Rotary Club of Maketu president David Campbell is looking forward to this weekend's Kaimoana Seafood Festival. Photo / George Novak
Rotary Club of Maketu president David Campbell is looking forward to this weekend's Kaimoana Seafood Festival. Photo / George Novak
The Bay of Plenty is expected to reap the benefits of a double whammy of long weekend events with Waitangi Weekend offering plenty of food, music and family fun.
Among this weekend's events is the ninth annual Maketu Kaimoana Seafood Festival, back at its original location at the Maketu SportsGround after a temporary relocation to the Te Puke Showgrounds.
The event is the flagship fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Maketu, with all funds raised being distributed throughout the community.
Kyla and Douglas Edmonds heading to the One Love Festival at Tauranga Domain last year. Photo/file
Club president David Campbell said the popularity of the event meant the club had been able to help important community organisations such as the local fire brigade, coastguard, surf lifesaving club and local schools.
"That's why it exists. It's a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Maketu. Every dollar raised goes back into the community which centres from Maketu and spreads out to Pongakawa, Paengaroa and Pukehina. Over the years this has been very good for our community," Mr Campbell said.
Mr Campbell said there were the event regulars who often brought new people along, sometimes setting up their own marquee with chairs, to enjoy the musical line-up and food on the day.
Another community event expected to be a hit for families in the Bay is the Greerton Family Festival, organised by Journey Restorative Trust and Journey Vineyard Church, at Greerton Village School.
Free hangi and a free sausage sizzle will be on offer with fun inflatable games such as a jousting ring, life-sized football tournament, and a large water slide.
Trust manager Tina Salisbury said they aimed to provide a fun, safe place for families in the area to have fun together.
"Things are so expensive out there. Doing things as a family is very pricey," she said.
Four hundred tickets for the free hangi had already been distributed but food would be available from other vendors, Ms Salisbury said.
Many accommodation providers told the Bay of Plenty Times they were already booked out for this weekend, after a bumper influx of visitors over Auckland Anniversary Weekend a few days ago.
Among those visitors would be people heading to this year's One Love festival, held on Waitangi Day, to be hosted by Tauranga's own Ria Hall and Flava radio host Pat Spellman.
"It's an opportunity for people to experience the best of a festival atmosphere without having to leave our beautiful Bay of Plenty, but you also have to remember it's about Waitangi weekend too. It's about togetherness, manaakitanga and whanau.
"It is about celebration as opposed to commiseration," Mr Spellman said.
A special dawn service will take place at 6.30am at Mount Drury on Waitangi Day to commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi). The service will begin with a karakia (blessing) followed by a community service and open forum offering people the chance to have their say on Waitangi Day.
Enjoying the Greerton Family Festival last year were family friends (from left) Jayde Rolleston, 12, Marcus Pearson, 9, Dayna Rolleston, 16, Emma Potaka, Sammie Pearson, 5, and Soi Pearson. Photo/file
