No rugby games, but Tauranga can still party

Atrocious weather failed to deter 300 party goers from celebrating the Tauranga version of the Rugby World Cup 2011 celebrations last night.

The three-day REAL Tauranga Festival kicked off with performances from Hitchcock Railway, a Joe Cocker Tribute band, and Masden Promotions, an Eagles tribute band, at The Strand.

Sheltered under a large marquee, about 300 people braved pummelling rain to enjoy the show in an excited atmosphere.

Security ushered people buying drinks at stalls under umbrellas as rain hosed down.

Eagles and Joe Cocker fan Gary Dickman said he wanted to show his support for the event.

"Tauranga needs to get out and come to parties like this. We complain we don't have enough so when people put something like this together, we should support it," he said.

Diane Blackmore said there needed to be more events like last night's gig in Tauranga.

Event co-ordinator Melanie Cottingham said the Tauranga branch of the REAL New Zealand Festival was a chance for people to celebrate the World Cup in a city that missed out on hosting games.

"Because of the fact Tauranga missed out, there's all that more reason for people to come down and enjoy," she said.

"There's towns throughout the country that are not hosting any games but have jumped on board and hosting parties."

Ms Cottingham said she hoped the launch of the festival would help alleviate a feeling of discontent that the city had zero fan zones during the World Cup, unlike other centres.

"At the moment there seems to be a bit of disappointment around Tauranga City Council not really putting on anything like the fan zones but this will allow people to see that something is going on."

Ms Cottingham said she was in Korea when the country hosted the 2002 Fifa World Cup.

"The centres that missed out on games still got involved. The community just got on board. There were big screens, parks set up with stalls and candy floss, centres were families and people could go down and enjoy."

It was this kind of festive-feel Ms Cottingham hoped to bring to Tauranga with the REAL Tauranga Festival. "We just want for people to have a good time."