For the first time in five years, Tauranga City Council is hosting a New year's Eve celebration in Mount Maunganui.
The Mount used to be one of New Zealand's New Year's Eve party hotspots, but for five years it's had no public entertainment or fireworks display.
The party stopped in2016, when the Tauranga City Council axed its annual beachfront concert and midnight Pilot Bay fireworks after allegations young partygoers had been sexually abused at the concert set social media alight and hit national headlines.
This year, an event has been organised at Blake Park, aimed at having a more family-friendly vibe.
The New Year's Eve Community Celebration will run from 6pm to 9.30pm and comprises bands, roving entertainment, sports activities, food trucks and a local radio MC to host. It is free and picnic-friendly with fireworks at 9.30pm.
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It is one of five events being organised by the council throughout the Western Bay of Plenty.
Party goers celebrate New Year's Eve at Mount Maunganui in 2012. Photo / File
Tauranga City Council general manager of community services Gareth Wallis said it was exciting to be back at the Mount after a five-year hiatus.
"Really, we're just rolling out what we've been doing the last few years in other parts of the city with a family-friendly event early in the evening."
Wallis said the council could not control what everyone in Mount Maunganui did on New Year's Eve but was confident an event targeted at families with younger children would be less likely to attract those who would cause problems.
He was hoping there will be a good turnout on December 31.
"We've had a really good response in the last few years at the other community events, in particular, the Pāpāmoa event and the Matua one have been incredibly popular.
"It's our expectation that Blake Park in the Mount should be relatively popular too. We're not trying to have the biggest event in the world, we just want people who live close by to be able to come down, get together for a few hours and watch some fireworks.
"It's an opportunity to connect with their community, connect with their neighbours and do something on New Year's Eve."
Tauranga City Council general manager community services Gareth Wallis. Photo / File
Mount Maunganui Residents, Ratepayers and Retailers Association president Mike O'Neill, who has pushed for the Mount to have a New Year's Eve event, said this year's was a step in the right direction.
He said the association had been working with the council in an effort to provide a New Year's Eve event for Mount Maunganui.
"Primarily, what we wanted to achieve we can't do this year, but we have the green light to carry on investigations into getting it started up next year," he said.
"We'd like to have a sort of gala night with a light show and a countdown onto the Mount with a laser show. We'd like to have an art sculpture trail at Mount Drury [Reserve] and movies going.
"Not big band type stuff but more of a cultural event. This year's event is certainly an acknowledgement that it's now time to return something to the Mount, that we want it and it's time to have it."
Mount Maunganui Residents, Ratepayers and Retailers Association president Mike O'Neill says this year's New Year's Eve celebration is a step in the right direction. Photo / File
In reference to the issues at past events, which resulted in the five-year hiatus, O'Neill was confident there would not be room for poor behaviour at this year's event or the one he would like to see planned next year.
"There won't be any problems with this year's one, it finishes at 9.30pm. Next year's would also be more of a walk-through type event with some folk-type bands.
"Long-term we want something that's a bit more of a drawcard, something a bit different. The concentration is to bring business into the downtown eating area and create some extra business for locals."
Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said police would be at a number of family events run by the Tauranga Council City on New Year's Eve.
"Given the nature of these events, police hope that everyone enjoys them and acts responsibly," he said.
"Our message for New Year's Eve is fairly simple, we want people to have a good time but we also want everyone to stay safe.
"Please look out for your mates and plan ahead to make sure you have a safe way home at the end of the night."
Tauranga City Council New year's Eve Community Celebrations. 6-9.30pm
• Waterfront, Tauranga City Centre.
• Gordan Spratt Reserve, Pāpāmoa.
• Tauranga Racecourse, Greerton. (Laser light display at 9.30pm due to the horses that live onsite).
• Fergusson Park - Matua, Tauranga. (Low sensory event to be held from 5.30-6pm).
