Events will take place across the city on Wednesday, 31 December, from 6pm to 9.30pm at the following locations:
- Tauranga waterfront – Tauranga city centre
- Tauranga Racecourse – Greerton
- Blake Park - Mount Maunganui
- Gordon Spratt Reserve – Pāpāmoa
- Fergusson Park – Matua
Designed as fun, inclusive events for all ages, the celebrations are the perfect excuse to pack a picnic, gather the whānau and head along to enjoy live entertainment, activities and relaxed community vibes.
“We had an incredible turnout and atmosphere at each location last year,” says Nelita Byrne, Venues and Events Manager at Tauranga City Council.
“We’re excited to once again deliver these celebrations across the city, including our low-sensory event in Matua, and to offer a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter for the full Matua celebration to support our hearing-impaired community.”
Matua will again host an earlier low-sensory and accessible celebration from 5pm to 6pm at Fergusson Park. This hour is tailored for those with sensory sensitivities, offering the same festive spirit but with smaller crowds and reduced volume levels, before the main celebration begins.
Each event will be hosted by an MC and feature a range of free entertainment and activities, including face painting, roving performers, magicians, circus performers, backyard games and photo booths.
Food trucks will be available at all locations, or attendees are welcome to bring their own kai and enjoy a picnic with friends and whānau.
The evening will wrap up at 9.30pm with fireworks at all locations, except for Greerton which will feature its own laser light show delivering a spectacular finale to the night.
Live music and entertainment highlights:
Matua – Fergusson Park
The low-sensory hour running 5pm-6pm will be hosted by Teina Boyd, Accessibility Advisor from Tauranga City Council, it will feature acoustic music from Adam McLean, alongside mini golf, Fun First Football and backyard games.
The main celebration will be hosted by Hayley Bath from The Hits Radio station, with live music from Indecisive and Third Space, including their epic pipe band. There will be a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter on stage at the event.
Pāpāmoa – Gordon Spratt Reserve
The MC for the night will be Annie G. Crowd favourites Dan Sharp & Laney and Toner & Franks will be playing feel-good live music, plus a vibrant Bhangra performance showcasing Punjabi folk dance. For the kids, there's Fun First Football, curling, face painting, roving performers, backyard games, circus workshops, a pop-up recording booth and a photo-booth.
Mount Maunganui – Blake Park
The MC for the night will be Katie Berry. With high-energy performances from the Jonny Baird Duo and The Generators, alongside Tauranga Girls’ College Asian Culture Group and Srikandi from the BOP Indonesian Community. Family entertainment includes face painting, roving performers, backyard games, and a photo booth.
Tauranga city centre – waterfront
The MC for the night will be Jonelle Baxter. The northern end of the waterfront will come alive with live performances from Izzy & Moe and The McLean Brothers. For the kids there's face painting and roving entertainment from Flames of Plenty and Freelunch Street Theatre.
Greerton – Tauranga Racecourse
The MC for the night will be Matt Hobbs. Greerton’s celebration will feature live music from Wheriko & Matty Buxton and Sugafix, and performances from the Punjabi Bhangra Group. Family entertainment includes face painting, roving performers, backyard games, playtime castles and a photo booth. Wrapping up with an impressive laser light show at 9.30pm.
Please note: all Tauranga City Council New Year’s Eve events are alcohol, vape and smoke-free. Permanent and temporary alcohol-free areas will be in place across the city.
Maps of permanent and temporary alcohol areas in the city can be found on our website.
For more information on New Year’s Eve in Tauranga, visit tauranga.govt.nz/nye.