A message from Mayor Mahé with Mahé Drysdale

Last month’s hugely successful Zespri AIMS Games and the recent confirmation Bay Oval will be activated through cricket and concerts during summer emphasise the positive impact that events have for Tauranga. They not only contribute significantly to our economy, but also boost our cultural, social and sporting vibrancy, generate national and international profile and are a great source of community pride. 

Tauranga will host a series of international cricket matches this summer, Including a T20 series against the Aussies in October, as well as matches against England, West indies and South Africa. The Hot Springs Spa T20 Black Clash comes back to Tauranga in January next year, followed by concerts for the first time at Bay Oval, including Fisher and UB40.

Thousands

Adding further momentum to our future events calendar is the recent announcement that our city will also host three of World Triathlon’s most prestigious events – in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

These events will bring thousands of elite athletes, support crews and spectators to our shores, with international broadcast coverage showcasing our landscapes and lifestyle, positioning Tauranga as a vibrant, globally connected city. 

Tauranga City Council and TECT Community Trust have contributed a combined investment of $350,000 towards securing hosting of the World Triathlon series and we are grateful for the Government’s contribution of $2.65 million from its Major Events Fund to support Tri NZ hosting the three events in our city. This investment is expected to translate into approximately $11 million in visitor spend in the Tauranga economy across the three events. 

And the good news keeps on coming, with the announcement earlier this month that the Xtreme Productive Gymnastics Nationals will return to Mercury Baypark next year, having last been hosted here in 2023. 

Our Venues and Events team work hard to facilitate a wide range of events for the people of Tauranga to enjoy year-round – everything from performing arts to sporting, cultural and community events. Some of these events also receive a funding contribution, where there’s certainty around the value they will create for our visitor industry and the wider community. 

Even larger 

For example, the Zespri AIMS Games, which recently won the Community or Not for Profit Event of the Year Award at the 2025 New Zealand Event Awards, injected around $8.8 million into the city’s economy in 2024; and with more than 14,000 athletes attending this year, plus supporters, its contribution has been even larger.

Card spending data confirms that visitor spending in the city during the games was up more than 18% compared to the previous 10-week average, with total spending up by close to 6%. And the benefits were widespread – food and beverage spending rose by 34%; apparel and personal spending rose by close to 22%; and accommodation spending was up more than 8%.

Events place us firmly on the national stage as a place to visit and have a great time, and just as importantly, encourage people to come back to for a return visit. They also give us an opportunity to demonstrate the city’s famous manaakitanga (hospitality) – something we can also take great pride in.