At 8.30pm tomorrow, don't mistake lights out on The Strand for a power cut, as Tauranga and billions of cities around the world unite in darkness to celebrate Earth Hour.
The Tauranga City Council is holding an acoustic event on the Edgewater Fan from 7.45pm on March 26, with music from local artists Dreamgun, Chanelle Davis and Luke Thompson.

Sustainability Advisor Michelle Elborn prepares
the candles for the Earth Hour candlelit concert on March 26. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

The stage will be candlelit and safe candles will be available for purchase on-site, donated by Flicker Candle Emporium.
Sustainability advisor Michelle Elborn encourages people to bring down their chairs, picnics, light up a candle from the stall and celebrate sustainability.
'It's about participating and showing support for climate change universally. It is quite a significant event. If you can't make it down, there are plenty of other ways to support Earth Hour such as turning lights off for the hour, having a camp out under the stars or whatever creative ideas you can come up with.”
Tauranga was one of the five regional community and council groups which received community funding from the WWF to host sustainability activities and events.
Michelle says it is important to recognise going beyond Earth Hour, however, and identity changes that can be made to everyday activities.
'Little things such as turning appliances off at the wall, using energy saving bulbs, not wasting hot water and car pooling to work even once-a-week can make a huge difference.”
Bayfair Shopping Centre is embracing Earth Hour with a twist, offering behind the scene tours, sharing initiatives that they use everyday to conserve energy, manage waste and assist in protecting our local environment. The sessions will take place daily at 10am and 2pm from March 21 to March 23.
The council is also part of the international campaign ‘60 for 60' that aims to get 60 businesses, schools and organisations partaking in sustainable options after Earth Hour. Michelle says they have 41 groups onboard already, including Mount Maunganui College, Bethlehem College, Beca, Frocks on Bikes and Holistic Vets.
These groups have pledged to undertake energy and environmental saving options this year to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints.
For more information phone Tauranga City Council on 07 577 7000 or visit the Earth Hour website www.earthhour.org