauranga Moana had its own particular flavour of te reo Māori, partly because of its connections to several waka traditions.

Eruera identifies Mātaatua, Tākitimu, Te Arawa, Kurahaupō and Tainui influences, creating a linguistic landscape where different language traditions overlap.

“The language here in Tauranga Moana is a mixture of the best parts of the language,” he said cheekily.

Associate Professor Ngairo Eruera at Waikato University.

Tirikawa

He described regional differences as more like accents than separate dialects, with one body of te reo Māori understood across the country.

But local environments and histories influence how people express themselves.

“Those that are inland, who traditionally have lived in heavily forested areas…their language will reflect that,” he said.

“Here in Tauranga Moana, we live mostly on the coast, so we use different things that are of the environment to express ourselves.”

One local example is ‘kia Tirikawa te tū’, a phrase Eruera said local tamariki and rangatahi were learning as an encouragement to be resolute like Tirikawa, or North Rock, off Mount Maunganui.

Photo / Kelly O’Hara

The rock may be covered by waves and tidal surges, but it remains.

“You’ll get challenges in life, but if you’re like Tirikawa, those challenges wash off you, over time,” he said.

For many Bay residents, bringing more te reo Māori into everyday life may not require starting from scratch.

Words such as mahi, whānau, kia ora, nau mai, haere mai and tēnā koe were already familiar to many New Zealanders.

At the University of Waikato’s Tauranga campus, Eruera enjoys hearing students and colleagues – Māori and non-Māori – practising words they know.

“Sometimes inadvertently they whip out a ‘kia ora’ or ‘mōrena’ or something like

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that, and it’s cool,” he said.

Pronunciation

He recommended pronunciation as a good place for beginners to start, particularly with Māori names for people and places. Online dictionaries with audio recordings can help learners practise.

Seeing children grow up speaking Māori gave Eruera confidence about the future of te reo Māori.

“I look at our tamariki. They give me hope. There is a commitment to see the language not just survive but thrive.”

His advice to anyone wanting to play a part was simple: use it. “You don’t wait for occasions; you just use it every day”.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Friday 18 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

6

New ‘house of stories’ taking shape After nearly three decades working in Bay of Plenty libraries, Tauranga Libraries and Community Hubs manager Joanna Thomas is preparing to help open the city’s newest chapter.

When she walks through the doors of the new He Puna Manawa Library and Community Hub on Willow St on October 16, she will return to a place that’s been part of her working life since 1997.

There will be plenty waiting for her, including more than 100,000 books.

The new library spreads across multiple floors and features a technology-rich Creation Station, a dedicated sensory room, a specialist archives and research centre, meeting rooms, customer services, a small cafe, and an automated machine capable of sorting returned books.

For Thomas, who began working at Tauranga Library nearly 30 years ago, the opening represents the culmination of years of planning, consultation and hard work.

“It definitely feels like it’s the work of my life,” she said. “What has stayed with me most is the people that I have met on the project — library and council colleagues, hapū leaders, artists, professionals from across many fields, and the locals whose feedback has shaped this project.”

Return again

Taiwhanake, high chief of Mauao, was carved by the late master carver Tony Tukaokao who was a descendant of the great chief Taiwhanake. This carving shows his ancestor wearing a famous cloak thereby encapsulating stories held dear by the people of Ngāti Ranginui.

Thomas was part of the Tauranga City Council team involved in the 2017 consultation, when the community was asked what it wanted from the redevelopment of the city centre.

“One of the strongest messages was that people wanted a place they would return to again and again – somewhere that could serve different generations and offer different experiences,” she said.

Nearly a decade in the making, that

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Tauranga Library manager Joanna Thomas is waiting for the first books to arrive in their new home.

Photos / Kelly O’Hara

vision is now taking shape within Te Manawataki o Te Papa.

The about 5600 sq m He Puna Manawa Library and Community Hub is the first new building completed within the city centre project. It reached practical completion in July and will open to the public on October 16.

For Thomas, bringing the library back to its historic city centre location makes the occasion even more special.

“It’s very, very exciting to be returning to the place where the library had been, understanding the building is now a partnership between mana whenua and council,” she said.

The new library will connect with Masonic Park, Toi Tauranga Art Gallery and Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, while future developments were expected to strengthen the connection through to the waterfront and museum.

“It is the heart of the city here,” Thomas said, noting that there will be plenty to discover, from spaces for reading, research and learning to areas designed for creativity, technology and community activities.

“It will take you hours to wander through the building, because there is just so much to see,” she said.

Children and families will have their

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T Weekend Sun The

Friday 18 September 2026

7

The exterior of the new He Puna Manawa Library and Community Hub.

own Imagination Station, designed for class visits, school holiday programmes, after-school activities and interactive learning.

Multi-sensory

A multi-sensory space will support people with different sensory needs and there will be bookable meeting rooms, public computers, a dedicated research space and local and family history resources.

A purpose-built climate-controlled archive will help preserve Tauranga’s collections for future generations.

While the building is new, Thomas said the past had not been forgotten.

Stained-glass windows from the original Willow St building were retained, restored and incorporated into the new facility, along with other familiar features and items.

Artwork and cultural expression are embedded throughout the building, with large-scale works developed by mana whenua artists.

Tiny details in the children’s area included life-size insects, which were inspired by a children’s librarian.

For Thomas, all of these details form part of a bigger idea about what a library should be.

“It’s a house of stories,” she said.

Books and stories remain at the heart of the service, but Thomas believed modern libraries were also places where people can learn, create, meet and share experiences.

“It’s a space where you bring your family, have fun and create a memory with them,” she said.

Many of the programmes Tauranga residents know would continue, including toddler sessions, language programmes, adult events, board games and literary activities.

The larger facility would allow the programmes to grow, while creating more room for festivals, celebrations and community events.

“The first major event will be a community celebration on October 17, the day after the library opens.”

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After years of work, Thomas expected her library team would feel a sense of relief when the doors finally open. “It’s been a lot of work for all involved,” she said.

But that’s not the moment she’s most looking forward to.

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of belonging, and that they want to return to it over and over again.”

For someone who’d spent almost 30 years among Tauranga’s books, Thomas is now waiting for the city to turn the page on October 16.

experience the building themselves. “I’m personally most looking forward to that moment where this wave of people just come in the door,” she said.

“I hope that people will say that it’s a place where they feel included or a sense

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The Weekend Sun

Remembering together

Friday 18 September 2026

9

WARNING: This article discusses suicide and may be upsetting to some readers.

People and whānau affected by suicide loss will have an opportunity to remember and celebrate their loved ones at an upcoming Remembrance Picnic in Tauranga.

Hosted by Grief Support Services, the free community event will be held in the Fencibles Cottage area at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga on Sunday, September 20, from noon to 3pm.

The picnic will offer a welcoming space for people affected by suicide loss to connect with others who understand their experience.

Music, remembrance activities and shared food will feature during the afternoon.

Those attending are welcome to bring a picnic, blankets or chairs, along with photographs or other special items that help them remember their loved one.

“At Grief Support Services, our mission is to ensure no one has to face their grief alone,” general manager Deanna Wharton said.

Not alone

“This event is to remind our suicidebereaved community that they are not alone, and we invite them to a space where they will feel a sense of shared understanding.”

Wharton said suicide loss carries a kind of heartbreak and challenges that can make navigating grief more complicated.

“Connecting with others who truly understand this can be so helpful in learning to live alongside suicide loss.”

Author and This Is Grief founder Kirsten

O’Connor is this year’s guest speaker and will share her own experiences after the death of her daughter Kahlia by suicide.

O’Connor will speak about some of the questions that can follow a suicide loss, including the search for why, wondering whether more could have been done, and how long the pain of grief might last.

Drawing on her lived experience and work writing about grief, she will discuss learning to live alongside questions that may never have simple answers, and the love that remains after someone has died.

“We’re delighted to have Kirsten join us for our Remembrance Picnic,” Wharton said.“Listening to her speak will be entirely optional for attendees, but we believe that sharing her experience may bring comfort to some by giving voice to thoughts and feelings they may have carried privately.”

Grief Support Services suicide bereavement support co-ordinator Lloyd Shand said the picnic provided something that could be difficult to find after a suicide loss – a place where people did not have to explain their grief.

“Suicide loss can feel incredibly isolating,” Shand said.

“The Remembrance Picnic brings people together in a relaxed and supportive environment where they can speak their person’s name, share memories and feel understood.”

Shand said the event was also about celebrating the lives of those who had died.

“While there is sadness, the day is also about love, connection and celebrating the lives of the people we carry with us,” he said.

“There can be music, laughter and

Grief Support Services suicide bereavement support co-ordinator Lloyd Shand and general manager Deanna Wharton. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

moments of genuine joy alongside the grief. There is no pressure to talk – sometimes simply showing up and quietly reflecting in your own way is enough.”

Support will be available throughout the afternoon for anyone wanting a quiet conversation or additional care.

Source of comfort

One previous attendee said the annual gathering had become an important source of comfort after the loss of her son.

“I value this annual event and hope it continues. It gives me a few hours to celebrate my son alongside others who understand and have experienced something similar,” she said.

“We talk, laugh at memories and celebrate the lives of our loved ones.

Remembrance Day means a lot to me.”

The picnic is open to anyone affected by suicide loss, including friends, whānau and

The kindy teacher on her feet

Lisa spends her working day with three, four and five year olds, and none of it happens sitting down. “We’re constantly on the move.

You can’t sit down and do lovely little group work, because something else will be going on over the other side of the room or outside in the playground. You have to constantly be on your feet, moving all day.”

Would she swap it though? Not at all. “I love the passion that the children bring to my job.

Each day is so different, and to watch them grow and develop is just something else.”

The one downside, she says, is the workout the job gives your body. Constantly moving, crouching down and standing up again, picking up a child who has gone over. Over the years it caught up with her knees. “I’m on my feet, so I just found that my knees were aching, and it affected the way I walk.”

That last part was the bit that bothered her.

Not the end of the day so much as the way she was getting around during it.

She had been told she was too young for the bigger options, and that was not a door she wanted to open anyway. Lisa knew what sort of something she wanted instead. “I’m very much into using natural products.”

She had worked through the general run of supplements from the health shop, and oils she used on her knees. Nothing quite hit the spot.

Then one weekend she sat down with the local paper and read an article rather like this one: someone’s story about a New Zealand made joint supplement called Koru Joint.

It was all natural, and it was made and owned from here.

support people. Children are welcome, although parental discretion is advised given the sensitive nature of the event.

The event will go ahead regardless of weather, with sheltered areas available.

Remembrance Picnic, noon-3pm, Sunday, September 20, at the Fencibles Cottage area, The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga.

For more information, email Lloyd Shand at: lloyd@griefsupport.org.nz Rosalie Liddle Crawford

SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION Where to get help: • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 7am to midnight) • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO (available 24/7) • Youth services: (06) 3555 906 • Youthline: 0800 376 633 • What's Up: 0800 942 8787 (11am to11pm) • Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7) • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 • Helpline: 0800 000 053 • Samaritans crisis helpline: 0800 72 66 66 (available 24/7) • Grief Support Services – bereaved by suicide service 07 578 4480 • Aoake te Rā- bereaved by suicide service : 0800 000 053 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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Her attitude to anything new is simple.

“Whenever I see anything new, I’m like, yep, I’ll give it a go, because you never know until you try it.”

Koru Joint is a 3-in-1 formula, made in Rangiora, and it works three ways at once.

Curcumin and boswellia, both rich in antioxidants, soothe the 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.

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Now she is the one planting the seed.

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Asked whether her story could go in the paper, she did not hesitate. “Yeah, why not? I’ll become famous.”

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Friday 18 September 2026

Major 2km rebuild of No. 1 Road complete Te Puke’s No 1 Road has reopened following a major two-year rehabilitation project aimed at improving safety, reducing flooding risks and supporting future growth on one of the town’s busiest transport routes.

The project included full reconstruction and resurfacing of a 2km section of No 1 Rd. In a statement, Western Bay of Plenty District Council said the work, carried out in the past two years, was designed to improve road safety, reduce flooding risks and prepare the corridor for future growth.

Senior transportation project engineer Jamie Minchington said it was a significant investment in infrastructure for a growing community.

“This area is a key route in Te Puke and is used daily by residents, students and families, emergency services, the kiwifruit industry and many others in our community,” Minchington said.

“It’s critical that both the road and the infrastructure beneath it are fit for purpose and able to meet the demands of current and future growth.”

The upgrade included new concrete road pavement, with enhanced roadside drainage systems to protect the road from storm damage and reducing surface flooding.

As section of road near Cannell Farm Drive was lowered and underground services were relocated to accommodate a potential future connection.

Thet council said the project was part of its ongoing programme to maintain and improve transport infrastructure across the Western Bay. Further improvements were planned, with funding secured from the Te Puke Eastern Community Board to extend the footpath along No 1 Rd.

The Weekend Sun

10

Weaving positive action together A new community art project is inviting Bay of Plenty residents to turn old T-shirts into something useful – while weaving new connections along the way.

The Community Loom Project, created by Envirohub Bay of Plenty Sustainable Textiles programme manager Te Ara Dirkse, will make its debut at this year’s Climate Canvas Art exhibition in Tauranga.

The large, custom-built wooden loom will invite visitors to weave strips of repurposed T-shirts into a growing piece of artwork that will become a functional rug.

People can take part for as little as five minutes or spend an hour weaving, with each effort contributing to the finished piece.

Simple way

Dirkse said she wanted to create something that gave people a simple way to take positive action.

“I wanted something people could actually get their hands on,” Dirkse said.

“We all know textile waste is a massive problem, and it feels like we can’t do much ourselves to shift the needle. This is a nice way to make something positive together and make use of a precious textile resource.”

The loom will travel to events around the region, providing an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to contribute.

Dirkse said the project was about

Envirohub Bay of Plenty Sustainable Textiles programme manager Te Ara Dirkse with the Community Loom. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

more than keeping unwanted clothing out of landfill.

“You can see the piece grow as more people add to it, and it’s a lovely way for people to connect while they’re doing something good for the planet,” she said.

Weaving has been practised across cultures for thousands of years, to create useful items and as a form of creative expression. Community weaving can also provide a simple opportunity for people to slow down, chat and work alongside others.

Interactive centrepiece

For its first outing, the loom will use T-shirts as its raw material and form

an interactive centrepiece of Climate Canvas, Envirohub BOP’s annual art competition and exhibition.

This year’s Climate Canvas theme is Precious Resources, with the finalist exhibition open 9am-1pm daily on September 17-20 at The Cargo Shed in Tauranga. Entry is free.

The exhibition will feature 10 finalists’ artworks, with visitors able to view the works and vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice award.

The Climate Canvas Awards ceremony will be held at The Cargo Shed on September 20 from 3pm4pm to announce competition Rosalie Liddle Crawford winners.

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12

The Weekend Sun

A centre where everyone is welcome and safe 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 visits Welcome Bay Community Centre.

Tucked behind Welcome Bay Hall is a safe place catering to those in need of nearly anything.

Mid-morning on Wednesday, the Welcome Bay Community Centre is full of tables stacked with clothing of all sizes.

Folk work their way through them as the coffee machine whirrs, driven by whānau connector Tanea Reihana, known as “Barnee”, and the kitchen servery offers orange-flavoured cupcakes.

All ages from toddlers to parents to kaumātua and people of different ethnicities are accessing things they need without fear of judgment. “It’s a safe space for people to come and feel connected,” Welcome Bay Community Centre manager Kim Ruddell said. She’s been in the job since April.

“We’re here to support people going through times. We want it to be a home away from home, where people can come have a coffee, relax and know that they’re not going to be judged or anything like that,” she said.

Taonga

“One of our values is for every community member to know that they are taonga, a special gift.”

As one of the city’s smaller community centres, its offerings are huge. A usual week looks like this. On Mondays, there is Tiny Tunes for parents and children, table tennis and a volunteer gives her warm baking to guests. A Rangatahi Club runs from 4pm-6pm for youth, aimed

at those aged 14-plus. “We don’t turn anyone away here,” Ruddell said.

Tuesday is kai distribution day. “We’ve partnered with Good Neighbour [to give out free food]. We also get kai donations from local churches, schools and community members,” she said.

Every second Tuesday, a hairdresser volunteers to cut ladies’ hair. “The idea is you donate a food tin and receive a haircut,” Ruddell said. “Once-monthly we also have 4KINGS Barbers and Co offering koha cuts.”

The Rangatahi club runs on Tuesday afternoons as a community play collaboration with Bay Venues in the hall.

“That’s a space for primary-intermediateaged kids to enjoy games after-school. It’s about being active and developing those prosocial behaviours in a group setting,” Ruddell said.

The centre offers counselling services Mondays to Thursdays. “We get referrals from outside agencies, or people can make an appointment online and get triaged by our peer support co-ordinator to ascertain who is best to speak to them,” she said.

A volunteer registered counsellor provides services on Mondays, Bethlehem Tertiary Institute student counsellors do their placements from Tuesdays to Thursdays and a contracted registered counsellor works on Thursdays.

Busiest day

Ruddell said the busiest day of the week is Wednesday – the centre’s free clothing

Welcome Bay Community Centre Kim Ruddell at the Pātaka Kai, a free, open-street community pantry. school, courtesy of Box n Booth. day. “We can see up to 80 people come On Thursdays, Ngāi Te Rangi run to collect clothing and it’s free. We’ve partnered with local op shops that donate Poipoia Te Mokopuna, a free iwi-led playgroup for ages 0-6. their excess stock.”

On Fridays, the centre is closed for The orange cupcakes and free coffee keep people flowing through too, because walk-ins, but groups utilise the space, with a home birth group, an Honouring some just want a chat, she said. “This the Mother course, Becoming sessions for centre is here to combat isolation as well women aged 35-plus and The Welcome as help people.”

Bay Mahjong ladies among them.

A free public advisory volunteer and Ruddell said with a cost-of-living crisis Citizens Advice Bureau representatives and people struggling to make ends also attend some Wednesdays. meet, the centre was in high demand.

Huria Trust hosts its Whānau Ora “It’s all about helping the community programme on Wednesdays, plus there – meeting them where they are at and is an Empower Her course to build trying to build them up by connecting resilience among girls aged 13-18 and them to the right services and support youth boxing for those aged 8-14 after

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 18 September 2026

13

Recognise people and groups that make a difference!

Nominations have opened for the 2027 Western Bay Community Awards.

The annual prizegiving recognises people, groups, events and projects that make a difference across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

It celebrates contributions ranging from volunteering and youth leadership to community events, sustainability initiatives and partnerships, organisers said.

Anyone can nominate a person, group, event, project, or organisation.

The seven categories are community event award, sustainable future award, diversity and inclusion award, heart of the community award, youth spirit award, volunteer of the year award and best collaboration award.

More than 30 finalists will be selected by a judging panel made up of local representatives.

The winners will be recognised at the 2027 Western Bay Community Awards ceremony in March. The ceremony will also include a people’s choice award and a lifetime service award.

People who know someone who goes above and beyond for their community can now put their name forward to help recognise their contribution.

The annual awards are delivered in partnership by TECT Community Trust, Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

Nominations close on Friday, October 9.

Wednesday is Welcome Bay Community Centre’s busiest day, with free clothing drawing in the community. Photos / Kelly O’Hara

if we can’t help them. “This is also a safe space – many people don’t want to go into clinical areas. It can be quite daunting for some. This is a space people know they are welcome.”

Another issue is public transport, Ruddell said. “We say Welcome Bay is like our own little island. It’s removed from the city centre and public transport and rising petrol costs make it hard to go into town all the time.”

Right now, the Welcome Bay community’s biggest needs were understanding, food support and socialisation.

Listen to them

“They just want somebody to listen to them,” Ruddell said. “The other thing is food. People come in daily needing kai, it’s huge for our community.” She wanted people to know they can gather produce from the community gardens above the centre at any time.

Loneliness was another issue, she said.

“There’s not that village like there used to be, and I feel like this [the centre] is a village for a lot of people.”

Ruddell, a fulltimer, runs the centre with three part-timers – but their volunteers truly make the wheels turn. “We have 15 core volunteers; others come and go. We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them.”

She said it costs about $440,000 per year

to run the centre, which included wages – except for a youth co-ordinator and youth worker, funded by a Tauranga City Council pilot programme.

Funding came from grants, with Merivale Community Centre manager Jen Murray helping file applications.

“It is tough to fund this place,” Ruddell said. “Funding is becoming very dry ... the philanthropic trusts is quite an oversaturated market and not enough is coming in.”

Ruddell utilised gaming funders for wages but said her centre was up against many worthy non-profits. “It can be hard to fund wages, which is a big thing for us to be able to provide services.

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Even $5

“However, we do get donations. Real estate agent Nick Drysdale gives us $500 from every house he sells in Welcome Bay. That’s amazing – that really helps.”

Ruddell encouraged people to learn about the community centres’ September awareness campaign and donate if they can. Even $50 or $5 would be a huge help, she said, with $50 able to cover the centre’s baking ingredients for a few weeks, while even $5 “can go a long way.

It means we can buy milk to offer people a cup of tea”.

To support the community centres’ campaign, visit www.bopcomcentres.nz

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Friday 18 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

14

Who will paint Tau uranga’ss next mural?

A new mural is taking shape – before the paint goes on.

Artists are invited to dream up a new splash of colour for one of Tauranga’s most visible city centre walls.

What will people see from the new Creation Station when they look across Willow St? That’s one of the questions for artists to answer when they submit designs for a large-scale mural at 117 Willow St, beside the entrance to Wāihirere Lane and directly opposite the new Tauranga Library.

The wall will be particularly visible from the new Creation Station at Te Manawataki o Te Papa, making it one of

the first public art opportunities to emerge alongside the developing civic precinct.

Creative Bay of Plenty strategy and capability lead Annie Hill said the site offers artists an opportunity to respond to a changing part of the city.

“This is a particularly significant opportunity for an artist to create a work that will sit at the heart of Tauranga’s transformation,” Hill said.

“Located at the entrance to Wāihirere Lane and directly opposite the new Tauranga Library, The mural has the potential to become an important visual connection between the lane, the library and the wider Te Manawataki o Te Papa civic precinct.

Creative Bay of Plenty strategy and capability lead Annie Hill at the site for the new mural. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

“For the successful artist,, it is an “Public art has an imp portant role to opportunity to create a bold, innovative, play in creating places that feel vibrant, and enduring work that will be seen by welcoming and connected to their thousands of people and contribute to communities, bringing creativity into the cultural identity and experience of everyday spaces and inviting people to Tauranga’s evolving city centre.” pause, look, interpret, and engage with There was no prescribed design for the place around them. the mural. Artists were encouraged to “Through our involvement in more take inspiration from the surrounding than 20 public artworks across the city landscape, local stories, the site centre, we have seen the value itself or the wider city centre these works can bring to the The proposed area development. urban environment and to for the new mural.

Photo / Supplied They are also asked the creative community. to consider the wall’s “This mural provides relationship with another opportunity the new library and to build on that work, how the work might adding a distinctive, complement existing high-quality artwork to murals around Wāihirere the Te Manawataki o Te Lane and the rear of the Papa precinct and creating Pollett Legal building. a shared point of connection The wall is not new to for residents, visitors, and the public art. In 2020 it featured creative community.”

Taiohi, a mural by Irish artist Fin DAC The project is expected to take place (Finbarr Notte), depicting a masked in late 2026 or early 2027 but was wāhine standing over the whenua of her dependent on funding. ancestors. The mural was later removed The building owner/manager plans when the wall required treatment. to apply to Tauranga City Council’s The wall had since been waterproofed contestable Public Art Fund and seek other and repainted. sponsorship once an artist was selected.

Hill said the building’s owner-manager Artists have until 12pm September 30 would prefer a design covering the lower to submit a concept, description, quote half of the wall and the higher vertical and budget, examples of previous work, section on the right, although artists estimated completion time and availability could propose a larger-scale treatment if for December or January. their concept calls for it.

The full artist brief is available from “We hope this mural will make a Creative Bay of Plenty. Proposals and meaningful contribution to the identity questions can be sent to Annie Hill at: and experience of Tauranga’s evolving city annie@creativebop.org.nz Rosalie Liddle Crawford centre,” Hill said.

The Weekend Sun

15

Friday 18 September 2026

Women’s lifestyle expo Re-elect on this weekend!

Mark

Arundel

The Tauranga Women’s Lifestyle Expo returns to Mercury Baypark this weekend with its largest range of exhibitors in recent years.

The two-day event, on September 19-20, will feature 130 exhibitors showcasing products and services across lifestyle, health, beauty, food, travel and craft sectors.

Visitors will be able to browse a mix of established brands and emerging businesses, with organisers promising a weekend of shopping, inspiration and entertainment.

New exhibitors this year include Porini Design Studio, bringing a collection of fine jewellery, and Clevedon Sourdough.

Returning favourites include activewear brand Lorna Jane, natural wellness and skincare company Parker and Co, and Cuore Di Gelato, serving authentic Italian gelato.

The expo will also feature an Artisan Zone highlighting New Zealand makers and craftspeople, alongside a Taste Zone offering samples of gourmet food and beverages, including coffee, sweet treats and handcrafted spirits.

At seminar sessions, visitors will hear from industry experts on topics such as beauty, health and personal finance.

NZME Events head Emily Travers

2026 TECT Elections

Tauranga Women’s Lifestyle Expo is at Mercury Baypark on September 19-20 with 130 exhibitors, new seminar sessions and a chance to win a trip to Hawaii. Photo / Supplied

said strong support from businesses had helped make this year’s Tauranga expo the biggest in recent years.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the support we’ve received from many businesses, helping make this year’s Tauranga Women’s Lifestyle Expo our biggest event in recent years,” Travers said.

“The range of products is phenomenal and the atmosphere is always fantastic.

We love seeing groups of girlfriends and

mums and daughters shopping together, discovering new brands, sampling products and enjoying a relaxed day out.”

A competition to win a holiday for two to Hawaii, including return flights to Honolulu and seven nights’ accommodation in Waikiki, courtesy of World Travellers, will also be on offer.

Purchase tickets online at iTicket or at the door. Children aged 5 and under can attend free.

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Friday 18 September 2026

Revised Welcome Bay Rd plans released for community feedback The Welcome Bay community is being asked to provide feedback on revised local transport improvements designed to enhance safety, reduce congestion and support more reliable journeys while major infrastructure projects are underway around the city.

After community feedback received in late 2025, Tauranga City Council has updated plans for a proposed high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on Welcome Bay Rd and is seeking further input on whether traffic signals should be installed at the Kaitemako Rd intersection now or later when demand increases.

HOV lanes, also known as transit lanes, are available for vehicles with two or more passengers and help reduce congestion and improve travel times.

Welcome Bay Ward councillor Hautapu Baker said community feedback had directly influenced the revised design.

“We heard clearly from residents that retaining the centre median was important for safety and access. We’ve listened to that feedback and updated the design so people can continue to safely

The Weekend Sun

16

A high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane, for vehicles with two or more passengers, is planned for Welcome Bay Rd near Meadowviews Drive.

turn into and out of properties and side roads.”

Retaining the centre median means on-road cycle lanes would be removed and replaced with a new shared path for people walking and cycling.

“This is a good example of council listening to the community and finding a balanced solution that supports safer turning movements while still providing improved facilities

for people walking and cycling,” Baker said.

A feedback period opened September 15 and will close 5pm on Friday, October 2.

A community drop-in session will be held from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesday, September 29, at Waipuna Park Pavilion on Kaitemako Rd. For more information, visit: letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/ keeptaurangamoving

Tauranga lady urges others to be Pink Ribbon volunteers A Bay of Plenty woman diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year is encouraging others to spare two hours of their time to help support New Zealanders affected by the disease.

Lauren Todd is among volunteers backing Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s Pink Ribbon Street Appeal on October 16-17.

Organisers are seeking more volunteers across the Bay of Plenty to collect donations at supermarkets, shopping centres and community locations, a media release said.

The appeal is the foundation’s longest-running fundraiser and helps support the estimated 210 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the BOP each year, and more than 3700 people nationwide.

For Todd, volunteering is personal after being diagnosed with breast cancer in April at the age of 48. “I was supported by Breast Cancer Foundation NZ early on,” she said. “I understand the value of donations first-hand and need to ‘pay it forward’ by helping to raise awareness and encourage generosity.”

Pink Ribbon Street Appeal vollunteer Lauren Tod dd.

Welcome Bay improvements Join us for a chat at our drop-in session:

Tuesday 29 September 5pm-7pm Waipuna Park Pavilion, 25 Kaitemako Road Take the survey. Shape the journey. letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/keeptaurangamoving

Photo / Supplied

Foundation chief executive Vanesa Sorenson said the impact of the appeal extended well beyond collection sites.

“A pink bucket may look like a small thing, but the generosity behind it helps someone get trusted advice when breast cancer turns their life upside down,” she said.

People interested in volunteering can choose a collection location and shift time that suits them, with all materials and support provided. Registrations close midday October 15.

To sign up, visit: https:// pinkribbonvolunteer.org.nz.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 18 September 2026

17 news and views for the over 55s

Young at H Heart eart Festival Festival returns retu to Tauranga

Tauranga’s older community will take centre stage this October when the Young at Heart Festival returns for a week of activities, entertainment and opportunities to connect.

From October 1-8, the festival is delivered by Tauranga City Council and Envirohub Bay of Plenty, with

the programme coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons on October 1.

“The festival brings together older people from across Tauranga to enjoy shared experiences, discover new interests and connect with their community,” Tauranga City Council head of community outcomes and emergency management Paula Naude said.

“It’s also a chance to

acknowledge and celebrate the many ways older residents contribute to the city every day.”

The programme features activities for a wide range of interests, from fitness and social events to creative workshops, music, films, tours and educational sessions. Highlights include a Hangi ‘n’ Hoedown, pickleball, a sand art workshop, genealogy sessions, social badminton, Pilates, Taoist Tai Chi and a tour of Tauranga’s wastewater treatment plant.

The festival launches on October 1 at The Atrium Conference Centre on Otūmoetai Rd, while the popular Senior Choir Concert will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church on October 3, raising funds for Waipuna Hospice. Last year’s concert attracted about 500 tickkett salles.

Other events include a multicultural seniors’ lunch, Forest & Bird guided walk, bus tour and tree talk, and a closing tree-planting event at Gordon Carmichael Reserve.

Many activities are free or lowcost, with some offering festival tasters of programmes that run throughout the year.

Full programme and ticket information is available on

www.whatsontauranga.co.nz with printed programmes also

0800 520 046

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Friday 18 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

18

Surf therapy trust riding a

What began as a pilot programme for women at Mount Maunganui has grown into a new community trust, with plans to bring the benefits of surf therapy to more people.

Surf Therapy Trust will officially launch at Classic Flyers on Tuesday, September

22, celebrating the women who’ve taken part in its first two programmes and looking ahead to its future.

The trust’s initial programmes, known as Salt Sisters, ran late 2025 and early 2026, combining surf therapy, therapeutic writing circles and one-to-one counselling.

Co-founder and therapeutic lead Annericke Leonard

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said some of the most powerful moments had come from watching women persevere with challenges in the water and then carry that experience into their lives on land.

“It’s really like a mirror for them.”

She described learning to stand on a surfboard as a “kinesthetic metaphor” – a physical experience that could reflect the challenges people were facing in everyday life.

Some participants struggled repeatedly to stand on their boards but eventually succeeded. “To see the woman not give up in the surf and then carrying that through to whatever it was that they were fighting in the real world, it was like this sign for them. It was such a confirmation for all of them that they can do hard things.”

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Leonard said Salt Sisters supports women struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, including those experiencing anxiety, low mood, chronic stress, overwhelming or difficult life transitions and social isolation.

“We really care about serving mothers in any stage or phase, because from them the health of their children and families flow.”

Fellow co-founder and qualified

surf instructor Kirstin Pascoe said one participant arrived with significant physical health problems and on the programme’s first day, she needed support to walk into the water at Pilot Bay. By the programme’s end, she was carrying her board across the beach, paddling through the waves and catching waves back to shore.

She subsequently got back on her motorbike and began ridi iding again. i

said. The programmes had also begun creating a cycle of support.

Four women from the first programme returned as peer supporters for the second, while several former participants were working towards surf coaching qualifications.

“The idea is that it goes a full circle,” Pascoe said.

The trust had secured its first

Not just physicaal

Pascoe said the transfoormation was significant because the woman’s fears and healtth issues were not simply physicaal.

“They weren’t just reall physically but also very much emotionally and mentaally too,” she said.

Leonard said participants repeatedly talked about being outside, learning a new physical skill and developing relationships with other women.

“Being in nature, being with my sisters and learning a skill that I can take for the Surf Therapy co-founders Andricka Leonard rest of my life,” she and d Kirstiin Pascoe. Photos / Anè McGrail

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The Weekend Sun

Friday 18 September 2026

19

supporting wave of success Berberine, healthy blood sugar

substantial grant, to purchase a surf equipment trailer.

More equipment is still needed, including surfboards, wetsuits and leashes, and support for lunches during programmes.

Currently, the founders and volunteers give their time without payment.

Leonard said people could also support participants.

“We would also love for people to sponsor a Salt Sister participant for $300.”

Th Thee $300 would cover the cost of a writing circle venue and

a 1:1 session with a registered clinician.

“It covers nothing else, but if we had 10 ladies and each had $300 in the game it would help a lot,” she said.

Future plans

The founders also hoped to develop programmes for different groups, potentially including teenage girls and older people, and less intensive programmes for people experiencing anxiety, depression or loneliness.

“We really want to make surf

therapy as accessible as you can,” Leonard said.

The September 22 official launch is open to the public.

It will be held at Classic Flyers at 7pm. The event is free, but ticketed. Reserve a spot at: https://tinyurl.com/3cy9z5ef It will host the first public screening of a documentary filmed during the first Salt Sisters programme, and four former participants will speak about its impact on their lives.

The trust will outline ways the community can get involved.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Surf Therapy has run two Salt Sister programmes at Mount Maunganui so far.

Saving your skin shoulldn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg...

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A concerning New Zealand health statistic is the number of people with type-2 diabetes.

About 5% of us have type-2 diabetes, and a further 20% have uncontrolled blood sugar.

The tragedy is that poor blood sugar control is often highly treatable through a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates, yet rich in low-starch plant foods, good fats and protein.

Please contact me if you’d like a copy of my Healthy Eating Guide.

While diet is the priority, wellformulated supplements can also support blood sugar control. Two nutrients that have received growing attention are berberine, derived from Indian barberry, and chromium polynicotinate, a vitamin B3 form of the trace mineral chromium.

Berberine is recognised for its support of AMPK, an enzyme involved in improving glucose use, reducing over-production of insulin and helping to inhibit excess liver production of blood sugar. Supporting better glucose

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Chromium polynicotinate has a different yet complementary role. It supports transport of blood sugar into cells. In doing so, chromium supports normal insulin responsiveness. The best supplements combine water-soluble berberine with chromium polynicotinate, as berberine supports cellular energy regulation while chromium supports insulin responsiveness.

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Friday 18 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

20

Welcomingg the weird I must say, I do like me a bit of weird.

Across No. 2001 6. Cuddling (10) 5. Ornamental stone 8. Passionate (4) (5) 9. Old (4) 7. Town (NI) (5) 10. Understood (5) 13. Parrot (3) 11. Test (4) 14. Swing (7) 12. Auckland suburb 15. Ablaze (5) (9) 17. Enthusiastic (6) 16. Beach-Golden Bay 18. Land (6) (9) 19. Sweet potato (6) 20. Aeon (4) 21. Seasoned (5) J A C K G R I F F I T H S 22. Court (5) A F A O A O DM I R O N T 23. Telltale (4) U N D E R C E N L A R G E 24. Fish (4) N E G CM K A L M V N PW 25. Former Governor T E E T E R G E S C A P E General (4,6) Y B C A N S G T I J D E D Y A B A T E G F E L O N O Down G X I D E I G E N A K L T 1. Bargain (6) R E L I E F G T A K A H E O R L M V D C S M I L L N 2. Denounce (7) WA I T A R A N O N I O N 3. Journalist (6) T MO L D E B A U E G V I 4. Ring (6) H A NM E R S P R I N G S Solution 2000

Scott Walker.

There is real appeal to art that pushes boundaries, that makes grand creative gestures. Part of the appeal is simply the pushing of boundaries.

You can argue all you like – as people have for nearly a century – about the artistic merits of Marcel Duchamp exhibiting an upside-down urinal signed “R. Mutt, 1917” and titled Fountain; but it certainly pushed boundaries.

But extreme art need not be just a gimmick; it can also be revelatory. I saw the eight-hour black and white Hungarian film Satantango in the cinema. It is dauntingly slow, opening with a 10-minute shot of cows emerging from a rundown barn.

But by halfway you’d entered a different world, you were living in that film; and you could only do that by sitting through four hours of people trudging along muddy country roads. You had to do it to feel it.

A trance

There are similarly singular albums: Gavin Bryar’s Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet (1971) is 74-minute piece, composed entirely from a 15-second loop of an unknown homeless man singing a four-line gospel fragment.

He is joined by building harmonies of strings and brass and in the final movement Tom Waits singing. It’s kinda amazing, a weird meditative trance.

Or take Scott Walker’s final album.

Yes, the Scott Walker, who created sublime 1960s power pop with The Walker Brothers’ The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More. He went all weird after that, culminating in Soused,

Photo / Jake Walters

a collaboration with Seattle guitar drone extremists Sunn O))), where ugly, distorted soundscapes meet Walker’s operatic stylings and baffling songs.

Grand gestures are to be applauded, I reckon. Less scary but equally grand is 69 Love Songs from The Magnetic Fields, which does exactly what it says on the tin: three CDs each containing 23 love songs. If you ever wondered how many different ways you can write a love song, here’s a living lesson.

Locally, it’s why Loserpalooza is so cool, with bands such as Threat.

Meet.Protocol, Grown Downz, Everything Is F****ed, and False Waltons testing extremes.

Out of the ordinary

Such extremes are not usual in Tauranga but let me offer something a little out of the ordinary. Scottish music meets jazz in a concert led by a drummer. That’s John Rae’s Celtic Roots, coming to Tauranga Boys’

College’s Graham Young Youth Theatre on October 2. I have no idea what this will sound like but given the pedigree it should be simply brilliant.

Any concert offering “a journey through Scotland’s landscapes and New York’s vibrant jazz scene” should be interesting.

The musicians with Rae are bassist Jack Harris, pianist Ben Wilcock and Oscar Laven on sax.

I know – not that weird.

But on October 7 another drummer, Kieran Monaghan, under his moniker Vegetable.machine.animal, performs at The Mount Tavern, where he jams with biosignals produced by plants, a live “conversation” between plants, fungi, machines and human musicians. Local acts StellaVision and Violetta & the Vendettas are opening.

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

www.tinyurl.com/ytdehfke

BOP Steamers need your support It’s time to rally behind the Bay of Plenty Steamers as they return home for a huge Battle of the Bays against Hawke’s Bay at Tauranga Domain tomorrow, September 19, kicking off 2.05pm.

The Steamers will be determined to respond after last Sunday’s heavy 43-12 loss to Southland, now sitting 10th in the 2026 Hilux NPC standings. In

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their way is Hawke’s Bay, the competition leaders, who have lost once this season.

There’s plenty at stake, too, with the Steamers defending the Macrae Shelford Bay Cup. Blue and Gold supporters – this is your team.

Get to the Tauranga Domain and get behind them!

Young artists share vision for peace

The creativity and optimism of local tamariki (children) and taiohi (youth) will be celebrated this month when Tūmanako! – Children's Artworks for a Peaceful World opens at Te Ao Mārama - Pāpāmoa Library.

The exhibition opens with a public ceremony at 10am on September 26 and will remain on display until October 11. Admission is free.

Tūmanako, meaning ‘hope’, is an annual exhibition that invites children and young people to express their aspirations for a peaceful, inclusive and nuclear-free world through art.

Held annually to commemorate Hiroshima Day, the exhibition encourages young people to reflect on the causes of conflict and the importance of peace, compassion and understanding.

This year's theme is: “Kotahi te kākano whakaaro, he nui ngā hua o te rākau houhou rongo” – in English, “One seed of thought grows the forest of peace”.

Originally launched in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/ Wellington in 2015 to commemorate Hiroshima Day, Tūmanako has grown into a nationwide exhibition, travelling to communities throughout Aotearoa.

The Weekend Sun

Friday 18 September 2026

21

DIVAS! Return to city for Christmas special DIVAS! – the smassh-hit show that celeebrates some of thee most heralded femaale artists of our tim me – is returning to Tauranga for one massive arena concert on November 28.

The DIVAS! Christmas Speciaal will feature a stunn ning night of hits from the greatest Divas of thee past six decades, includ ding a sprinkle oof Ch hristmas songs The DIVAS! 2024 Tauranga tto kicck-off the festive premiere sold out two shows within sseason n in the Bay. a matter of days. Photo / Supplied Thiss year’s show will

be performed by four of New Zealand’s most treasured vocalists and entertainers; the original lineup of Jackie Clarke, Tina Cross, Suzanne Lynch will be expanded with the addition of iconic singer/songwriter Annie Crummer.

Along with the phenomenal DIVAS! live band, the all-star Christmas Special features new songs, a larger venue, arenascale production, and a festive theme to party into summer, Events Innovated managing director Heath Ingham

said.

“After the 2024 Tauranga premiere sold-out two shows within a matter of days, DIVAS! went on a national tour to full houses and rave reviews,” Ingham said.

“The feedback from the last shows was incredible.

Audiences were blown away, so we’re excited to be bringing it back to Tauranga and putting it

into Mercury Baypark Arena with a new show, bigger production, adding the legendary Annie Crummer and the extra touch of some Christmas songs too.”

Ingham said the show will include songs from some of the best acts in the business, including Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Adele,

P!NK, and many more.

“It’s a super fun show for any age group – 30-yearolds are dancing alongside 80-year-olds. “It’s just an amazing night out.”

Tickets go on sale today online at: www.divas.co.nz DIVAS! Christmas Special is proudly presented by Events Innovated, and supported by The Weekend Sun, UNO Magazine and The Breeze FM.

Springfest brings 300 athletes to Te Puke Te Puke Gymsport will be bursting into spring colour when more than 300 young athletes descend on the club for its annual Springfest recreation competition on September 19-20.

The two-day event will bring together recreational gymnasts, tumblers and parkour athletes from clubs stretching from Hamilton to Taranaki.

“Registrations closed on September 4, and we have 345 participants registered,” Te Puke Gymsport general manager Erin McKenna said.

“Springfest is designed for athletes attending recreational gymsport classes and is a fun competition where they can showcase the skills that they have learned during the year and gain ribbons or medals.”

The event is for athletes from about age 5 through to teens aged 15-16.

Te Puke Gymsport has more than 100 parkour students each week at classes.

“It’s great to have some competitions for

them too,” McKenna said.

The competition will have a distinctly springthemed atmosphere, with the gym decorated with flowers, balloons and other decorations.

“We call it our spring festival recreation competition,” McKenna said.

“The gym will be full of all the spring flowers and balloons; it’s a lot of fun.”

The influx of athletes and their families is expected to bring plenty of visitors into Te Puke for the weekend.

The regional reach reflects the growth of Te Puke Gymsport, which began as the Te Puke Gymnasium Club in 1954 before moving to its Station Rd premises in 2009. The club now offers gymnastics, tumbling, trampoline and parkour programmes.

Its continued growth is also behind plans for the proposed Bay of Plenty Movement HQ at Centennial Park – a partnership between Te Puke Gymsport, Te Puke Dance Studios, the Graeme Dingle Foundation and Te Puke Junior Football Club.

The proposed $5 million facility would provide a multi-purpose sport, recreation, fitness and wellness hub for the community.

McKenn na said the partnership had compleeted the first $200,000 phase need ded for planning, with building plaans being developed before they begin funding applications.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Eleven-year-olds Harper Bazley, Isobel McKenna, and Theresa Bliesze are looking forward to Springfest on September 19-20. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

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Friday 18 September 2026

The Weekend Sun

22

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Computer Services Painting & Plastering Specialists Roof painting/spraying Interior/Exterior Painting Exterior aluminium window spraying Plasterboard repairs (holes/cracks) Wallpaper removal - preparation plus skim Tauranga wide - 30 years experience

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The Western Bay of Plenty District Council is renewing sports eld/hard court bookings for the coming summer season. There is no charge to the public for this. However, Sports Clubs and casual users still need to book elds/hard courts to ensure availability. Bookings also allow Council to monitor usage and predict future demand, as well as manage maintenance, like mowing and turf renovations, around facility use.

Please apply in writing as soon as possible. Application forms are available from the Council website www.westernbay.govt.nz, or by telephoning, 0800 926 732 Written applications to Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Private Bag 12803, Tauranga Mail Centre, Tauranga 3143 Or email: reservebookings@westernbay.govt.nz

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IRELAND, John Sands.

Passed away peacefully on Friday 4th September 2026 aged 89 years. A man whose smile filled every room!

Very loving husband to Gay, married 63 wonderful years.

Awesome Dad to Saul, Donna, Paula, Louize, Jo, Maree. Much loved father in law to Philip, Nikki, Glenn, Gavin, Murray.

Grandad to 11 and Great grandad to 13.

“May heaven be your next stop” Thanks a million to the amazing team at the Tauranga Hospital and Hodgson House.

Messages may be sent to the Ireland family, c/Hope Family Funerals, 2A Loop Road, RD 6, Tauranga 3176 or on hopefunerals.co.nz.

Click on Funeral Notices

Churches Active In Our Community

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Offer

29/02/2024

All NORDIC mobility scooters meet high international Quality and Safety standards.

technicians available for your peace of mind.

P hone: Phone:

0800 69 66 73

For yo our FREE demonstration n at your ho ome NOW *terms and cond ditions apply.

visit www.nordicmobility.nz

NORDIC CRUISER

Mid-S Mid Sized Town Sized Town C Cruiser. ruiser.

$ Fro om only 30per week**

for 36 months with a $1500 Deposit

**sub bject to terms and conditions.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Weight Capacity – 150kg Weight with Batteries – 85kg Motor Size – 24V / 400W PACKAGE INCLUDES Max Forward Speed – 10km/h FREE 3 year Get Home Safe program Distance Range – up to 30km Ground Clearance – 9cm FREE Tool Kit and d Safety Flag Batteries – 12V / 35Ahx2 FREE Cane and Cane Holder Overall Dimensions – 1270x610x1080mm FREE Dustcover &Rear Storage Bag Full Front and Rear Suspension High Back Swivel Seat and Adjjustable Tiller

NORDIC LUXURY EXPLORER LORER

NORDIC LUXURY CRUISER

$ From onlly 35 per week**

$ Fro om onlly 35 per week**

for 36 months with a $2000 Deposit

**subject to terms and conditions.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Weight Capacity – 180kg Weight with Batteries – 147kg Motor Size – 24V / 800W Max Forward Speed – 15km/h Distance Range – up to 60km Ground Clearance – 12cm Batteries – 12V / 75Ahx2 Overall Dimensions – 1480x640x1120mm Full Front and Rear Suspension

PACKAGE INCLUDES

for 36 month hs with a $1500 Deposit

Large e Heavy Dutyy Luxury Scooter..

FREE 3 year AA A Get Home Safe program FREE Tool Kiit and Saffety Flag FREE Cane and Cane e Holder FREE Rear Storage Bag FREE Dustco over F F REE Windscreen Luxury High Back Adju ustable Swivel Seat Adjustable Tiller

**su ubject to te erms and conditions.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Sport rty t Luxury

Scooter.

Weight Capacity – 150kg PACKAGE INCLUDES Weight with Batteries – 110kg A Get Home Safe program FREE 3 year AA Motor Size – 24V / 800W FREE Tool Kit and d Safety Flag Max Forward Speed – 15km/h FREE Cane and Cane Holder Distance Range – up to 50km Ground Clearance – 12cm FREE Rear Storag ge Bag & Windscreen Batteries – 12V / 55Ahx2 FREE Dustcover Overall Dimensions – 1380x630x1150mm Luxury High Back Adjustable Swivel Seat Full Front and Rear Suspension Adjustable Tiller