Bay of Plenty Times Weekend chats to Tauranga City Council event design and delivery manager Michaela Blackmann ahead of New Year's Eve.
How long has this Tauranga City Council New Year's event been in the works?
"The planning and preparation process for this New Year's Eve event started in March. We always start by looking at the last event and how it went, what was great and what improvements could be made. We also start booking in contractors, suppliers and bands because things get booked up quickly for the summer months. Regular meetings with all stakeholders such as police, emergency services, roading contractors and security companies, as well as internal council departments ... started in June."
What's going to be different about this New Year's offering at the Mount? And how is this going to be better?
"We've started by not just offering New Year's celebrations at the Mount - we've gone for a city-wide approach that caters for everybody. With the big barbecue and early fireworks at Tauranga's waterfront, the early family stage at Mount Drury and the amazing Trinity Roots we are hoping everybody can enjoy a slice of this event.
"We've got a great variety of live music acts, DJs and performances, to cater to residents and visitors of all ages and interests. To give families with kids the chance to be part of the celebrations, we've developed a family-friendly programme at Mount Drury with performances starting at 6.30pm and finishing at 9.30pm. There will also be family-friendly entertainment at the waterfront in collaboration with Downtown Tauranga. We will light up a firework at 9.30pm from a barge at the Tauranga waterfront so the little ones don't miss out.
"We hope that everyone in Tauranga who decides to come to the Mount for New Year's Eve will find something to enjoy - the programme has something for everyone."What's been the biggest lesson learned from previous New Year's events?
"People are the most important part of this event: their safety and entertainment are our priority. The key to a safe event is close collaboration with our stakeholders as well as consistent, regular information for our communities and visitors. We are so lucky that Tauranga residents accept that it is an incredibly busy time in the city and we work really hard to consider them when we make decisions. We are so grateful they support the event and what we do.
"We've started having regular meetings with police, St John, NZ Fire Service, security companies, roading contractors, Bay Venues, as well as internal council departments like health and safety, transportation, environmental monitoring, parks and many more in June to ensure a safe event."
How big is the team that has been working on the New Year's plans? And what's been the toughest element to secure or sort out?
"The core team includes around 10 council staff from various departments such as events, transportation, parks, communications and health and safety. We work closely with police and emergency services, throughout the planning of the event, to ensure everyone can enjoy a safe environment for an unforgettable start to the new year."
How did TCC manage to secure an act such as Trinity Roots? Was this a result of a deliberate effort to change tactic from previous years?
"We asked them and they said 'yes'! This is an iconic New Year's event in New Zealand and it was only fitting to have an iconic New Zealand band to welcome in 2016. We were lucky enough to secure B2KDA who also bring the cool factor as well as a high-energy start to the night.
"We don't think it's a change in tact: it was more a case of listening to what people were saying about what they wanted from this event, which is also why the third Mount Drury family stage will now be so important."
What's Plan B, if weather turns to custard?
"We have a bad weather plan in place if it is too windy or the rain is too heavy. The event will go ahead if the weather comes along with slight rain or wind. We have three stages that give us some flexibility to shuffle the acts around if one of the stages can't be used due to strong winds or heavy rain."