Tauranga accommodation nearly booked out despite severe weather

Accommodation providers in Tauranga have almost reached capacity in the lead-up to Easter weekend - even with remnants of former Cyclone Cook bearing down on the Bay.

Hospitality New Zealand regional manager Alan Sciascia said the 55th National Jazz Festival, which kicked off today, drew lots of people to the area.

Mr Sciascia said the rain expected over the four-day weekend would deter some people but bookings across the region would still be strong.

Durham Motor Inn operations manager Neil Stewart said they were fully booked,
as was the Mission Belle Motel in Mount Maunganui.

Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park was almost fully booked for the long weekend before punters had begun cancelling their camping sites because of the weather forecast.

"If it clears up some may rebook, but people are just wanting to stay off the roads in these conditions," he said.

Welcome Bay Hot Pools and Campground owner Chris Mackay said they had been booked out for more than a month with kiwifruit workers.

"It happens every year, from March to October we are fully booked across the whole winter."

Kent and Gay Pickett had travelled to Mount Maunganui, from Morrinsville, for the long weekend and were not put off by the wet weather.