New Year’s Eve in the Bay of Plenty: What’s cancelled, what’s on as thunderstorm watch issued

Several New Year’s Eve events in the Bay of Plenty have been called off or curtailed due to forecast poor weather – but fireworks are still set to go off.

MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the region from 2pm to 9pm with downpours and flash flooding possible. Rain has been intermittent this afternoon in Rotorua and Tauranga.

Tauranga events

The final of three Twenty20 matches between the Black Caps and Bangladesh kicked off at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval about 1pm.

Heavy rain brought play to an end about 4pm, with the home side declared winners to square the series.

Tauranga City Council cancelled all five of its planned community celebrations based on predicted heavy rain and possible thunderstorms this evening.

It still plans, however, to welcome 2024 with a bang with fireworks displays visible across Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa, the Tauranga city centre and Waimapu estuary harbour areas.

In a statement on Sunday afternoon the council said, weather permitting, fireworks would be set off at 9.30pm and midnight.

Only the Matua display would not proceed due to anticipated weather challenges with fireworks being launched from the water.

“Health and safety is a priority, and fireworks won’t be delivered if there is a safety risk.

“Our pyrotechnics provider will continue to watch the weather closely throughout the evening and we’ll be updating Tauranga City Council and My Tauranga Facebook pages with changes.”

People were encouraged to watch the fireworks from their deck or backyard, or a safe elevated position.

The cancelled community celebrations were to be held at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Pāpāmoa, Fergusson Park in Matua, Tauranga Racecourse in Greerton, Blake Park in Mount Maunganui and on the Tauranga waterfront.

The Famous Last Words music festival at Mercury Baypark in Mount Maunganui was going ahead with both its Silent Disco and Main Stage indoors according to the event’s social media. It was still advertising ticket availability this morning.

Headlining acts include Delta Heavy, who will also play at Bay Dreams, and London electronic artist Metrik.

Rotorua and Taupō events

In Rotorua, the New Year’s Eve Whānau Market has been called off due to forecast bad weather.

Organisers from the Rotorua Night Market posted on social media that there would instead be extra entertainment and activities on the first market of 2024, to be held on Thursday.

Taupō District Council still plans to hold its annual New Year’s Eve Big Bang Fireworks Display, but posted on Facebook that it had cancelled the food trucks, face painting and bands at the lakefront for safety reasons with “rain rolling in”.

“The mini bang fireworks will kick off at 10pm and the Big Bang at midnight as scheduled.”

Roberts St would remain closed but cafes and restaurants were open.

Weather forecast

Metservice has updated its severe thunderstorm watch for Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō, Waikato, Waitomo and Taumarunui.

It is valid for seven hours from 2pm to 9pm today.

It said heavy rain was expected over the north of the North Island with intensities of 10 to 25mm/h and accompanied by thunderstorms.

“However about Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, and the Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, there is a moderate risk of localised downpours, with or without thunderstorms, bringing intensities of 25 to 40mm/h.”

The rain could be intense enough to cause surface and flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas, and may lead to slips and hazardous driving conditions.

The risk of downpours was expected to decrease in Waikato, Waitomo and Taumarunui by early evening, and in Bay of Plenty and Taupō late evening.

The watch was issued at 9.10am and would be updated by 2pm.