4pm: Kicking off our SunLive coverage tonight, it’s time to celebrate New Year’s Eve, the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, with family and friends at one of Tauranga’s free community celebrations.
It’s been a gruelling year for many. Tauranga has a huge lot of great entertainment lined up for the five free community events across the city tonight, and we hope to see you in front of our cameras as we continue our rolling coverage.
There are five events, running concurrently at Matua, Tauranga Waterfront, Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa and Greerton.
SunLive plans to capture some of the moments as performers, magical wonderful characters and musicians entertain the crowds. There’ll be kids’ rides, music and street food.
Expect to see Alice in Wonderland-themed entertainers with the Mad Hatter, butterflies and rabbits appearing. Dance to live music from the stage bands, and enjoy roving entertainment, food trucks, plenty of fun activities for the kids and a local MC to host at each venue.
A variety of cultural performances will be featured, with Filipino, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Indian, Cambodian and Pacific Island dance groups and individuals taking to the stages.
Each of the five events will finish with fireworks at 9.30pm, except the Greerton celebration which will finish with a laser light show, which will make for some great photos. This is in place of fireworks, due to the many horses and livestock that live nearby.
Fireworks will go off again at midnight across the city to welcome in 2023. People are encouraged to watch these from their homes – they should be seen from a backyard or deck.
Watching the fireworks on The Strand in Tauranga on New Years’ Eve in 2020. Photo: John Borren.
All five community events run from 6pm to 9.30pm, so bring your family, friends, a water bottle, sunblock and come on down to enjoy the night.
There is also a low-sensory and accessible event at Fergusson Park in Matua from 5.30pm – 6pm which is for limited crowds and noise for those with sensory sensitivities.
At Mount Maunganui, Matua and Greerton events expect to have your face painted, while at the downtown Tauranga waterfront event, Circus in a Flash will be inviting you to try the ‘Have-a-Go Circus’.
As well as the performers, free face painting and some great stage bands, dinner is covered with many food stalls offering a great variety of dinner options, except at the Tauranga watefront. All vendors will have mobile EFTPOS.
Water refill stations will be available onsite, so attendees can bring along their own bottles to refill them. Please remember to keep your pets inside.
Laser light show in Greerton at Tauranga racecourse in 2020. Photo: Daniel Hines.
What to bring
- A picnic blanket and/or something to sit on
- Bring your own kai too, in case the food trucks don’t have what you’d like to eat. The city centre waterfront celebration won’t have food trucks, but there are lots of restaurants in the area.
- A full water bottle
- With the sun still being strong in the afternoon, remember to slip, slop, slap and wrap
- For those with sensory sensitivities, bring headphones to limit sound at the main events
- Bring cash or card to purchase drinks and snacks. Please note some of the amusement rides will not have EFTPOS facilities so cash is best.
Alcohol-free events
Please note these are alcohol and smoke free events, and temporary and permanent liquor bans are in place in and around each site. Police have the power to search for alcohol and issue a fine.
Getting there – transport, road closures and parking
We encourage residents to bike, walk, bus or share a ride to the New Year’s Eve Community Celebrations. Bayhopper buses will run normal services throughout the day on New Year’s Eve, see the timetable here. If you do need to drive please find event parking details below.
Tauranga City Centre
A full road closure will be in place from 5pm on December 31 2022 to 2am on January 1 2023 along The Strand, from the Devonport Road roundabout down to the Harington Street roundabout. There will be no access to The Strand via Hamilton Street.
Parking on The Strand will be restricted from 6am on December 31 2022 until 8am on January 1 2023. Resident access and access for deliveries will be maintained during the road closure. Car parking is available for mobility cardholders in the northern waterfront car park.
You can find information on parking in the city centre here.
Gordon Spratt Reserve, Pāpāmoa
Event car parking is available on site but is limited. Designated parking is available for mobility cardholders in the main car parking area adjacent to the Pāpāmoa Sports and Recreation Centre.
Fergusson Park, Matua
Event car parking is available on site but is limited, parking is available for mobility cardholders in the main car parking area adjacent to the Otūmoetai Football Clubrooms.
The Fergusson Park boat ramp will be closed to the public from 3pm on Saturday, December 31 2022 until the site is clear.
Tauranga Racecourse, Greerton
Event car parking is available on site but is limited, designated parking for mobility cardholders is available within the main racecourse entrance off Cameron Rd.
Blake Park, Mount Maunganui
Limited car parking is available near the event site at Mount Sports Centre. Designated parking for mobility cardholders within the Bay Oval car parking area off Miro/Kawaka Streets.
Animals and pets
Although it’s a time of celebration for humans, Tauranga City Council Animal Services Team Leader Brent Lincoln recommends keeping an eye on your pets throughout the night as fireworks can be frightening for animals.
“Most of us love the popping and bright flashes of fireworks, but our furry-friends won’t be as impressed,” says Brent.
“Keep your pets (small or large) safe and secure for the night. Make sure your cat or dog is microchipped and ensure the correct details are recorded with your council. If your pet somehow runs away from home this will help you reunite.”
Brent also suggested registering your microchipped animal at animalregister.co.nz.
Have a happy and safe New Year
Police are encourage people celebrating New Year’s Eve to enjoy themselves, but to be sensible, look after your mates and make sure everyone gets home safely.
“There will be a strong Police presence in traditional holiday hotspots across the country tonight, focused on prevention and helping those celebrating to stay safe,” says Acting Commissioner of Police Glenn Dunbier.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure our friends and loved ones are safe this summer, so keep an eye out and report any concerns you have.”
If you feel unsafe or have concerns about dangerous, illegal or suspicious behaviour, call Police on 111.
“Any time, every day, we are here to help – Ao te pō, pō te ao, kei konei mātou hei āwhina,” says Acting Commissioner of Police Glenn Dunbier.
“Have a happy and safe New Year.”
