Amora Lake Resort: Solve a murder over dinner

It's a chance to be Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Miss Jane Marple or any other fictional detective you choose.

Amora Lake Resort will be hosting a murder mystery dinner on Saturday night and operations manager Tim Myhre said it would be a great evening of mystery and mayhem.

He said the resort on the shores of Lake Rotoiti was the classic location for a murder mystery setting.

"It's got that intimacy, a real colonial retreat, and the style is perfect."

Mr Myhre said although it was a murder mystery, it wasn't going to be dark or scary but more light-hearted.

"It's going to be interactive, fun and a real comedy."

The murder mystery is being put on by the Tauranga-based Whodunit Players, a company of local men and women of all ages.

Mr Myhre said this was the first time they've held such an event.

"We want to give different things a go and in this case we're using local talent and a local company."

In April, the former Duxton Hotel held a wine and food festival and Mr Myhre said the murder mystery dinner was a way to draw people to the resort where they can also enjoy what the grounds have to offer. Other events they have planned include a lake swim and water skiing event.

"A lot of people need to re-establish themselves with Amora. Most think we are just a conference or wedding venue - we aren't but they are a large part of the business," he said.

"People can come and have a meal and spend the day relaxing and enjoying what we have to offer. Our restaurant is second to none."

The resort backs on to Okawa Bay and has a jetty and a life-sized chess set.

The murder mystery dinner begins at 7pm and runs until 10pm. The cost is $85 a person.