Summer is here, and Tauranga is buzzing with good vibes! But before you head out to celebrate this New Year, know where to ‘sip or skip’ by checking the alcohol-free areas across our city.

Tauranga City Council is again working alongside New Zealand Police to reduce alcohol harm and make sure our community enjoys a safe, family-friendly holiday season.

Deputy Mayor and Mauao/Mount Maunganui Ward Councillor Jen Scoular says Tauranga is a much-loved summer destination, with the Mount always a hotspot for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“With thousands of visitors expected, we’re asking locals to remind friends and whānau that permanent and temporary alcohol-free areas are in place across the city. These zones help create a welcoming environment and support the police to keep everyone safe,” says Jen.

Senior Sergeant Shannon Clifford, Operations Manager for the Western Bay of Plenty Summer Policing Operations Group, supports Jen’s message.

“We’ll be out and about leading up to New Year’s Eve, and on New Year’s Eve itself, enforcing alcohol-free areas and looking after our community. You’ll see more checkpoints and extra Police presence to keep things running smoothly.”

Shannon reminds people that anyone found drinking alcohol in these designated zones – including inside vehicles – faces confiscation of the alcohol and on-the-spot fines.

“It’s a simple message: know the rules before you head out, keep safe, and look out for your mates. If you are caught drinking alcohol in an alcohol-free area, we will take it off you and we can issue fines on the spot.

“We are working with Tauranga City Council again this year to fence off Hopukiore (Mount Drury) Reserve, including the playground, from December 31. Both areas will reopen for use on the morning of New Year’s Day,” says Shannon.

There will be no public fireworks display at Mount Main Beach on New Year’s Eve.

Maps of permanent and temporary alcohol areas in the city can be found on our website.

Additional information:

• Fireworks displays will feature at several Council-run community celebrations this New Year’s Eve. The first display is at the family-friendly time of 9.30pm at events on the Tauranga waterfront, Blake Park, Gordon Spratt Reserve and Fergusson Park. Midnight fireworks will be launched from several locations across the city, and residents and visitors are encouraged to enjoy them from home - from the deck or backyard, ideally somewhere with a bit of elevation. Although it’s a time of celebration for humans, fireworks can be stressful for animals. Please keep an eye on your pets, ensure they’re safe and secure, and make sure your cat or dog is microchipped.
• Support organisation Red Frogs will be present throughout New Year’s Eve to help care for those celebrating. At the Mount, they will set up a Chill Out/Safe Zone operating from 7pm until 1am, where people can stop in for free water and pancakes. Trained volunteers will be available to offer help to anyone needing assistance or a quiet spot to regroup. Find more information about Red Frogs at www.redfrogs.co.nz
• If you require health care while you’re in Tauranga over the holiday season, emergency care is available at Tauranga Hospital (829 Cameron Road), urgent in-person care at Accident & Healthcare (19 2nd Ave), and virtual consultations via Practice Plus (www.practiceplus.nz or 0800 PRAC PLUS).
• If your kerbside bins are usually collected on a Thursday or Friday, your collection day will be one day later than usual for two weeks, from Thursday, 25 December to Saturday, 3 January. This is to give our kerbside collections team a well-deserved break on Christmas and New Year’s Day. To those households impacted by this change, please place all bins at the kerbside before 7am the day following your regular collection day during this period.

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