Good morning and welcome to Saturday. Ko te ra tenei i hanga e te Ariki. Ka koa tatou, ka koa hoki ki reira.

MetService is forecasting a fine day with northerlies developing for a time in the afternoon and evening.

It's a one-layer clothing day with an expected high of 26 degrees, and an overnight low of 15 degrees. Low tide is at 12.42pm and high tide is at 6.56pm. Sunset is at 8.33pm.

What's on today?

Katikati Lions are holding their monthly garage sale in the containers behind Caltex in Katikati this morning from 9am - 12pm. Photo: John Borren.

Come along on Saturday, December 14 from 10am - 12pm for Whānau Fun on the Waterfront -  some free family fun at the Tauranga city waterfront. Organised by Tauranga City Council, there will be plenty of activities for the kids, including facepainting, colouring stations, and places to write letters to Santa (who is dropping by to say hello!) Gather the whānau and enjoy a free sausage sizzle plus ice creams for the kids to keep them fuelled and ready to explore. 

The highlight of the day will be the much-anticipated opening of the new waterfront playground which boasts an impressive 8-metre-tall waka tower structure. There are four different playground zones to discover: a nature trail zone for climbing and balancing; the elevated pathway etched with the Milky Way and Matariki stars; a water play zone with troughs and water pumps; and likely to be a crowd favourite, the waka tower.

Some members of the Whai Basketball team, including 2024 men's team captain Jayden Bezzant, will be joining the action at the basketball half-court with fun challenges, a bit of friendly competition and the opportunity to have photo's with the players. 10 free season passes to Whai home games in 2025 will also be given away on the day.
 

Tauranga Big Band. Photo: Supplied.

Celebrate Christmas with a free concert by the Tauranga Big Band. Join the team of 18+ members who enchant audiences with their classic big band sounds with contemporary arrangements and dynamic improvisation. Tauranga Big Band will be performing a Christmas themed collection under the Christmas tree in Masonic Park in downtown Tauranga from 12.30pm - 1.30pm.

Santa will be making a guest appearance at the opening of the new waterfront playground. He is also often hanging out in his city centre southern hemisphere grotto at 41 Devonport Road. 

Parking in downtown Tauranga today
Coming to join the downtown fun? You will find plenty of free weekend parking options in the city centre: 

• The Dive Crescent car park is close-by and you can walk along the shared pathway in the Northern Waterfront Reserve. 
• There are plenty of car parks in the Spring Street parking building and you can take a five to ten minute walk through the freshly ‘zhuzhed’ Red Square or recently opened Masonic Park.

For more city centre parking options visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz/living/travel/parking/where-to-park  

Mobility parking  
Mobility car parks can be found in the Dive Crescent car park, along The Strand and in the Spring Street parking building. For more mobility parking options, check out the TCC website: www.tauranga.govt.nz/living/travel/parking/mobility-parking

Bike parking 
If you are biking in, you can find free bike parking at the Bikebox shelters located on The Strand opposite Hamilton Street and at 1 Devonport Road near Red Square. Each bike shelter provides weather protection for 10 bikes/scooters and are monitored by CCTV cameras.  
 
Toilets 
Public toilets are available on the Waterfront. 

Head along to the Tauranga Racecourse for the Tauranga Christmas Night Market from 4.30pm - 8.30pm. Get into the holiday spirit with an enchanting night of Christmas shopping, music, and entertainment! Discover unique gifts from local vendors, enjoy festive tunes, and experience the magic of the season with family and friends. Don’t miss out on the cheer, treats, and seasonal delights awaiting you!

The Incubator. Photo: Supplied.

At The Incubator Creative Hub at Tauranga Historic Village, there are many exhibitions, workshops and events happening daily. For more information click here.

For more events visit My Tauranga.

The Mission House at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga in Mission St is open from 10am - 4pm. Come and view the Mission House and gardens. For more information click here

Love public art? CITY ART WALK TAURANGA app is a free to download walking tour of 20 public artworks in Tauranga's city centre. For more information click here

Diana Bomford, Tony Fraser and Hugh Bomford at the Lion and Tusk Museum at Mount Maunganui. Photo: Daniel Hines.

Have you been to the Lion and Tusk Museum yet? It's open today from 10am - 3pm at Unit 4, 14 Portside Dr, Mount Maunganui. Come and see a massive display of Rhodesian military history records and exhibits of uniforms, medals and equipment. Opening hours are 10am – 3pm Thursday to Sunday. For more information click here

What else is on today?

Art in the Park
Original art for sale. Weather permitting. Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui. 9am - 4pm. Tauranga Society of Artists

Beginners pétanque
Saturday afternoons en famille Pétanque is fun for all ages/abilities Boules (of steel) and assistance provided Call Ray on 027 756 3565 for more info

Beth-El Messianic Family
Beth-El Messianic Family Celebrate Shabbat (Sabbath) as did Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), his disciples and early believers. All welcome. Lifezone, 7 Oak lane Judea, 10am or Youtube Live @10am or FaceBook Live 11am. Joel 021768043 info@bethel.org.nz

Tauranga Senor Citizens Club
Indoor Bowls. Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 12.45 am start. 50+ and over. Afternoon tea is provided. 14 Norris Street (behind Pacnsave) Phone carol 022 639 2411

Tauranga Social Dance Group
Christmas Sequence Dance Saturday 14th December 7pm St Johns Church Hall Bureta Road Spot prizes Raffles Great music All welcome 5765076

Toy fair
Te Puke toy and collectibles fair 7th of December at the Te Puke Baptist Church. Doors open at 10am until 4pm.