Members of Tauranga Sunrise Rotary, Citizens Advice Bureau, Multicultural Tauranga, local councils and many other local organisations are ready with friendly smiles this morning to welcome all-comers to the New to the Bay Expo.

Newcomers and locals are invited to head along to the Tauranga Boys' College to the free event which is designed to help people access the services, information and activities that can make it easier to settle into and get involved in the Western Bay of Plenty community.

Western Bay District Council information stand. Photo: Pauline Cowens

The free expo runs today from 10am – 3pm and will feature information sessions, and showcase services and information from a wide range of commercial, civic, regulatory, emergency, social, sporting and other community organisations active in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Manager of Citizens Advice Bureau Tauranga and Papamoa Kim Saunders, encourages local organisations to get involved and showcase what they have to offer, and invites locals and newcomers to come along and enjoy the experience.

'This event is all about people helping other people create a great life in the Bay, with lots of useful information, advice and organisations ready to offer their services,” says Kim.

Photo: Pauline Cowens

Information sessions

The Citizens Advice Bureau, Sharp Tudhope and IRD have combined to put some helpful information sessions together for newcomers to the community. These sessions will run for 30 minutes each. Topics are:

10.30am Immigration NZ Visas - with an overview of work visas and the common pitfalls people face.

11.30am Inland Review and Taxes

12.30pm Employment - Know your rights regarding employment, ‘do I need a contract?' and minimum pay rate

1.30pm Immigration NZ Visas – an overview of work visas and the common pitfalls people face

2.30pm Tenancy - basic information every tenant should know such as bonds and disputes with your landlord

The hall being set up for the New to the Bay Expo this morning. Photo: Pauline Cowens

Ethkick Multicultural Football Tournament

The Ethkick Multicultural Football Tournament, led by Multicultural Tauranga with support from New Zealand Police and Blue Rovers Football club, will also be run alongside the expo, offering extra excitement at the event.

The tournament is expected to involve teams from many different cultures, such as NZ, India, China, Korea, Nepal, Brazil, Fiji, Vietnam and Czechia.

Ethkick Multicultural Football Tournament. Photo: Pauline Cowens

Ethkick Multicultural Football Tournament. Photo: Pauline Cowens

Ethkick Multicultural Football Tournament. Photo: Pauline Cowens

Boat sponsored by the Tauranga Sunrise Rotary club. Photo: Pauline Cowens

The hall being set up for the New to the Bay Expo this morning. Photo: Pauline Cowens

'Multicultural Tauranga is very pleased to help organise this expo,” says president of Multicultural Tauranga Ann Kerewaro.

'It is a useful way to promote information that many newcomers seek when they first arrive in the Western Bay of Plenty.”

The event is a welcoming initiative as part of the Welcoming Communities pilot programme being delivered by Tauranga City Council and Western Bay District Council in partnership with the local community.

Entrance to the New to the Bay Expo is free. For free public transport to get to and from the expo, visit Eventbrite – https://newtothebay.evenbrite.co.nz – for a free New to the Bay expo ticket. Bay of Plenty Regional Council will get you, your family and friends there for free on any urban Bayhopper bus. Just simply show your free event ticket to ride to and from the venue.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/newtothebayexpo

Photo: Pauline Cowens

Warren Scobie, Pauline Cowens, Les Geraghty and Pat Taylor from Tauranga Sunrise Rotary.