Harbour party to celebrate club's 50th

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A PARTY “like nothing Gisborne has seen before” is planned for the town’s inner harbour area to celebrate the 50th Jubilee of Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club.

The club will celebrate a half-century of operation with a public party, complete with bands on a barge, dancing tugs and a birdman competition, over the weekend of November 14-15.

As part of the celebrations, a public activity day and harbour party on the Saturday is being organised jointly by the club and Eastland Port.

Event co-ordinator Prue Younger says it will include a free family fishing competition, a birdman competition for businesses and live bands performing from a barge.

At least 1000 people are expected for the festivities but the event could attract even more.

“We are expecting a real carnival atmosphere around the whole inner harbour area,” said Ms Younger.

“We’ve been around all the other restaurants and cafes in the area, and said to them they should prepare themselves because it should be busy for them as well.”

Club members can register for three days of events and functions to celebrate the club’s milestone, but the Saturday event will be free for everyone to enjoy.

Birdman competitionMs Younger said birdman competition entrants will have to register by contacting prue@publicimpressions.co.nz, or through the Eastland Group or Tatapouri fishing club websites.

Eastland Port is the event’s key sponsor and will also run the birdman competition.

“Our floating plant team will take the tugboat The Waimata into the harbour and present a ‘tug ballet’ display,” Eastland Port general manager Andrew Gaddum said.

Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club manager Michelle Nyholt said excitement was already building.

“It’s a milestone, that’s for sure. It’s going to be a fun-filled weekend and we are looking forward to it.

“The harbour party is going to be like nothing Gisborne has seen before.”

The day will start with a family fishing competition on the banks of Reads Quay and the old Wattie wharf from 8am to noon.

The “tug ballet” will start at 11am, followed by the birdman competition at 1pm.

A prizegiving ceremony at 2pm will be followed by the bands on the barge live music from 3pm to 9pm.

Ms Nyholt said a commemorative book would be launched at a cocktail function for members on the Friday night.

“It’s all happening and it’s all go.

Registration forms for members for the three-day event are available from the fishing club reception.