This evening, Tauranga welcomed the New Year with five incredible community celebrations held across the city.
The events held in the City Centre, Greerton, Matua, Mount Maunganui, and Pāpāmoa came alive with live music, roving entertainment, food trucks, and fun-filled kids’ activities.
A stunning fireworks display lit up the night sky at 9.30pm, serving as the grand finale for most events. In Greerton, the evening concluded with an impressive laser light show.
Laser light show at the Tauranga Racecourse. Photo credit: Simon Dawson Photography.
Tauranga City Council’s Venues and Events Manager, Nelita Byrne, was ecstatic about this year’s attendance at the celebrations.
“Tauranga City Council takes great pride in uniting the community at these events to celebrate the end of 2024. To be able to come together and bring in the new year as a community is very special”.
Fergusson Park event in Matua. Photo credit: Simon Dawson Photography.
Celebrations began early in Matua with a low-sensory, accessible event taking place at Fergusson Park. This event ensured attendees could enjoy the New Year in a setting that felt comfortable and welcoming. Designed for smaller crowds with reduced ambient noise, the accessible celebration delivered plenty of fun while creating an inclusive and safe environment. It’s part of Council’s ongoing efforts to foster a family-friendly, community-focused approach to New Year’s Eve.
The success of this event resonated with attendees, including singer Sophie Maud, who performed an acoustic set at the low-sensory event. She shared, "I love that the council has made an effort to hold a more inclusive event for families who may not typically be able to attend events due to noise. It’s great to have an option like this for these families."
Bay of Plenty Indonesian community performers. Photo credit: Simon Dawson Photography.
Dazzling dance performances from members of the Punjabi, Chinese, Indonesian, Cook Island, Indian, and Middle Eastern communities highlighted and celebrated Tauranga’s diverse culture as part of a collaboration with Multicultural Tauranga and Tauranga City Council.
The food trucks rounded out the experience, offering a delicious variety of kai that reflected the city’s multicultural community.
With a focus on providing safe, fun, and family-oriented celebrations, these five fantastic events brought Tauranga to life with music, dance, and a shared sense of community to celebrate the new year.