Welcome 2018 with a night of family-friendly events and fireworks. Tauranga’s residents and visitors are invited to celebrate the start of the New Year with families and friends at Council’s community celebrations. There will be fireworks and a special kid's countdown at 9.30pm for little ones who can't make it to midnight. New Year’s Eve fireworks will also be seen at midnight from across the city and residents and visitors are invited to watch them from their deck or backyard, ideally from a slightly elevated point.
CBD New Year’s Eve community celebration
Family-friendly entertainment including a Mayoral BBQ with free sausages, roving performers, samba, games and more will see the central city waterfront come alive. The celebration starts at 6pm, finishing at 9.30pm with fireworks off a barge.
Residents and visitors are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the celebration with the local community. Food stalls will be offering a great variety of dinner options complementing the many restaurants on The Strand.
A full road closure will be in place from 2pm, 31 December 2017 to 2am, 1 January 2018 on The Strand, from Devonport Road roundabout down to Harington Street roundabout to ensure a safe event. Both roundabouts will be open to allow traffic flows. There will be no access to The Strand via Hamilton and Wharf Streets. Parking on The Strand will be restricted from 6am on 31 December until 8am on 1 January on The Strand. Parking buildings and off-street car parks are free on the day and open 24/7.
This event takes place within a permanent alcohol-free zone to ensure a safe and community friendly atmosphere. Police and security will have a zero tolerance on possession of alcohol.
Find out more at www.mytauranga.co.nz/CBD
Papamoa’s New Year’s Eve community celebration
Papamoa’s growing community is invited to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their neighbours at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa. The all-ages entertainment includes kids rides, music, roving performers, a petting zoo, a Frozen show, yummy street food and Batman visiting in his Batmobile. The event kicks off at 6pm, finishing off with fireworks at the kids-friendly time of 9.30pm.
The event, tailored for the local community, encourages all attendees to come by bike, walking or sharing a ride down to Gordon Spratt Reserve. People can bring a picnic or choose dinner from the food stalls offering a great variety.
This event takes place within a permanent and temporarily extended alcohol-free zone to ensure a safe and community friendly atmosphere. Police and security will have a zero tolerance on possession of alcohol.
Find out more at www.mytauranga.co.nz/papamoa
Silent Disco at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre
A youth component has been introduced as part of last year’s changed event offering in Tauranga to meet the demand for a safe youth event in the city. This demand was evident from the demographic profile of 2015/16 New Year’s Eve attendees. The Silent Disco is strictly for attendees of 14 to 17 years of age.
To provide a fun but safe environment, the Silent Disco will have security guards, a medical room with onsite staff and supplies, water stations, qualified staff and management onsite.
Tickets will be available online from Friday, 1 December and include access to the venue as well as a free bus ride to and from the event.
For further information, updates and tickets find out more at www.mytauranga.co.nz/silentdisco
New Year’s Eve enhanced safety measures at Mount Maunganui
Council is working closely with NZ Police and other key stakeholders to create a safer environment around the city and especially at Mount Maunganui on New Year’s Eve. There will be no entertainment or fireworks at Mount Main Beach, with Tauranga City Council focusing solely on enhanced safety measures.