The summer holidays are one of the best times of the year. Here’s a few reminders to help you plan ahead.
Fireworks
Tauranga will welcome New Year 2020 with fireworks at 9.30pm and midnight, launched from several locations across the city. Residents and visitors are invited to watch them from their deck or backyard, ideally from a slightly elevated point.
Please remember to keep your pets inside.
Community events
Residents can welcome in the New Year with family, friends and neighbours at local, family-friendly events in the city centre, Greerton, Matua and Pāpāmoa.
Each event will have entertainment as well as 9.30pm fireworks apart from Greerton that will have a laser light show (due to horses that reside on site).
Tauranga CBD community celebration
Papamoa community celebration
Matua community celebration
Greerton community celebration
All community events are alcohol and smoke free.
Alcohol-free areas
There are permanent alcohol-free areas in place across the city to support safety all year round as well as temporary or extended alcohol-free areas to support a safer, New Year period.
For permanent alcohol-free areas including the city centre.
For temporary and extended alcohol-free areas including those at Mount Maunganui and all the New Year’s Eve community event locations
New Year’s Eve road closures in the city centre
A full road closure will be in place from 3pm, 31 December 2019 to 2am, 1 January 2020 on The Strand, from Devonport Road roundabout down to Harington Street roundabout to support a safe event. Both roundabouts will be open to allow traffic flows.
There will be no vehicle access to The Strand via Hamilton and Wharf Streets.
Parking buildings and off-street car parks are free after 3pm and open 24/7. Access for deliveries and residents will be possible during the road closure. Car parking is available for mobility cardholders in the northern waterfront car park.
Alcohol free areas and a road closure map for the city centre (137kb pdf)
Road closures at Mount Maunganui
Marine Parade nightly closures: Marine Parade, between Adams and Pacific Avenues, will be closed on 30 December 2019 and again on 1 and 3 January 2020, each night from 8pm to 6am the following morning. Resident access within the area will be maintained.
There will be no road closures in place on New Year’s Eve and Marine Parade will remain open overnight. Temporary ‘No parking - tow away zones’ will be in place on Marine Parade, between Adams Avenue and Pacific Avenue, from 6am on 31 December 2019 until 8am on 1 January 2020.
Additionally, traffic management on New Year’s Eve will include turning restrictions at key Mount Maunganui roads: Commons, Grace, Pacific and Banks Avenues.
There may be changes on the day if required, in consultation with NZ Police.
For more information on New Year's Eve
Alcohol free areas and a road closures map for Mount Maunganui (137kb pdf)
Resident vehicle passes
Resident vehicle passes for the Mount Maunganui area are not required again this year due to the reduced road closure area. Access through the road closure area will be restricted to residents and contractors only.
Safety at Mount Maunganui
Tauranga City Council, New Zealand Police and other key organisations will continue to work together to provide a safe environment for Tauranga’s residents and visitors on New Year’s Eve. There will be an increased police and security presence in and around Mount Maunganui.
For more information on New Year's Eve
Buses
Bayhopper buses will run normal services throughout the day on New Year’s Eve.
Bus timetables
Big events coming up
There are some big events happening in Tauranga over the New Year period including Bay Dreams at Trustpower Baypark on 2 January, various concerts at Soper Reserve up until 7 January and Mount Festival of Multisport on 10 and 11 January. These events also have road closures to support safe operations meaning it will likely take longer for people to get to where they want to go. Where possible, it is recommended to plan travel ahead of time.
For information on event road closures this summer
Visit My Tauranga website to find out more about events happening in the city.