Organisers of the iconic Port of Tauranga Half Ironman are expanding with plans to host an inaugural three-day multisport festival in conjunction with the event.

Sport Bay of Plenty has announced the new event in Tauranga's sporting calendar, ending months of speculation over the future of the event.

Competitors in the 2014 Port of Tauranga Half Ironman. Photo: File.

Sport Bay of Plenty and New Zealand owned and operated company, SMC Events, will instead deliver the Port of Tauranga Half with a twist. The two organisations ran this year's 25th anniversary in what is NZ longest running half ironman.

A statement on the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman website says Mount Maunganui will host the three-day inaugural Mount Multisport Festival from January 9-11. The Port of Tauranga Half Ironman will be held on January 10.

'Located at the sun drenched beach of Mount Maunganui, the Mount Multisport Festival will celebrate active lifestyles, fitness, fun, and most of all, there will be an event for everyone,” says the statement.

'Well known Kiwi events and activities will feature as part of the festival. There are family, social and team events for all ages and abilities. Going into its 26th year, the Port of Tauranga Half will be the pinnacle event of the festival and it will be bigger and better than ever before.”

The event is an icon in the NZ triathlon calendar, doubling as Triathlon New Zealand's Long Distance Championship and attracting the likes of Kiwi stars Cameron Brown and Jo Lawn.

Sport Bay of Plenty marketing and sponsorship manager Melanie Short says the event staying in Kiwi hands is positive for both the local community, and the NZ triathlon and multi-sport family.

But she believes in order to keep up with the popularity and evolution of multisport events nationally and internationally they had to look for a new dimension to the event.

'I think as you will be aware, the market is always looking for something new and we felt the Port of Tauranga Half had a lot of other attributes that could be included. So we have looked at that concept, which is very popular overseas,” says Melanie.

Melanie will not confirm what new events are being lined up as part of the new look festival as planning is still underway.

'It's just a process that we are following to ensure the Port of Tauranga Half is opened in a timely manner then we will begin to announce the new events in due course.”