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Welcome to Tauranga! I’m talking of course to all you Aucklanders.
You probably discovered this helpful weekly publication in a supermarket or motel or shop counter while still decompressing from the traffic and confusion of big city life, eager to enjoy Easter in our quiet sunny seaside hamlet.
You might think that I’m going to offer some sort of helpful guide to the best things to do in Tauranga. Think again. The main food critic from your main newspaper recently ran his list of NZ’s 10 Best Foodie Cities. No Tauranga, no Mount. The verdict on us was “feeling a little stuck where they are”.
So if you want to find any of our many excellent restaurants, you’re on your own. We know all the best places and we’re happy to eat in them without being crowded out by urban sophisticates.
No, I’m kidding. We’re chuffed to have y’all – spend up large, party like it’s still 2025, and enjoy the jazz festival.
Fundraising gig
But, whatever you do, don’t come back at the end of April for the big fundraising gig. It’ll be completely packed. The only reason I’m even mentioning it so early is that it’s one for which local folk might not want to wait before grabbing tickets.
What we’re looking at is a fundraiser following the deadly Mauao landslide. On Sunday, April 22 from midday Totara Street at the Mount, which will host 11 hours of music with two live stages and a DJ courtyard. Every ticket purchased and donation made goes directly to the Tauranga Mayoral Relief Fund, supporting families of those lost in the landslide.
Jay Monroe of Totara Street said: “This is a day about unity, remembrance, and backing the people who need us most. Our community has always shown up when it matters and this is the Bay of Plenty music scene stepping up”.
He said that the response from the local music community was overwhelming, with more than 100 artists volunteering to perform. It is indeed a huge bill, including headliner Tiki Taane, Darz Music featuring Frances Phoenix, The John Michaelz Band, The Gunsmiths, Stella Riley, Sonorous,
K Holla, No Reply, Red Street, Noel Smith, Derek Toner & Tuner, Frances Ellen, Iz Waddid Iz, Dan Sharp, and many many more.
The event is supervised, with under-18s welcome when accompanied by their parent or legal guardian and at $30 a ticket, it will sell out quickly.
Other gigs
For the more hardcore inclined there’s a companion Rock and Roll Warm Ups show at Totara Street on Friday, April 24, raising funds for the same fund – you’ll get five bands for $5. The bands are Afterlight, Bones Inc, Dead Empire, Koolaid and Token Ceremony.
And just quickly, three killer incoming gigs: On Thursday, April 9, astonishing Australian acoustic guitarist Ben Catley is at the Jam Factory and pianistic legend Michael Houstoun is at Baycourt; on Sunday, April 12 Dunedin five-piece Michael Morris & The Sonic Boom bring a new 22-song double album and quirky heavy ‘70s retro-rock to the Jam Factory.
Hear Winston’s latest playlist: