Jazz festival hits the high notes

A long-established festival attracting a total of 40,000 visitors to downtown Tauranga every Easter was a major winner in the coastal Bay of Plenty tourism awards last night.
The Montana Jazz Festival, now into its 43rd year, won the events and conferences and innovation categories at the Bartercard Tourism Bay of Plenty gala dinner in the Baycourt theatre. Co-organisers Derek Jacombs and Colin Lunt were overwhelmed by the awards.
"We are part of a volunteer committee who does this for love," said Mr Jacombs, the artistic director.
"We just want to provide something special for Tauranga and make life in the Bay better and in reality the festival has become a tourist event."
In accepting the prizes, Mr Jacombs said: ``I'm 80 per cent of the inspiration and Colin (marketing director) is 80 per cent of the perspiration.''
It is the longest running jazz festival in the southern hemisphere, having been started by the Tauranga Jazz Society in 1962.
"For a provincial city to host the event for so long is extraordinary," said Mr Jacombs.
Last Easter 300 musicians in 40 bands played in Baycourt and in the cafes and bars around The Strand. The national youth band competition was also held for the 27th time.
The event is estimated to pour $2 million a year into the local economy.
Mr Jacombs is promising a bigger and brighter festival next Easter.
"We have people hacking at us to get involved. There will almost certainly be more than 40 bands, there will definitely be more concerts and downtown venues and the organisers will be making use of the new-look Strand by erecting an outdoor stage for performances."
Mr Jacombs said the aim over the next three years was to expand the festival to Mount Maunganui and "seriously make it an important cultural event".
The depth of tourism in the Western Bay was illustrated by the variety of award winners.
There was Lets Homestay, which gives Japanese visitors "a real New Zealand experience by arranging a stay with local families"; Teamworx which concentrates on team building; the luxury lodges Matahui in Katikati and Ridge Country Retreat in Welcome Bay; and Comvita New Zealand, which manufactures natural bee products and operates a popular visitor centre.
The supreme award went to Whakatane-based White Holiday Tours which takes 8000 people to the active marine volcano each year.
Last week one of their guests was Australian Idol Guy Sebastian.
Like Montana Jazz Festival, White Island Tours and Comvita were double winners.
A new name but a familiar tourist destination took out the attractions award.
Kiwifruit Country at Paengaroa has been rebranded Kiwi 360 after the Ngati Pukenga Orchard Trust became the new owners. The trust has big plans to bring the place alive. The 13.5ha property will be used for outdoor concerts and other events and by Christmas visitors can take helicopter flights around the local area.
"We want to create a world class destination," said Kiwi 360 chief executive Graeme Crossman.
"Nelson has the wearable arts museum and we felt the iconic kiwifruit industry here was not well represented."
The winners were:
Shane Kennedy House of Travel Supreme Award: White Island Tours, Whakatane.
Western Bay Finance Merit: Comvita New Zealand Visitor Centre, Paengaroa.
Reserve New Zealand Innovator: Montana Jazz Festival.
Accommodation:
Harcourts Premium: Matahui Lodge, Katikati; highly recommended, Ridge Country Retreat, Welcome Bay. Jasons Travel Media Self-contained and Serviced: Ambassador Motor Inn, Tauranga. Tauranga City Council Guest and Hosted: The Point, Katikati; highly recommended, Avenue 11 Boutique Motel. Papamoa Beach Top 10 Holiday Parks and Backpackers: Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park; highly recommended, Athenree Hot Springs and Holiday Park.
Adventure and Outdoors: HOBEC Adventure: Longridge Fun Park, Paengaroa; highly recommended Teamworx, Tauranga. Kale Print and Design Outdoor: White Island Tours; highly recommended, Te Puna Quarry Park. Norske Skog Eco and Cultural: Lets Homestay, Tauranga.
Tauranga Catering Events and Conferences: Montana Jazz Festival. Western Bay of Plenty District Council Attractions: Kiwi 360, Paengaroa; highly recommended, Waimarino Adventure Park, Bethlehem.
Away Laughing Retail and Hospitality: Comvita. Activities Unlimited Transport and Organised Tours: Tauranga Tasting Tours; highly recommended, The Touring Company, Mount Maunganui.