A live storytelling event brought to Tauranga by Dawn Picken will continue this year with a new edition of Tell Me Tauranga/ Kōrerohia Mai in her honour.

On Thursday November 2, at 16th Avenue Theatre, Tauranga will come alive with true stories told by the people who lived and experienced them.

Founder Dawn Picken was a business writer, columnist in the Bay of Plenty Times, and business tutor at Toi Ohomai, who died in December 2022 – just three months after the second Tell Me Tauranga/ Kōrerohia Mai was held to a sell-out audience.

This year’s theme has been appropriately chosen as “Legacy”, which will “give us a chance to acknowledge Dawn’s remarkable legacy, as well as offering a stage for others to talk about the impact of legacy in their lives,” says past-Tauranga Chamber CEO, Stan Gregec, who has taken the lead with this year’s event.

“We’re welcoming nominations at the moment, so if you have a story of legacy to tell, come and pitch it.

“You can nominate yourself or someone you know to take part and share a story.

Stan says participants will be on stage, telling their story for seven minutes – without notes or prompts.

"It’s not a TED Talk or anecdote – it’s authentic, real-life, engaging stories.

“In choosing ‘Legacy’, we are open to the widest interpretation of legacy. It could be your own story or about someone or something that has left a mark on you personally, your family or your community. The important thing is that it’s about a legacy that’s felt deeply – and a story that is crying out to be told."

Pitch night will be on Wednesday August 30, where potential speakers will share their ideas with the organisers from 6pm at Basestation in Durham St, Tauranga.

Storytellers will get free, personalised coaching to make their tale the best it can be.

If you’d like to be part of the event, whether as a speaker, part of the organising team, or audience member, visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/tellmetauranga  or contact Stan directly on: 022 390 2216.