Tauranga City Council have revealed a total of ten new events that will receive council backing out of a total of 40 that applied for community event funding.

The judging panel focussed on bringing a broader range of events alive to celebrate Tauranga's diversity, says Tauranga City Council strategic events manager Pip Loader.

A production of Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night in January 2016 is receiving council funding. The production team are (from left) Nadine Tibbits, Pascal Tibbits, Gin Mabey and Dylan Frewin. Photo: Supplied.

'We wanted to bring inspiration and fresh vibes to Tauranga – events that will shape the heart and soul of our city,” explains Pip.

'We changed the funding criteria this year to help get new creative and innovative events off the ground and to showcase Tauranga's great places and spaces.

'We also wanted events that are inclusive and welcoming, so it is important that they are free or very low cost, family friendly and preferably without a major commercial component.

'We are looking forward to seeing these great community events happening in the coming weeks and months.”

The events to receive some council financial backing are:

• Pedal Papamoa – biking along the Papamoa stormwater bike track family day.
• Papa Moa's Teddy Bear Picnic, with fun for small children and all their teds.
• Merivale Christmas Festival – an annual Christmas festival for children and their families.
• Twelfth Night – the inaugural event in a planned annual Shakespeare Summer Series.
• Wonderland Festival and House of Cards Exhibition – a series of art activities to celebrate the 150th year of Alice in Wonderland.
• Bay of Plenty Judo Champs and training camp.
• Bay of Plenty Regional Weightlifting Champs.
• Night Owl Cinema Summer Series – an outdoor community cinema run during summer.
• Tauranga Half Marathon – a community-focussed run/walk event from Fergusson Park.
• Welcome Bay Family Music Festival – live music, entertainment and children's activities in Welcome Bay

Trustpower Santa Parade – described as a wonderful celebration of Christmas in the city – will also receive backing.

The funded events embrace a wide range of members of the community, while celebrating Tauranga's diversity and making the most of the city's beautiful surroundings in an environmentally responsible way, says Mayor Stuart Crosby.

'Community events play an enormous role in bringing people together to celebrate our city, while showcasing everything Tauranga has to offer and encouraging economic development,” says Stuart.

'We had a huge response to our call for funding applications and narrowing them down to ten wasn't an easy process due to the outstanding quality of the proposals.

'This is a reflection of the passion and motivation of our community to create inclusive, welcoming events for everyone.”

The Community Events Fund will reopen on April 28 next year. Meanwhile Tauranga City Council's Strategic Events team is calling all organisations planning an event for young people to get in touch to talk about how Council might support them.

Contact Michaela Blackman, Events Delivery Coordinator, on: 07 577 7000 or via: [email protected]