DJ Fisher performs. Photo / Anna Heath
DJ Fisher injected some joy into a sombre Mount Maunganui on Saturday as the Grammy-nominated Australian headlined the first major music event at the Bay Oval Cricket Ground.
More than 20,000 people were expected to attend the concert, which included a minute of silence during the opening acts for those affected by the January 22 landslides at Mauao and Welcome Bay Rd. The slips took eight lives.
The crowd were encouraged to donate to a relief fund for the families of victims established by event promoters Trademark Live.
DJ Fisher, AKA Australian Paul Fisher, was then warmly received by the crowd and spoke of his appreciation for Mount Maunganui.
He took to the stage holding his toddler Bobbi Fisher, who spent most of the set wearing pink earmuffs and dancing alongside her dad.
The DJ shared his excitement for the performance on Instagram ahead of the near sell-out show, thanking local iwi for such a “warm welcome”.
He described Mount Maunganui as a “special” and “magical place” and spent the morning before the show exploring the beach with Bobbi.
Fisher made the most of the sunny day, also making his way to Tauranga waterfront, and in a video posted to Instagram was seen with locals teaching him how to manu.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale posted a photo with Fisher and Bobbi before the concert.
In the post, he thanked Fisher for choosing Mount Maunganui.
“After an incredibly tough week for our community, I’m looking forward to Fisher bringing some joy and happiness to our city tonight.”
Drysdale said he hoped this would be the first of many concerts at Bay Oval.
When the headline concert was announced in September last year Trademark Live co-director Toby Burrows told the Bay of Plenty Times bringing Fisher to Mount Maunganui was a plan five years in the making.
He said establishing a headlining music show at a venue for the first time meant starting from scratch.
“How the stage sits, how the crowd flows, how we look after the pitch. It’s a big puzzle and there is a lot of problem-solving, but that’s all part of it.”
The 38-year-old DJ played his breakout hit Losing It, along with other popular tracks including Take it Off and Stay.
Local bars and restaurants in Mount Maunganui “picked up” as masses of Fisher-goers headed down the main street before and after the event.
Brew Co duty manager Chase Wishart said the night was busier than normal.
“We like to host all the pre-parties and post-parties. So any time there’s a gig on or anything else on, we like to be involved and get everyone in the mood.”
Wishart said having events of this capacity brought more business in.
“Obviously, once the gig finished, we definitely picked up. A lot of people flooded down this end of the Mount around 10.30, 11-ish.”
Wishart told the Bay of Plenty Times the bar had a long line and everyone seemed to be in high spirits after Fisher.
Brew Co saw about 200 people come through its doors post concert.
“Overall, we had a good night here. No real issues popped up and everyone seemed to be pretty respectful, so that was good.”
Bay Oval will also see UB40 featuring Ali Campbell performing on Waitangi Weekend, as part of the Kingston Calling 2026 tour.
Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.