Hundreds of people have wandered back through time to the days of knights and maidens, Romans, Vikings and barbarians in Tauranga today.

The Tauranga Medieval Faire is back for its fourth year and is delighting the crowd down at Southey Field at Tauranga Boys' College on Devonport Road, until 4pm.

One of the participants in today's faire is a gladiator named Decebalus, an elderly nobleman who took the name of his king who was killed by the Romans in 124AD.

Decebalus is actually David Layzell from West Auckland, a science and maths relief teacher at Massey High School and Liston College.

David, 70, was also a former pupil of Tauranga Boys' College from 1960-64 and says it's quite an emotional thing to back at the school again.

'We adored our teachers, one of our teachers was Gordon Stuckey who was a second lieutenant at Monte Casino leading the New Zealanders in 1942 or 1943 in the assault on the monastery.

'Today's faire is a lot of fun. I also do renaissance long sword as well.”

West Auckland's David Layzell…

…A.K.A. Decebalus.

Speaking to SunLive earlier this week co-organiser Andria Goodliffe says entry is free, although there will be traders' stalls to barter at, along with medieval activities.

'We have miniature siege artillery, which should be quite interesting, and the archery range for people to have a go. You might even get to shoot a knight, if they're brave enough”

Today the faire's main events take place, including a play, beard competition, and re-enactment of the Battle of Grathe Heath.

There will be plenty of free activities too, including dancing, listening to live music, watching activities on the village green, and perusing/buying some of the goods from the market traders, including chainmail.

For more details check out the 2017 New Zealand Medieval Faire on Facebook or visit www.taupomedievalfaire.webs.com

Idunna and Jorkell, queen and chieftain of the Asatru Barbarians tribe.

Blyth (Gaelic for ‘Wolf') of the Asatru Barbarians tribe.

Argent Lords Ibsen and Ghast

Natasha Wall from Martinborough