CROWD PLEASERS

The Bay of Plenty is rapidly becoming a hotspot for events. Karl Puschmann talks to the key people behind some of the Bay’s biggest events to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring these events to life, their cultural and economic impact, and discover if this is just the beginning. PHOTOS ROBBIE HUNTER | HAIR + MAKE-UP DESIREE OSTERMAN

Toby Burrows and Mitch Lowe

I’m standing in the heart of Mount Maunganui’s industrial area, in front of a large warehouse, wondering if I’m in the right place. This unlikely, unglamorous spot is where some of the Bay of Plenty’s biggest events are dreamed up, organised and, if all goes to plan, brought to life. I’ve come to talk to Mitch Lowe and Toby Burrows, the two chaps behind the summer’s history-making Fisher concert at the Bay Oval, about the resurgence of events in the Bay of Plenty, what goes into staging them, and the impact, both economically and culturally, that they have on our region.

But first, I need to find the front door.

I walk down the long driveway, and past the side of the building, whose sliding doors have been pulled open on this bright, hot day, affording me a view of the welders inside who are hard at work behind a shower of bright sparks. It’s a far cry from the triumphant firework display that lit up the sky to bring the Fisher concert to a close.

Near the end of the building, there’s a door. I poke my head inside and see a wall covered in framed concert posters, and a top-of-the-range Pioneer DJ set-up in a booth to my left. This is more like what I was expecting. What I don’t see is people.

“Hello?” I offer, walking inside and knocking on the wood of the DJ booth. Toby bounds down the stairs to greet me.

“Hey mate,” he says, shaking my hand. “Can I get you a Red Bull?”

Energy drinks in hand, he leads me up the stairs and into a boardroom, which is also decorated with framed posters, and where Mitch is sitting in front of a laptop, which he closes as we walk in. It’s here, from this office, tacked onto the back of an industrial factory, that the pair plan out over 150 events a year around Aotearoa.

“The Bay’s always been a priority for us,” Mitch says. “Because we’re local, we’re going to push as much as we can into the Bay. It's a really exciting time.”

“The summer’s been pretty busy,” Toby adds.

That feels like something of an understatement. After a barren few years following the COVID pandemic, there’s been an unignorable resurgence of events happening here in the Bay recently. Coupled with the freshly rejuvenated city centre, the upswing in trendy cafés, bars and restaurants popping up and the ongoing suburban growth down the Pāpāmoa coastline, it’s beginning to feel like the region is shedding its old, and somewhat unfair, reputation as a haven for oldies and gaining a name for itself as a spot where there’s always something happening.

“When I moved to Tauranga a decade ago, people used to go, ‘Oh, it’s a retirement village,’” Mitch laughs. “That used to be the general feeling before we started doing big events here and trying to bring a bit of life to it. Now, I know tons of people who have moved here. They think of Tauranga as one of the event capitals of New Zealand. It’s cool to be a part of that.”

The pair have spent decades working in the events industry — Toby for 23 years and Mitch for 16. Before joining forces, Toby was heavily involved in Gisborne’s New Year’s Eve festival, Rhythm & Vines, while Mitch built his career touring DJs and electronic acts and running club nights. Around a decade ago, Mitch moved to the Bay to launch the single-day music festival Bay Dreams, which debuted in 2016 and ran each summer until it was officially placed on hiatus last year.

The pair knew each other from the industry, and decided to work together on the legacy rocker Bryan Adams’ 2019 Aotearoa tour, which took in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch. This was a significant success, leading the partnership to continue and become more formalised, with Toby moving from his home in “Gizzee” to come to the Mount a year or so later.

“I did a lot of humming and hah-ing about it, but committed to the decision. Now I look back and wonder what I was humming and hah-ing about,” Toby laughs. “It has the beaches and the lifestyle, and geographically it’s sort of in the middle of everywhere. It ticked all the boxes.”

“We love it,” Mitch says. “We’re both raising our families here, which is a good indication of our passion for the place.”

The success of Bryan Adams had shown them there was a gap in the market for legacy artists, so the pair naturally doubled down, bringing over legendary acts like Toto, The Jackson 5 and Snoop Dogg, while also creating one-day festivals targeted at different music genres and audiences, like Rock the Bowl, Le Currents and, of course, Bay Dreams. Most did well. But, the pair admit, not all.

“The funniest one was when I asked my dad’ s opinion on a legacy act,” Mitch recalls. He said, ‘Oh, that’s a guaranteed sell. Absolutely. No question’. We booked it, promoted it, went on sale… and it flopped.” Jokingly, he says, “Dad doesn’t get free tickets anymore.”

But that’s the nature of the events biz, he says. Every show is a gamble that could literally see you losing your house. Something, the pair say, has almost happened more than once over the years.

But that was when they were younger, more naive and excited. But there were some growing pains, and Mitch says they had to learn how to run their business properly.

“We’re not taking stupid risks anymore,” Mitch says. “We’ve learnt how to take calculated risks. Now, when we go into things, I’m confident that we’re either going to win or we’re going to lose an amount that we can handle.”

“We manage risk in a way that doesn’t feel too risky,” Toby says, noting that while their gut feeling still plays a role, they also have a stringent process of running the numbers and looking at specific artist metrics that have to add up before they decide to go ahead with an event. “We’re not risking everything if it doesn’t work anymore. Initially, I was brazen and not afraid to lose everything I had, because I had nothing. As I’ve gotten older, you know, I don’t want to lose everything. We say ‘No’ to a lot of things that come to our desk.

It’s got to fit within certain metrics to make sense.”

Which brings us to Fisher. If there was a single moment that announced the Bay’s arrival on the national stage, it was that summer concert at Bay Oval — the first-ever music event held at the iconic stadium. In hindsight, it seems like a guaranteed success. But at the time, it was a bold gamble. And while their homes weren’t literally on the line, a flop would have set their business back years.

They’d invested half a decade securing Bay Oval and were determined to headline the first show with a global name. Still, having toured Fisher the previous year, they worried it might be too soon to bring him back.

“We thought if we brought him to the Mount in the middle of summer, put him on at Bay Oval with the right line-up around him, and marketed it properly, it would work,” Toby says. “We’re entrepreneurs at heart. We’ve lived with risk for so long that we’ve learned to thrive under that pressure.”

Adds Mitch: “We’ve done massive things here in the past, like Bay Dreams, but to promise one of the biggest acts in the world that they could come to this little region and still do the same numbers that they do in Auckland or Christchurch was pretty ballsy. It paid off.

“We were doubting ourselves right up until that moment we went on sale,” Mitch grins. “Within five minutes, we were like, ‘Okay, we’re good.”

“Fisher was a proof of concept. We wanted to show what was possible,” Toby says. “The goal was to prove that the Bay could deliver numbers and production values comparable to the big cities.”

It certainly did. Over 20,000 punters packed into the Oval for the show. But it wasn’t all locals. More than 82 percent of the punters who attended were from out of town, truly making the Mount the hottest place to be in the whole country that weekend.

Tauranga mayor Mahe Drysdale describes the Fisher concert as an “amazing success for our city”.

“It worked really well,” he tells me. “The feedback we’ve had is that it was an awesome venue, and there’s an opportunity there to grow. Bay Oval is a real jewel in our crown. We’ve had some really great cricket events over the summer, which is what it’s set up for, but we’ve said to Bay Oval, we really want to see more music acts and other events there.”

The one-two punch of Fisher, followed a week later by the UB40 with Ali Campbell concert, has proved the Oval works as a “legitimate venue”. Mahe says promoters can now have confidence that the Bay can successfully pull off these sorts of big events.

“Once one person’s done it, it opens up a whole lot more opportunities in the future,” he says. “We’ve identified events as being one of our priorities and one of our strategies to make this a better place. We want events here because of what they do for our region, for the accommodation providers, the local businesses, the hospo businesses, and for the sense of vibrancy that they attract. We can see the economic benefits of what events do for our city.”

He says the council is actively going out and finding ways to accomplish this strategy, pointing to the upcoming World Triathlon Series as an example.

“We’ve got three years of world-class athletes coming to our city to compete,” he says. “There are so many events out there that we can attract. We’re really excited.”

But what is it that’s attracting these events to the region? Why are organisers increasingly choosing to put on events here?

“The Bay is blessed with natural beauty. That’s certainly a big part of why it’s attractive,” he says. “A lot of people want to come here, so when events are on, people jump at the opportunity to come and enjoy the region. It’s a win-win,” he smiles.

“We can share our beautiful city, but also they help drive our economy. They have a significant economic and social benefit.”

One of the best examples of this economic and cultural coming together is the annual AIMS Games. The week-long multi-sport tournament brings together thousands of Year 7 and 8 students from across New Zealand and the Pacific to compete in 27 different sporting codes, generating a tangible excitement as well as some serious cash for the region.

“Last year we had just over 14,000 athletes from 431 schools,” Kelly Schischka, the AIMS Games tournament director, tells UNO. “They compete in sport, make new memories and new friends in f it-for-purpose sports venues across the region. That, for us, is what makes it work so well.”

Add in coaches, managers, officials and supporters, and that number jumps to 29,558, with a whopping 23,425 of those coming in from out of town. This one event alone generated a huge $9,751,958 of tourism expenditure in Tauranga.

“Economically, the AIMS Games makes a big contribution, but more so, it really builds that pride of being hosts. That’s incredibly important,” Kelly says. “You can’t stage an event without the support of the community, and we absolutely have that with the AIMS Games. We’re incredibly lucky.”

The event started here in 2004 and has steadily grown in popularity ever since. The week-long event now takes over 29 different venues around Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

“The AIMS Games have really helped shape Tauranga’s identity as an event city. There’s nothing quite like being in town when they’re on,” Kelly smiles. “There are 14,000 kids here for a week-long sleepover with their friends. The energy levels are incredibly high. It’s hard not to get caught up in that. It’s a really special thing to be a part of.”

Along with the AIMS Games, Kelly says there are many events that are now synonymous with Tauranga, making it a vibrant place to live, and encouraging people to visit. There’s the Tauranga Marathon, the Jazz Festival, the Arts Festival, the Flavours of Plenty food festival and the Mount Festival of Multisport, one of the country’s longest-running and most iconic triathlons, to name just a few.

“These are part of the fabric of Tauranga,” Kelly says. “We’ve proven ourselves to be able to host international sporting events and fantastic music events incredibly well. It’s great for those of us who live here to be a part of that, and it’s fantastic to be able to showcase our city to different types of visitors who are here for different types of events.”

Things may feel big now, but it really is just the beginning, as national and international events are increasingly attracted by the region’s stunning backdrop, infrastructure and proven ability to be welcoming hosts for major events.

“It’s an exciting time,” Toby enthuses. “We have agents and artists from all over the world wanting to come down and work with us. There’s a lot of exciting projects in the pipeline right across the country, including here in the Bay.”

“I agree,” Mitch nods. “I have the feeling now that I had when we launched Bay Dreams back in the day. It feels like the start of something big. We literally have the biggest acts in the world asking us to do cool things.”

After the triumph of Fisher, the pair are already working on next summer's show. They know Fisher's a tough act to follow. I cheekily ask who's on their radar and they both grin and say there's some exciting options on the table. Just before I leave, I mention that it's a great time to be living in the Bay.

"It's exciting," Mitch agrees. "And this is just the start."

FISHER? HOWZAT?!

The inside story on how a local promoter got Fisher, the world’s most in-demand DJ, to play the first-ever gig at the Mount’s iconic Bay Oval cricket ground.

WORDS KARL PUSCHMANN

For the past five years, TradeMark Live co-director Toby Burrows has been driving past the Bay Oval International Cricket Ground dreaming about putting on a show there.

With its vast space and prime location right in the heart of Mount Maunganui, the venue’s untapped potential was obvious to Toby. Not only would a successful show there bring energy, pride and cultural vibrancy to the community, it’d also be a massive boost to the local economy, filling hotels, restaurants, bars and local businesses as music fans, primed for a good time, flooded into town.

But, he also knew an event at this scale would take years of planning and would involve jumping through multiple consent hoops, adhering to strict conditions, not least of which included safeguarding the Oval’s “sacred” cricket pitch, and finding a summer window within the ground’s international cricket schedule. And, perhaps most difficult of all, the crucial task of finding an artist worthy of headlining such an iconic event.

Fortunately, Toby and his business partner Mitch Lowe knew just the man for the job.

“We pitched the idea to Fisher,” he says. The award winning DJ and house music producer is one of dance music’s most in-demand artists and is also one of Toby’s most requested acts. As he says, “Fisher and this venue were a perfect recipe.”

Having brought Fisher over last summer for two massive shows, including a record-breaking gig at Auckland’s Victoria Park, Toby and Mitch had an in, but with Fisher’s global popularity, they knew that they’d still have to convince the superstar.

“He’s a surfer, so I sold him on Mount Maunganui being a beachside town in the middle of summer,” he smiles. “And, I told him it would be the first time that this venue's ever been used for a large-scale concert, so it'd be a really iconic play that would go down in the history books.”

Even with the compelling sales pitch, Fisher made them sweat for an answer. “He sat with it for about four months,” Toby laughs, remembering the nervous wait. “But when he came back to us, he was really fired up about it. We definitely popped the champagne when he confirmed. We knew that when we announced it, it would get a massive response, and it has. It’s had a crazy, crazy response.”

Toby says they’re planning for a record-breaking 25,000-30,000 people at the show and is promising that it’ll be a big night.

“The production is so far beyond anything that's been done in New Zealand before,” Toby says. “Last year was big at Victoria Park. This is looking at three to five times bigger than that. With DJs, there’s a bit of a production arms race as to who can outdo each other. They're always trying to have the craziest show in the world. I think Fisher’s team have really outdone themselves with the design of this one. It's going to be pretty impressive.”

To mark the occasion and make a day of it, the gates will open in the afternoon. You can expect a festival atmosphere, with Toby saying there’ll be several support acts warming up the crowd and performing before Fisher takes the stage, to bring the event to a triumphant close.

“To do this dream idea in our hometown is really special,” Toby says. “Culturally, having something so cool in your city gives it an energy that makes it a desirable place to live. And even if there's no other show that ever happens at Bay Oval, this will be remembered forever.”

Fisher plays Bay Oval, Saturday, January 31.

For tickets, visit trademarklive.co.nz

WHAT’S ON

Tauranga’s event season is in full swing. A mix of sport, music and big-name performers are bringing plenty of life to the city. Whether you’re staying local or hosting visitors, there’s so much to see and do. “This summer is going to be huge,” says Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale. “Our city will be buzzing with events for everyone. Locals can enjoy an incredible line-up right here at home, and visitors will get to experience Tauranga at its absolute best – welcoming and full of energy.”

BLACKCAPS VS WEST INDIES — TEST MATCH December 18–22 — Bay Oval

Five days of classic summer cricket as the BLACKCAPS face the West Indies. Experience a lively crowd, great match-up and that unmistakable Bay Oval atmosphere.

L.A.B. & STAN WALKER
December 27 — Wharepai Domain

Two of Aotearoa’s most loved acts return for an afternoon and evening of music in the heart of the city. A strong line-up and a cruisy festival feel is exactly the kind of day Tauranga does well.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS
December 31 — Tauranga city centre, Mount Maunganui, Greerton, Matua, Pāpāmoa

Music, entertainment, food trucks, and a 9.30pm fireworks display at all sites (except Greerton which has a light show). A relaxed, fun New Year’s Eve for families and anyone keen to stay close to home.

HOT SPRING SPAS T20 BLACK CLASH
January 17 — Bay Oval Team

Rugby squares up to Team Cricket, led by Kieran Read and Dan Vettori. Fast, noisy and full of personality, this event is always a crowd-pleaser.

JIMMY CARR — LAUGHS FUNNY TOUR
January 25 — Mercury Baypark

A night of sharp, unapologetic comedy from Jimmy Carr as he brings his latest tour to Tauranga.

BAYPARK SPEEDWAY — SUMMER SERIES
Various dates — Mercury Baypark

Stadium High-powered racing, packed stands and full-throttle excitement, the summer series is back with a full run of events.

THE CHIEFS VS FIJIAN DRUA
January 30 — Blake Park

Get ready for a summer showdown as the Chiefs take on the Fijian Drua at Blake Park. Expect high-energy footy, electric fan spirit, and a warm-weather evening out for friends, families and rugby lovers alike.

FISHER
January 31 — Bay Oval

Global dance heavyweight FISHER becomes the first artist to stage a major concert at Bay Oval – set to be the biggest party the Bay has ever seen.

UB40 FEATURING ALI CAMPBELL
February 7 — Bay Oval

A summer favourite, with Ali Campbell bringing the Red Red Wine and a stack of hits to Bay Oval, all wrapped in an easygoing festival feel.

BEAST OF A FEAST
February 28 — Soper Reserve

Tauranga’s not-so-typical beer, food and music festival returns, featuring Ladi6, Avalanche City and P-Money.

TOI TAURANGA ART GALLERY
Current exhibitions — Tauranga

The gallery has reopened with a fresh line-up of exhibitions from artists across Aotearoa, Australia and the Pacific. It’s definitely worth stopping in to see what’s new.

WHATSONTAURANGA.CO.NZ

Winter warmers

The top secret food experiences you need to know about.

words STACEY JONES

It feels like winter has truly set in now – grey skies, chilly nights, the same old dinner on repeat. But fear not, you don’t have to wander far to warm your cockles. Here are our food columnist Stacey Jones' top-secret foodie experiences in the Bay of Plenty that’ll light up your winter with a fantastic food adventure.

Mid-Winter Gin-Mas
June–August

Matahui Distillery is warming our cockles this winter with their Mid-Winter Gin-mas workshop, where you’ll have the chance to make your own custom gin using mid-winter Christmas botanicals. At $95 per head (roughly the cost of a decent shop-bought bottle), it’s the steal of the season. Paul Horak, Matahui’s master distiller, will guide you through small-batch botanicals (he even snagged New Zealand’s Best Botanical Spirit award). The distillery is located in Matahui, just 20 minutes from Tauranga. It's the perfect spot for a fun weekend away from the city.

To book, visit:

MATAHUIDISTILLERY.COM/GIN-LAB

Shuck Yeah!
June–October

Have you ever wanted to slurp an oyster moments after it left the water? Tio Ōhiwa’s twice-daily, 90-minute cruises across Ōhiwa Harbour make it possible at New Zealand’s only Māori-owned oyster farm. Your journey begins with a guided history of the estuary, winds past Ohakana Island and Tauwhare Pā, then drops anchor at Ōhiwa Oyster Farm. There you’ll learn to shuck, dress and serve your own oysters, tour the processing plant and walk away with a dozen (or more) of the freshest Ōhiwa oysters you’ll ever taste.

To book, visit OHIWAOYSTERS.COM and use code BOPEATS for 10% off.

Diggin' It
June-July

Truffle-hunting season (late May–July) is here and in the Bay of Plenty we are graced with some of New Zealand’s highest producing truffle farms. Trufflewood in Paengaroa invites you onto their farm to hunt Perigord truffles, famed on TVNZ’s Country Calendar and featured on plates at Amisfield and Ahi. Follow expert dog Simba as he leads you through the orchard floor to unearth these rare gems. Once you’ve dug up your treasure, indulge in a guided tasting, including local cheese, butter, ice cream and more.

Visit BOPEATS.CO.NZ for tickets and use the code UNO10 for $10 off.

My Big Fat Greek
Cooking Class
Thursdays, June–August 2025

Step inside Yiayia's Little Kitchen at Caterina Murphy's cosy Matatā home, perched opposite Whale Island on a tranquil rural property, and roll up your sleeves for a hands-on Greek cooking class. Under her warm and welcoming guidance, you’ll learn to craft pipinghot moussaka layered with silky bechamel, hand-stretched pillowy pitas to fill with homemade hummus and tzatziki, and fold flaky filo for sweet baklava. Along the way, Caterina will share the stories behind each recipe, the traditions they spring from, and the love she pours into every dish. After cooking, sit down together to feast on your creations, savouring an experience you’ll be talking about long after the last bite.

Contact YIAYIASLITTLEKITCHEN@GMAIL.COM for classes.

Celebrate the Eastern Bay

If stunning scenery and sun-filled days aren’t enough to draw you to Whakatāne and Ōhope this autumn, event season certainly will – and there are plenty to choose from.

Flavours of Plenty events

Scales and Ale’s
Saturday, April 5

An evening of exceptional flavours at Fisherman’s Wharf. Indulge in a four-course dinner, each course paired with craft beers sourced from the region. Enjoy delicious, locally grown produce while taking in the stunning harbour views. This event is a must for beer lovers and foodies, offering a fusion of taste and ambiance. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable culinary experience, showcasing local brews and seasonal ingredients.

Tamariki Foodie Fair
Saturday, April 5

Treat your youngsters to a day of delight at the Tamariki Foodie Fair – the ultimate foodie event for children, offering fun, sensory experiences such as blind tasting, nut cracking, face painting, stilt walkers and food demonstrations for kids by kids. Food trucks will be there to serve kids’ favourite treats throughout the day at Wharfside overlooking Ōhiwa Harbour. Treat your Tamariki to a day of delight – the perfect day out for families. Free entry ensures everyone can join in, with delicious treats and selected activities for purchase.

Late Summer Farm Kitchen
Saturday, April 5

A unique farm-to-table experience celebrating the joy of cooking, sharing and savouring local produce. Set on a beautiful family farm with expansive gardens and a hand-built barn, this long summer lunch is part workshop, part cooking class, and part indulgent feast. Guests will enjoy a hands-on experience before sitting down to a long, leisurely lunch built around the best seasonal produce the farm has to offer. Whether a seasoned cook or a beginner, there’s the option to get involved or simply relax with a glass of wine and soak up the rural charm while enjoying great food, local wines, and warm hospitality.

Discover Wainui's Food Secrets Tour
Saturday, April 12

Join this exclusive food tour through Wainui, where you’ll explore the region’s best-kept edible secrets. It will take you to five carefully selected stops, each with its own remarkable story. From the oyster farms of Ōhiwa Harbour, where cultural significance meets sustainable farming, to the unlikely truffle success story, the journey unfolds as you meet local producers and taste their creations.

A Taste of Wainui Marketplace
Saturday, April 12

Celebrate the first-ever Wainui Producers Market, held in the picturesque Waingarara Valley. This free, family-friendly event showcases the region’s best food producers, offering fresh oysters and organic produce to truffles, olives, honey, macadamia nuts, berries, ice cream and wood-fired pizza. A licensed bar will be available for beer and wine purchases, while live entertainment adds to the fun atmosphere. Enjoy lunch, shop, and discover unique local produce in this scenic, community-focused event.

Cray Tails and Cocktails
Saturday, April 12

Enjoy four delicious crayfish dishes, each paired with a cocktail, all served in a laid-back atmosphere at Fisherman’s Wharf. With local produce, stunning waterfront views, and a relaxed vibe, this evening is all about indulging in tasty food and having fun. Whether you're a seafood fan or just looking for a casual night out, this event is one you won't want to miss.

To purchase tickets to any of these events, visit:

FLAVOURSOFPLENTYFESTIVAL.COM

Retail paradise

If you make a weekend of it, be sure to save time for some retail therapy. Whakatāne and Ōhope have a selection of beautiful boutiques, featuring well-loved national and international brands.

Whakatāne

Whakatāne’s CBD has come of age in recent years. The attractive and bustling town centre makes it easy to roam with a range of boutique shops. After some retail therapy, soak up the plentiful sunshine at one of the outdoor eateries. Veer off the main drag and you’ll also find a few hidden gems.

TOP PICKS

Him.Her

Tomorrow Store

Presentables

The Good Life

Tūī Aotearoa

Rosita's

Ōhope

Although it can be hard to drag yourself away from the waves of New Zealand’s most-loved beach, it’s worth taking a pit-stop at Ōhope Village to enjoy the laid-back shopping scene. Distinct and 4Artsake both offer beautiful giftware, art, clothing and accessories.

Make your bed

George Street Linen is one of those rare retail gems that is a delight to discover. Browse the ultimate selection of New Zealand-designed premium bed linen and bedding in a charming, light-filled store, abundantly stocked with inspirational textiles, home fragrances, and giftware. Their knowledgeable, friendly team prides themselves on hands-on service and passion for the brand.

110 The Strand
GEORGESTREETLINEN.COM

Style by design

Stocking top New Zealand and international labels – Deadly Ponies, Kathryn Wilson, NYNE, Elk, Lolly's Laundry, Zoe Kratzmann, Briarwood and POM Amsterdam among them – Capiz is centrally located in the heart of the shopping precinct. Its carefully curated range has made it Whakatāne’s boutique destination of choice for designer fashion, footwear, handbags and accessories.

156 The Strand
CAPIZ.CO.NZ

Other events

West End Wiggle 2025
Friday, April 11 – Sunday April 13

A traditional longboard festival presented by Salt Air Surf, this weekend includes lots of surf, art and music. This will be the event’s sixth year running.

Farming Like Grandad & Country Fair
Saturday, April 12

Experience farming as it used to be. Clydesdale horses, sheep shearing, farm animals, tractors, and farm machinery, food, music and much more for a fun day out for the whole family.

Ōhiwa Oyster Festival
Saturday, May 17

Don't miss out on this unforgettable celebration of oysters and local culture at Wharfside Ōhope. The opening ceremony will blend oyster appreciation with cultural celebration. Savour mouthwatering oysters, explore local food stalls, and groove to live entertainment from 12pm to 4pm.