Pruning Saw Competition

You can never have too many garden and outdoor tools can you? Here’s something else to add to the collection – a foldable pruning saw. With heat-treated triple cut teeth, 180mm blade, ergonomic grip complete with a safety hand guard, and a thumb trigger-locking mechanism, there are plenty...

Rialto Competition

Kon Tiki     M (violence.) Based on the true oceanic adventure taken by Thor Heyerdahl, this Norwegian Golden Globe nominee follows the legendary 1947 journey across the Pacific in a balsa wood raft. With the help of five men, Heyerdahl sets out to prove that the 8000 kilometre voyage...

Bullshot Crummond Competition

Side-splitting slapstick comedy will soon be on show at 16th Avenue Theatre as the Tauranga Repertory Society presents its latest production ‘Bullshot Crummond’. Director Liam Hagan describes...

Rialto Competition

Song for Marion PG(contains coarse language and sexual references). A wonderful, heart-warming story of a loving marriage between grumpy pensioner Arthur (Terence Stamp) and the ever-cheerful Marion (Vanessa...

G2 Competition

The Pub in Greerton is being converted into the biggest bar and events centre in Tauranga bringing both national and international acts to the region. The G2 Bar and Events Centre in Greerton, located...

Home Show Competition

Excitement is building as the Tauranga Home Show nears, now just one week away. Put on by Bay Events, the home show is the perfect place to find fresh ideas and smart advice for home improvement, remodelling,...

Rialto Competition

Oscar-winner Robert Redford directs and stars in this politically-charged thriller as Jim Grant, a civil rights lawyer and single father forced to go on the run after a brash reporter (Shia Labeouf)...

Operatunity Competition

Despite producing more than 250 shows a year and hiring more singers than any other opera company in New Zealand annually – Operatunity are struggling to make ends meet. This dilemma is not for...

The Boy With Tape On His Face

Adorned with distinctive black tape keeping his lips firmly shut ‘The Boy With Tape On His face’ will continue to stamp his mark in comedy with a performance in Tauranga tomorrow night. Created...

Rialto Competition

Award-winning writer Alan Bennett is reunited with director Nicholas Hytner and Olivier Award-winning actress Frances de la Tour, with whom he worked on The History Boys and The Habit of Art. People spoil...

Tauranga Musica smooth sounds Competition

The first of Tauranga Musica’s 2013 performances arrives next month with a trio of smooth sound from Greenville, South Carolina. Poinsett Piano Trio, founded in 2008, returns to New Zealand to play...

Scented Gift for Mother's Day Competition

These chocolate-scented bath and spa salts are the perfect pressie for Mum this Mother’s Day. The Weekend Sun has three to give away to lucky readers who can tell us what flavour they are. Entries...

Nine Mile Stone Competition

Redefining original music, Nine Mile Stone have been hiding out in New Zealand for four years. Made up of two Irish songwriters and a kiwi rhythm section the band are currently putting the finishing touches...

Hypo-allergenic Competition

Pure Bamboo wardrobe protectors are chemical free, hypo-allergenic, 100 per cent natural and are used to keep baby clothes fresh and odour-free. The Weekend Sun has one natural wardrobe protector from...

Roller Derby Competition

Female roller derby skaters from across the Bay are prepping for the second round of Mount Militia’s intra-league season next week. Two teams have been formed from the current crew, the Nuclear...

Rialto Competition

Set in contemporary Manhattan, ‘Performance’ tells the story of four musicians bound together by their passion for music and a long, faithful collaboration. The celebrated string quartet struggles...

Devilskin Competition

Hamilton metal band Devilskin will be rocking Brewers Bar on May 4 as they bring their New Zealand tour to Tauranga. The band has been together for two and a half years and consists of 17-year-old Nic...

Magic Competition

Bay of Plenty/Waikato Kia Magic are gearing to take on the Canterbury Tactix at ASB Arena on Monday, April 22. Following a bye week and the team’s first loss in 14 games, Kia Magic are hoping to...

Weekend Sun Competition

Baby sounds up for grabs Young children love to listen to music, and these CDs are two of the latest popular choices. Playhouse Disney’s Music Play Date includes songs from all the favourite Playhouse...

The Weekend Sun Competition

Classics to contemporary Daytime Concert Series’ first nationwide tour of 2013, Opera to Popera, performed in Tauranga last week. From wonderful classics which are instantly recognisable to new...

Fashion Island Competition

Nestled in the heart of Papamoa is Fashion Island – an island boasting the best value shopping in the Bay. With a fabulous selection of outlet and unique fashion stores, Fashion Island is the bargain...

Rialto Competition

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger M (contains offensive language and sexual references). It follows a pair of married couples, Alfie (Hopkins) and Helena (Jones), and their daughter Sally (Watts) and...

Last night of the proms

Bay of Plenty Symphonia will feature three talented local soloists to entertain you for this series of the Proms. One is the extremely popular Chase Douglas, who completed his Bachelor of Music with First...

Rialto Competition

In June 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams) host the King and Queen of England (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) for a weekend at the Roosevelt...

Tauranga Repertory Society Competition

Tauranga Repertory Society’s latest production is promising a night of laughter, tears, and singing for its audience. ‘A Quiet Night In’, directed by Dyllan Martin, is a hilarious musical...

Baypark Competition

Excitement is building for the Baypark Drive-In Movie Festival returning to the big screen for the April school holidays, with six screenings from April 30 – May 5 at ASB Baypark.  In conjunction...

Healthy Happy Competition

As parents, it can be difficult to get your children eating healthily without a fight. Bestselling author and nutritionist Karen Fischer is dedicated to making healthy food accessible to everyone and...

Homebase Competition

With autumn’s arrival, many residents are looking at home heating and energy saving options for winter – here’s one choice. The Showerdome is a Kiwi invention consisting of a clear acrylic...

Rialto Competition

In June 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams) host the King and Queen of England (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) for a weekend at the Roosevelt...

Magic competition

SunLive has one double pass to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic v NSW Swifts game in Tauranga on March 31 to give away to a lucky reader who can tell us the name of the Magic’s coach.   Entries...

Detour Theatre competition

Your in-laws might not be perfect - but they’re probably not outlaws! Detour Theatre is promising audiences outrageous, laugh-out-loud, comedy in its latest show, taking a light-hearted look at...

Rialto competition

Drama about the relationship between prickly, elderly Frida (screen legend Jeanne Moreau, Jules and Jim) and mousy, middle-aged Anne (Laine Mägi) who arrives in Paris to care for her. Anne...

Rialto Competition

Liberal Arts  M – Contains adult themes Newly single and uninspired by his job in college admissions, the introverted Jesse Fisher (Josh Radnor) lives with his head buried in a book. His deep...

Rialto competition

Great ExpectationsM (contains violence & content that may disturb)   Loosely based on the Charles Dickens’ classic novel, Great Expectations is a sensual tale of a young man’s unforgettable...

Passionberry Review

Instant strawberry goodness There’s nothing better after work or at the weekend than enjoying a refreshing cocktail – especially when it’s as convenient as simply pouring it into a martini...

Tauranga repertory society Competition

It was the scandal that rocked Hollywood’s biggest stars to the core but has famously remained secret for almost 90 years. Now theatre-goers can decide for themselves what really happened aboard...

Rialto Competition

I Give It A Year (M) contains language and nudity From the makers of Bridget Jones’ Diary and Love Actually comes a new romantic comedy starring Simon Baker, Stephen Merchant, Rose Byrne and Anna...

Rotary Competition

Coronation Park in Mount Maunganui will be filled with musicians from around the Bay of Plenty when the Rotary Club’s Picnic in the Park takes place for the first time on Saturday March 9. Picnic...

Tauranga Marriages competition - Prepare/Enrich couples inventory

Studies show less than 40 per cent of New Zealand couples make time for any in-depth pre-marriage preparation. Most spend more time preparing for a wedding ceremony than investing in what is essential...

Rialto Competition

Early Screenings this weekend. Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has...

Rialto competition

Amour   R13 (contains content may disturb) Early Screenings this weekend. Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician,...

Circus Aotearoa competition

Circus Aotearoa – New Zealand’s only Kiwi-owned and operated circus, is showing at Simpson Reserve in Papamoa this month. Presenting a highly acclaimed show featuring an intriguing mix of...

Villainy and Rival State competition

Gig for fans of dirty old rock music Villainy and Rival State are playing at Brewers Bar is Mount Maunganui on Thursday, March 14. Fans of good old-fashioned dirty rock music will enjoy two of New Zealand’s...

New Zealand's Got Talent competition

Talented winner tours to Tauranga New Zealand’s Got Talent winner Clara van Wel is set to perform in Tauranga at the seventh Annual Classic Hits Winery Tour in March. Clara joins the Kiwi line-up...

Rialto competition

Opening on February 7, tickets on sale now for The Magistrate. Academy Award nominee and Tony Award-winner John Lithgow takes the title role in Arthur Wing Pinero's uproarious Victorian farce, directed...

Baypark competition

The Flamecrusher Top Half Midget Series Round 2 and the Bay Champs Spring & Saloon Cars are coming to ASB Baypark next weekend in a night of competitive speed racing on the track. The event is on...

Twenty20 Blackcaps tickets competition

WIN tickets to 2nd ANZ Twenty20 home game! Hamilton supporters can catch all the action at Seddon Park on Tuesday 12 February at 7.00pm, when the BLACKCAPS take on England in the 2nd Twenty20...

Rialto competition

Anna Karenina     M (sex scenes) Anna Karenina is an epic love story, adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The story...

T is for Tauranga competition

For two weeks children in Merivale Community Centre's school holiday programme are exploring parts of the Bay of Plenty using Te Puna author Tommy Kapai's book 'T is for Tauranga' - the world's first QR...

Rialto competition

You Will Be My Son   M (contains offensive language and sexual references) French drama about an experienced wine-maker who does not believe his son has the talent or passion to carry on his...

Back to school competition

Get set for school Children will be heading back to school soon, so The Weekend Sun has the ultimate back to school pack up for grabs this week. The backpack includes a range of back to school essentials...

Marchwood blues picnic competition

Top blues picnic in Bay An event claiming to be the best blues concert in New Zealand is coming to Tauranga next month, featuring an array of local blues talent in a scenic location in Omokoroa. The...

Rialto competition

A Whole Lotta Sole A Whole Lotta Sole tells the story of Jimbo (McCann) who, in a misguided attempt to protect his family and pay back gambling debts to the local mobster, robs a fish market which is...

Rialto competition

Les Miserables   M (violence and sexual references) Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King's Speech) brings the epic stage musical to the big screen with stars Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway,...

Katikati Avocado Food and Wine Festival competition

Thousands of avocado lovers are expected to flock to Katikati next weekend for the annual Katikati Avocado Food and Wine Festival. Spearheaded by celebrity Masterchef Nadia Lim, the tenth annual event...

Aaradhna’s ‘Treble & Reverb’ competition

Hearing the wake up call The Weekend Sun caught up with Kiwi singer Aaradhna as she prepares to head to Tauranga with the MoreFM Summer Vineyard Tour in February. Aaradhna has recently re-entered the...

The Hobbit competition

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2D) (M) Fantasy Violence – 169mins – No Comps Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with part one of his trilogy adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit. A...

Rialto competition

Love Is All You Need(M) contains sex scenes, offensive language & nudity - 111mins – No Comps Romantic comedy from Danish writer/director Susanne Bier (After the Wedding), set in Sorrento, Italy...

Rialto competition

Monsieur Lazhar French Canadian classroom drama nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2012 Academy Awards. After an intermediate school teacher commits suicide, an eccentric replacement tries...

Rialto competition

Argo   (M) contains violence & offensive language Ben Affleck directs and stars in this thriller, the true story of a plan hatched by the CIA to rescue six US diplomats from Iran in 1979....

Operatunity competition

Operatunity’s Daytime Concert series will bring a host of colourful characters to Tauranga in December for a Christmas themed pantomime show sure to capture the imaginations of young and old. ‘Puss...

Bay of Plenty Symphonia competition

‘Brave New World’ will be a must-attend for all lovers of superbly played piano, especially when accompanied by fifty five dedicated musicians, including eight students, which together make...

Rialto competition

Academy Award winner Christopher Plummer portrays legendary Shakespearean actor John Barrymore. Set in 1942, the final year of Barrymore’s life, the film takes place on the stage of a Broadway theatre...

Claire's wine review competition

The Te Whare Ra 2011 Sauvignon Blanc is produced from grapes predominately from the Awatere Valley. The grapes for this wine are all handpicked. Anna Flowerday says they make wines that they like to drink....

SunLive Principals\' Challenge competition

The Weekend Sun has one family pass to the Sunlive Principals’ Challenge, including two adults and three children, to give away to a lucky reader who can tell us how many female principals are racing. Entries...

Sid\'s Sauce competition

Sid’s Sauces’ Feijoa and chilli sauce is great spread on cold meats or added to cheese boards. The Weekend Sun has one bottle of Feijoa and chilli Sid’s Sauce to give away to a lucky...

Rialto competition

Robot & Frank (M) contains offensive language Academy Award nominee Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) stars in this near-future comedy about a retired cat burglar who reluctantly receives a nursing robot...

Prime Productions competition

Prime Productions is excited to introduce its latest performance, just in time for Christmas. ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Museum of Mystery’ is a professional and unique dinner show promising...

Rialto competition - The Sessions

Audience Award winner at Sundance 2012, the true story of a man (John Hawkes), paralyzed from the neck down, determined to lose his virginity at the age of 38 – with the help of a sex therapist (Helen...

Sid\'s Sauce competition

This sauce is as hot as you can get before you start losing flavour. You can use this sauce instead of a tomato paste on pizza bases, or add it to your next Bloody Mary for an interesting twist. The...

Guinness competition

Guinness is searching for the title of the next Pint Master in New Zealand. Reporter Zoe Hunter went on a hunt of her own to find the best pourers of the stout in the Bay of Plenty. Mount Maunganui RSA,...

Raw Pawz competition

Nita and Darryn from Raw Pawz are dedicated to providing pet owners with a natural product that is healthy for pets. Their beautiful dogs Diesel and Gypsy are advocates for the Raw Pawz feeding regime...

Goodness Me It’s Gluten Free competition

With so many people now eating gluten free, it is great to find a recipe book that has recipes covering, breads, pastry, cakes, biscuits and muffins. Perfect when you have gluten free dinner guests! Goodness...

Sid\'s Sauce competition

The Weekend Sun has one bottle of raspberry and mint vinegar sauce from Sid’s Sauce and a recipe sheet to give away to a lucky reader who can tell us two ingredients it contains. Entries must be...

Parents & Kids Expo competition

The Weekend Sun has six double passes to the expo to give away to lucky readers who can tell us where it is being held. Entries must be received before November 7....

Garden & Artfest - Long Lunch competition

TV3 reporter and presenter Mike McRoberts is coming to Tauranga as guest speaker at the final event in the biennial Garden & Artfest – the Long Lunch. It would take a long lunch to cover the...

Detour Theatre - Blackadder competition

After successfully bringing the hit TV series Fawlty Towers to the stage, Detour Theatre is relishing the challenge of Blackadder. “It’s a completely different beast,” says director...

Rialto competition

Business thriller starring Richard Gere as a New York hedge fund magnate whose structured family life, secretive affair and upper-class lifestyle threatens to collapse under the possible exposure of his...

McCashin’s Brewery competition

If you like a good beer, then break out and try a craft beer. We produce some stunning craft beers in New Zealand which will be available for tasting at the Liquorland Spring Fest 2012 on Friday November...

SunLive Rialto competition

The Intouchables (M) Drug use and offensive language Award-winning, feel-good French drama about the friendship that develops between an aristocrat (François Cluzet, Tell No One) - a quadriplegic...

SunLive Tauranga Boat Expo and Water Festival competition

Tauranga’s only on-the-water boat show is just one week away. The Tauranga Boat Expo and Water Festival is returning to The Strand Waterfront on November 2-4, and admission costs just $5 for adults...

SunLive Baypark Speedway competition

Fireworks and racing extravaganza The Western Bay’s biggest Guy Fawkes fireworks display is gearing up for a huge event to make up for last year’s cancellation following the Rena disaster. The...

SunLive The Real Food Chef competition

From the moment you pick up this book you will be fascinated and will find it hard to put down. It is full of life-changing information and recipes with stunning photographs. The Real Food Chef system...

SunLive Rialto competition

Safety Not Guaranteed   (M) contains offensive language and sexual references Indie comedy about three colleagues who investigate a classified ad calling for time travel companions. From the producers...

SunLive Legasea competition

The fish are eager and so is the new writer of this fishing column to give you a fresh, up-beat report on the weekly fishing scene. I’m the Jig, the mystery mascot for the Wish4Fish Charitable Trust,...

SunLive Rialto competition

The Words (M) Offensive language Bradley Cooper (Limitless) is a struggling writer about to discover the consequences for plagiarising another man’s work in this romantic drama, also starring Zoe...

SunLive mobility scooter competition

Chris Bell from Kiwi Mobility Scooters has a double seater mobility scooter to give away to a deserving couple, family or charity. Chris says along with the scooter give-away, he would like to give a...

SunLive R-LINE competition

Mount Maunganui sports drink company R-LINE Ltd is helping athletes around the country stay at their peak performance. A one litre bottle of R-LINE concentrate makes 10 litres of electrolyte drink and...

SunLive Speights competition

Speight’s, Waikato Draught and Lion Red are bringing 568ml Imperial Pint bottles to a store near you, so you can experience the convenience of a cold one in a portion size to really savour. Along...

SunLive Rialto competition

In this Australian comedy set to a soul music soundtrack, four Aboriginal women in the ’60s are discovered by a talent scout (Chris O’Dowd, Bridesmaids) and form a musical group that travels...

SunLive Dialled Indoor Skatepark competition

The Weekend Sun has a special one month pass to Dialled Indoor Skatepark valued at $200 to give away to a lucky reader who can tell us where the skatepark is located. Entries must be received before...

SunLive Coppelia competition

The Yvonne Edwards School of Dance will present its annual production of the well-known three act ballet ‘Coppelia’ at Baycourt this October. The traditional ballet is a charming favourite...

SunLive Rialto competition

Bernie (M) contains violence Jack Black reunites with School of Rock director Richard Linklater for this dark comedy about the murder of a wealthy, elderly Texan widow (Shirley MacLaine)...

SunLive Rialto competition

Your Sister’s SisterR (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Some dirty talk and a bit of sexual action. Comedy-drama examining the criss-crossing relationships between a man,...

SunLive Ghost competition

For Greerton writer Val Bird there is nothing more satisfying than hearing readers tell her she was writing about them. “I just love being able to make contact with a child – just to have...

SunLive Naked Vapour competition

Owned and operated by Papamoa husband and wife Rob and Lia Haskett, Naked Vapour provides all the needed vaping supplies from within New Zealand so users can avoid those expensive shipping fees and lengthy...

SunLive Rialto competition

Hysteria (M) Based on true events in 1880 London, the handsome young Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), a believer in modern medical theories, lands a position as the assistant to society doctor Robert...

SunLive ‘The Best of the Classics’ competition

Lovers of classical music will get the “Operatunity” to listen to some of the best-loved tunes of all time this month. Operatunity’s new show The Best of the Classics, presented by ...

SunLive Bully No More competition

Tauranga Safe City, in conjunction with an engaged BOP Steamers organisation, is making serious strides with an anti-bullying campaign ticking off national firsts. The Steamers have already joined the...

SunLive Te Puna Kindergarten competition

Pamperers wanted for kindergarten event Te Puna Kindergarten is appealing for businesses in the pamper industry to swap their services for the chance to network at an annual ladies pamper evening at Te...

SunLive Tauranga Theatre Organ Society competition

Get whirled away by the Wurlitzer Tauranga Theatre Organ Society is holding a ‘Wurli Weekend’ to celebrate 40 years of the Wurlitzer entertaining the folk of Tauranga. The festivities begin...

SunLive \'Murihiku, The Southern Land\' competition

The rugged beauty of southern-most tip of New Zealand is perhaps best revealed from above, which is exactly why South Coast Productions has created the DVD `Murihiku, The Southern Land’. The 30-minute...

SunLive Rialto competition

Moonrise Kingdom Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr Fox) directs this comedy drama set in the summer of 1965 where two 12-year-old lovebirds run away together into the wilderness. The all-star...

A ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is set to inhabit the Historic Village’s Detour Theatre in early spring. The play, believed to have been written by William Shakespeare between 1590...

Tauranga Repertory Society\'s \"Playing Away\" competition

Tickets are now available for the 16th Avenue Theatre’s latest production, Playing Away, by Janet Shaw and directed by Michele McAnulty-Smith. The show premieres on September 5 and runs until September...

SunLive Rialto competition

Hope Springs Comedy-drama starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as a couple trying to reignite their 30 year marriage with an intense weekend of marriage and sex therapy, courtesy of a relationship...

Fancy Feast competition

Cats can’t do their own shopping, but if they could they might just opt for Fancy Feast’s new Royale Broths. An innovative New Zealand first, the dishes, containing a mix of premium cuts of...

Rialto: Cheerful Weather for the Wedding

The arrival of a former lover throws the feelings of a bride-to-be into turmoil on her wedding day in this English comedy drama set in the ’30s. While Dolly (Cemetery Junction’s Felicity Jones)...

Where would we be without the bee?

It’s all about the bees at Mossop’s Honey. Despite successfully producing, packaging and exporting top quality honey for more than 65 years, the familyowned business gives all the credit to...

Take this Waltz

Indie romantic-drama about 28-year-old Margot(Michelle Williams), who is happily married toLou (Seth Rogen), a cookbook author. But when she meets Daniel (Luke Kirby) - a dashing artistwho has moved in...

Lend your ear to Leonari

Three talented young musicians return to New Zealand to perform together in Tauranga at Mills Reef Sunday, August 19. The Leonari Trio, comprising Hilary Hayes (violin), Edward King (cello) and Maria Mo...

Take a musical trip to the \'60s and \'70s

The fabulous music and fun of the 60s and 70s willbe on show when the award-winning Daytime ConcertSeries, presented by Operatunity, graces Holy TrinityChurch from 11am on August 17. Tom Sharplin and...

European tunes set to thrill at Baycourt

Music lovers, music teachers and students, and all supporters of Bay of Plenty Symphonia from the wider BOP and beyond, will be enthralled by ‘A Taste of Europe,’ at Baycourt Theatre Sunday...

SunLive Rialto competition

Heading: Le Chef (M) contains offensive language Jean Reno plays a veteran chef in this French gastronomic comedy, facing off against his restaurant’s CEO who wants to bring in a younger replacement. “Jacky...

Young friends to take to stage

Aspiring student performers will inhabit Baycourt on Wednesday, August 8, for ‘The Night is Young’. The event, organised by the Young Friends of Baycourt – a group of students working...

SunLive Rialto competition

Margaret (R16) Drama about a high-school student in New York who inadvertently plays a role in a traffic accident that claims a woman’s life. Stars Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo and Mathew...

SunLive Rialto competition

The Door Set in Hungary during the 1960s, this drama depicts the unusual relationship between a well-to-do novelist (Martina Gedeck, The Lives of Others) and her poor, elderly maid (Helen Mirren, The...

SunLive Scarlett Women (16th Avenue Theatre) competition

The 16th Avenue Theatre presents Scarlet Women - an evening of cabaret style entertainment with quotes and anecdotes from ladies of the theatre and show business, directed by Jan and Merv Beets. The Weekend...

SunLive Steinway Showcase 2012 competition

New York City talent The second Steinway Showcase of 2012 will perform at Baycourt Theatre on Saturday, July 14 at 7.30pm.Critically acclaimed international artists Andrew Tyson and Zhang Zuo will take...

SunLive Baycourt theatre – Elizabeth Marvelly competition

Serenading with the classics Many of time’s classic, most-loved songs will be singing out from Baycourt Theatre this month as singer Elizabeth Marvelly’s Heartland Tour of New Zealand reaches...

SunLive Blokart competition

Don’t panic about what to do with the kids these holidays. Instead, take them down to blokart Recreation Park in Papamoa for fun, educational and safe activities the whole family will enjoy. Formerly...

SunLive Mills Reef 2010 Syrah competition

The Weekend Sun has one bottle of Mills Reef 2010 award-winning Syrah to give away to one lucky reader who can tell us the latest award it has won. Entries must be received before July 4. To enter,...

SunLive Fortisalt competition

When Jude from Bethlehem Health & Tea Shop told me I had to try FortiSalt because it tastes better than salt, my first reaction was ‘I don’t think so!’ But I have to say I can see...

SunLive Rialto competition

A Royal Affair (M)Contains violence & sex scenes Historical, romantic-drama set in 18th Century Denmark based on the deadly love triangle between the young queen of Denmark, her schizophrenic king...

SunLive Rialto competition

Safe Jason Statham stars in this crime-thriller about a washed-up cage fighter tangled in a lockout between three underworld crime syndicates after saving an orphaned girl. After screwing up a rigged...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

Worthy gold medal winner The Marisco Vineyard’s 2009 Noble Sauvignon Blanc has just won a gold medal at the Decanter Wine Awards London 2012. I have to say I am not surprised to hear that it has...

SunLive Operatunity competition

The latest show from 2012’s Daytime Concert Series is coming to Tauranga next week. Viva Italia will show in Tauranga on June 29 at the Holy Trinity Church at 11am. Presented by Operatunity, which...

SunLive John Michaelz: So far, so good… competition

John Michaelz: So far, so good… Reviewed by Tony Moon “So far, so good…” is a road map to the musical journey Mr Michaelz has travelled over the past 25 years. As the man puts...

SunLive Claire’s Wine Column competition

The King’s Wrath is a lovely pinot noir from the Kings series produced by Marisco vineyards in Marlborough. The fruit for this wine was grown in rich fertile clay loam soils, the low cropping vines...

SunLive Crozier Free Range Turkey competition

Turkey centre stage for mid-winter Christmas A free range turkey would make the perfect centrepiece for your mid-winter Christmas celebrations and The Weekend Sun has two Crozier Free Range Turkeys to...

SunLive Rialto competition

Letters to Father Jacob Finnish drama set in the 1970s about a female ex-convict who becomes an assistant to a blind elderly pastor. The film follows Leila, a murderer pardoned after serving 12 years...

SunLive 42 Below competition

Cocktail that’s sweet as honey Dickie Cullimore from 42BELOW dropped in this week and offered to make me a 42BELOW honey, honey bear cocktail. How could I resist? I have to say, I have made a few...

SunLive Abe\'s Bagels competition

The Weekend Sun has 10 Abe’s Bagels prize packs, including two Bagel Bites for Kids (pizza and barbecue flavour), one pack of Parmesan bagels and one pack of baby bagels, to give away to lucky readers...

SunLive Mammoth in the Fridge competition

A Mammoth in the Fridge, by Michael Escoffier, Gecko Press, RRP $19.99 It’s enough to give anyone a shock. Finding a mammoth squashed into the fridge becomes quite a headache for the unlucky family...

SunLive Blacklist competition

Heavy metal musicians Blacklist are heading to Tauranga next weekend as they embark on their first tour, From the Blind Spot. Lead singer Damien Alexander says the group will be playing new songs as well...

SunLive Rialto competition

Last Will (M) Contains violence and offensive language From the producer of the Millennium trilogy comes this Swedish crime drama about a female journalist who becomes a front-running witness to an extravagant...

SunLive Fawlty Towers competition

Detour Theatre’s successful sell-out production of Fawlty Towers last year has led to a sequel. The outrageous antics of Basil Fawlty, his long-suffering wife Sybil, hapless Spanish waiter Manuel,...

SunLive Comvita competition

Fortunately for me this week Jude from Bethlehem Health and Tea Shop dropped off a bottle of Comvita Olive Leaf Complex Oral Spray for me to review. I am not sure how she knew I was about to get a sore...

SunLive Rialto competition

Trishna (R16) contains violence, offensive language, drug use & sex scenes Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) plays a young Indian woman whose life slowly crumbles in the hands of romance and social...

SunLive Bay of Plenty Symphonia competition

Music is all about emotion and when our memories are involved, music allows us to conjure up a place and a time in our lives which rekindles memories that words just cannot describe.  Under the...

Sunlive Rialto competition

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen From the director of The Cider House Rules and the writer of Slumdog Millionaire comes this political-spinning drama about Fred (Ewan McGregor), a government fisheries scientist...

SunLive The Best of British competition

Operatunity, a daytime variety concert experience, will perform at Holy Trinity Church from 11am on May 25.The show, comprising professional singers and musicians, will take viewers on a fun-packed musical...

SunLive Celtic Divas competition

The beautiful sounds of traditional Irish songs with a twist will fill Baycourt Community and Arts Centre next Friday. Celtic Divas comprises of four of Ireland’s most prominent folk singers, and...

SunLive Rialto competition

Dark Shadows (M) - Contains horror, violence, offensive language and drug use Tim Burton directs this comedy adaptation of the cult gothic-horror TV series which ran from 1966-1971. Starring Johnny Depp,...

SunLive Comedy Convoy competition

Jeremy Corbett of ‘7 Days’ fame will guide 12 comedians to as many venues in as many days during the 2012 Comedy Convoy. The tour, beginning in Hamilton on May 14, stopping in Tauranga on...

SunLive luxury slippers competition

While the name may sound Italian, these slippers are 100% home grown. Produced and made in New Zealand, the quality range of Givani slippers are made from scratch at the Auckland factory, using New Zealand...

SunLive Adventure Kitchen competition

The Weekend Sun has six packs of Adventure Kitchen ‘Mothers Day’ packs, including Chardonnay Mustard, Sweet Mango and Lime Chutney and Caramalised Onion Relish, to give away to people who can...

SunLive Little Bird organic cereal competition

Sometimes, eating the same cereal can become rather boring. Not the case with this cereal I picked up from Bethlehem Health and Tea Shop. Little Bird organic almond, goji and yacon sprouted buckwheat...

Sunlive Rialto competition

A Dangerous Method (R16) Filmmaker David Cronenberg (The Fly, A History of Violence) directs this true, historical thriller based on the turbulent love triangle that developed between two towering intellectuals...

SunLive Tauranga Home Show competition

This year’s Tauranga Home Show will be bigger and better with its brand new indoor venue. The popular annual event will be held at Baypark’s new TECT Arena, offering more than 6000 square metres...

SunLive Chat with the Chiefs competition

Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks squad members Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui and Aaron Cruden, as well as former All Blacks and Tauranga Boys’ College student Tanerau Latimer, are set to put...

SunLive Akoka Trio competition

Four talented musicians have combined to create an exciting new group – The Akoka Quartet. The members are all New Zealanders who have studied and performed in the United Kingdom and Europe, each...

SunLive Rialto Spud competition

SPUD: John Cleese stars in this South African coming-of-age comedy-drama about a middle class boy who wins a scholarship to a snooty private school. Based on the novel by John van de Ruit. With his lunatic...

SunLive Claire’s Wine Column competition

This week’s wine is a lovely 2011 Huntaway Reserve Pinot Gris. The wine represents a blend of Pinot Gris from some of the finest vineyards in Gisborne. The blending of a small proportion of Gewurztraminer...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

I really enjoyed the 2010 Huntaway Reserve Chardonnay.  The wine has been barrel-fermented with fruit sourced from a number of premium blocks, Patutahi, Ormond and Whitmore Estate vineyards in Gisborne. Each...

SunLive Rialto competition

A breezy upstairs/downstairs French comedy centred on an uptight couple living in a swanky Parisian apartment in 1962, blissfully unaware that upstairs the building's servants quarters is swarming with...

SunLive Rialto competition

Antonio Banderas reunites with acclaimed director Pedro Almodovar (Talk to Her, All About My Mother) to star in this skin-crawling Spanish thriller, based on the novel Tarantula by...

SunLive Muay Thai Mayhem 7 competition

Muay Thai fighter Wendy Talbot is back in Tauranga, after a recent move to Rotorua, with hopes to achieve the NZ WMC Ladies Featherweight title at Muay Thai Mayhem 7 on March 31. Established by the World...

SunLive Claire’s Wine competition

What better way to enjoy the lovely weekend we have coming up, than with a bottle of 2011 Huntaway Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. The rich clay soils of Marlborough’s Lower Wairau Valley don’t require...

SunLive Rialto competition

Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) stars as film icon Marilyn Monroe in this drama based on her time making The Prince and the Showgirl, and the week she spent being escorted around Britain by a production...

SunLive Powell on the Pipes competition

Chris Powell, one of the UK’s premier entertainment organists, is returning to Tauranga on March 18 at 1.30pm for Powell on Pipes. Chris spent an entire year in the late 1990s as a Resident Organist...

SunLive Maketu Kaimoana festival competition

Historically known for its historical significance – the landing place of the Arawa canoe, a trading port and a battle zone – Maketu is also well known for its spectacular seafood. Now in...

SunLive Operatunity competition

After the successful launch of the 2012 season with the ‘Showstoppers’ concert, award winning Operatunity is back with its new show, ‘The Era of Swing’. Director Geoffrey Hughes...

SunLive Claire’s Wine Column competition

Saint Clair Pinot Noir is delicious for its rich palate of ripe dark berries. Well-balanced acidity with silky ripe tannins, the finish is layered with toasty oak, subtle vanilla and coffee, which is...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

All Saint Clair Family Estate wines are selected via a unique quality assessment system. This process starts with open minded quality viticulture and continues in the winery, where 250 small tanks are...

SunLive Doodle Competition

Kids are forever ‘doodling’ on their books at school, so why not unleash that inner creativity and encourage them to personalise their own books, bags, cases and even shoes. Doodle is a new...

SunLive Rialto competition

THE ARTIST: French romantic-comedy set in 1927 Hollywood. Strikingly, the film is silent (aside from a musical score) and shot in black and white.  Winner of Best Actor and nominated for...

SunLive Rialto A Few Best Men competition

Prenuptial comedy from the writers and producers of Death At A Funeral, about an Australian-based wedding that hurtles into havoc when the groom’s incompetent “best men” arrive. After...

SunLive Operatunity competition

Every show has a song that stops the show and that we remember well after the final curtain falls. Award winning entertainment company Operatunity launches its 2012 season of daytime concerts with Showstoppers...

SunLive R-LINE competition

Mount Maunganui sports drink company R-LINE Ltd is helping athletes around the country stay at their peak performance. R-LINE has a range of liquid rehydration drink concentrates that have been developed...

SunLive Gin Wigmore competition

Gin Wigmore is the first to confess she does some really crazy things. Maybe it is a death wish, she says, but her philosophy is that “life stops once you stop trying to make stories for yourself”. Back...

SunLive Book Review competition

D.E.S.I.G.N. explores the creative spark behind 69 imaginative household objects produced in the past 150 years. Most people spend a lot of time seated, so many of the featured objects are chairs, sofas...

SunLive Rialto competition

J. Edgar (M) contains violence and offensive language  Clint Eastwood directs Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover, the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years. Hoover was instrumental...

SunLive R-line sports drink competition

Mount Maunganui sports drink company R-LINE Ltd is helping athletes around the country stay at their peak performance. R-LINE has a range of liquid rehydration drink concentrates that have been developed...

SunLive Tease Botanix competition

Nothing could have prepared me for the heavenly relaxation that awaited me at Tease Botanix’s new hair and beauty rooms. Creator-owner Teena Cooke has branched out this year and enlisted the help...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

It was great to try some different wines during the holiday period. The stand out wine for me was the Pepperjack Shiraz. It was first recommended to me when I was in a small bottle store is Aussie when...

SunLive Rialto ‘Buck’ competition

Winner of the Audience Award at Sundance 2011 (for US Documentary), about American Buck Braannaman – from his abusive childhood to his life as a successful horse whisperer. Legendary horse trainer...

SunLive Tauranga City Airshow ‘Classics of the Sky’ competition

The Tauranga City Airshow ‘Classics of the Sky’ is the first major public outing for the recently completed T51 Mustang aircraft. Tauranga man Marty Cantlon owns the aircraft, which took...

SunLive Creedence Clearwater Revisited competition

Creedence Clearwater Revisited has taken on a startling life of its own. Bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revival launched the Revisited project...

SunLive Inzpire Dance Company ‘Canvas’ competition

Tauranga-based dance company Inzpire is showcasing its brand new show to start 2012, taking the show as far afield as Auckland. Canvas is described as a “multifaceted show, and has something for...

SunLive Rialto competition

Glenn Close (from TV’s Damages) dons a top hat in this tale of a woman posing as a male butler in 19th century Ireland. During an era where female independence was non-existent and heavily discouraged,...

Sunlive Claire’s wine review competition

If you are looking for a nice sauvignon blanc to serve with seafood, then I highly recommend this week’s wine: Mt. Difficulty Sauvignon Blanc 2011. From Central Otago, this wine is ‘distinctly...

SunLive Rialto competition

A period drama based on Anton Chekhov’s 1891 novella, The Duel gives pictorial life to a classic Chekhovian tale and brings much shrewd understanding to its ageless tale of temperamentally opposed...

SunLive Rialto competition

The Iron Lady tells the story of a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power and...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

If you are looking for good Champagne for Christmas at an excellent price (only $59 a bottle), then make sure you get to Liquorland and pick up a bottle of Piper Champagne. You’ll find Liquorland...

SunLive Bel Mondo competition

If you are looking for a frozen dessert that encompasses Italian passion, creativity, quality and elegance, try the new Bindi range at Bel Mondo. The Bindi story begins with a little bakery on one of...

SunLive Rialto competition

The First Grader (M) contains violence and offensive language In a small, remote mountain top primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

Mt Difficulty wines feature quite frequently in my wine rack, (but not for very long). I do really enjoy the Pinot Noir produced by Mt Difficulty, which really did put the winery on the map. Central...

SunLive Christmas gardening book competition

 There are so many options you can buy for your green fingered family members, friends and neighbours. Choosing the right gift doesn’t need to be complicated. Consider what type of gardener...

SunLive Kim Donaldson competition

What began as notes written in a journal, has evolved into a collection of transformational books for Pahoia’s accidental author Kim Donaldson. Kim, who writes under the pen name Kimaya, whole-heatedly...

Sunlive Raft-About competition

Don’t be alarmed when you are told rafting the Wairoa River happens just after the dam has been released – be more alarmed you have only 26 days a year to enjoy such a fun thrilling experience. In...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

Hillsdene Wines on Cameron Road is a great place to visit, in fact you could do all your Christmas shopping in one hit if you tried (except for the children of course). Doug has an excellent range of...

SunLive Rialto competition

Christian-based drama following four law enforcement officers. Despite their effortless ability to stand up against the dangers of their civic duties, one vital duty still alludes them: Fatherhood. With...

SunLive Stella Artois competition

Stella Artois – the beer originally crafted for Christmas – has this year’s festivities all wrapped up, with a special edition range to help you have a stellar Christmas. The brightly...

SunLive Rialto competition

Spellbound goes to Ireland in this documentary about the competitive Irish folk dancing scene and the children who compete within it. Jig is possessed of a fierce energy – and an agreeable warmth....

SunLive Rialto competition

Thriller inspired by the true story of Kathryn Bolkovac, an American policewoman who discovered US military involvement in child sex slavery and human trafficking in war-torn Bosnia. Stars Academy Award...

SunLive The Checks competition

Maybe it’s because he has just woken up or maybe there was a lot of thought behind it, but The Check’s drummer Jacob Moore describes their new album ‘Deadly Summer Sway’ as a “waltz...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

Nothing beats a nice glass of lightly chilled Rose served as an aperitif. Mix it with a bit of sunshine and good company, serve up a plate of crustini topped with sliced slow roasted field mushrooms or...

SunLive Claire’s Bel Mondo review

Panettone – a delicious type of sweet bread originally from Milan – is a Christmas holiday favourite in Europe and I can see why. I got to sample both the traditional flavour and the new...

SunLive Rialto competition

Beginners (M) contains offensive language and sexual references Comedy-drama in which a young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: That he has terminal cancer and that he has a...

SunLive Rialto competition

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Historical drama tracing the parallel relationships between two female friends in 19th Century and modern-day China. Based on the bestseller by Lisa See. Follows...

SunLive Beat Bugs competition

With the Rugby World Cup having dominated spring so far, many green fingered people have taken a leave of absence from their vegetable garden. Remember vital ingredients for a successful veggie garden...

SunLive Bic Runga competition

At the mention of the word Tauranga, her voice goes from excitement to sudden concern. “Oh god, how are you?” she asks, as if I have just lost one of my closest family members. The affects...

SunLive Flower Power gardening competition

The power of the flower is pretty hard to match. Whether it be the joy of giving or receiving a freshly hand picked posy or bunch of flowers or watching as something special starts to bloom for the first...

Tauranga Boat Expo and Water Festival Competition

The Tauranga Boat Expo and Water Festival features Bay of Plenty marine businesses and highlights the region's on water recreational opportunities. Read more about the event here It is on November 4...

SunLive Colourful Soul competition

A mixture of technology and performing arts, Colourful Soul is the energetic creation by Mount Maunganui resident Mal Brady and Canadian Duane Lebo. The interactive show is a refreshing take on theatre...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

It was a privilege to catch up with John Hancock from Trinity Hill. John is a legend in wine making, having made his first wine in 1972 in the Barossa Valley. The 2008 Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

Congratulations to Steve Bird on another wine being selected to be served by Air New Zealand Business Class during the Rugby World Cup. Lucky travellers get to sample the 2009 Big Barrel Pinot Noir, the...

SunLive Te Puke Kindergarten competition

Just as the Te Puke Kindergarten passed through the 80s, supporters of the Kindergarten have the opportunity to do the same in an upcoming fundraising venture. The Totally Awesome 80s Prom Party on Saturday,...

SunLive Jason Bennett road show competition

From his birth as a premature baby, health researcher and mentor Jason Bennett’s life has been plagued by stories of illness, bad health and struggling on multiple forms of medication. Now, into...

SunLive Claire’s wine review competition

 Te Whare Ra is one of the oldest vineyards in Marlborough, established in 1979. Winemakers Anna and Jason Flowerday take a hands-on approach in both the vineyard and the winery.   Interviews...

SunLive Rialto ‘Jane Eyre’ competition

Charlotte Bronte adaptation with Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), from the director of Sin Nombre. Also starring Judi Dench, Sally Hawkins and Jamie Bell. Jane Eyre (Wasikowska) flees Thornfield...

SunLive Regal Salmon competition

Regal Marlborough Salmon’s new twin pack salmon slices are a great way to keep food fresh and, with a variety of sizes, there’s less mess and no reason for waste. The great thing about twin...

SunLive Claire’s wine review

My favourite wine of the moment is Bird Riesling, best words to describe this wine, ‘exciting’ and ‘vibrant’! Steve Bird considers Riesling to be the greatest of all classic white...

SunLive Rialto competition

Little White Lies (R16) contains offensive language, drug use and sexual themes French comedy-drama from the director of Tell No One, starring Marion Cotillard (Inception) and François...

SunLive Rialto competition

The Holy Roller (M): Kiwi comedy-drama about a rural pastor who attempts to convert an inner-city nightclub into a church. A shepherd without a flock, Pastor Luke struggles to attract a single...

SunLive Claire’s wine review

The Ash Ridge barrel fermented 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from the Hawke’s Bay region is made in the traditional way by using aged French barrels. This single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc was gently pressed...

SunLive Multicultural festival RWC 2011 competition

Multicultural performances, food, arts and craft are on offer for the whole family on Tauranga’s waterfront this weekend as part of the Real Tauranga Festival. This weekend’s multicultural...

SunLive His and Hers Home and Leisure Expo competition

Four shows in one; the ‘super show’ Bay of Plenty Home & Leisure Expo showcases the bets of the region’s home and lifestyle products, with a real spring focus. The Expo is the first...

SunLive Men’s trilogy pack competition

The divide between the sexes is changing when it comes to skin care. Just like Shane Warne, men are beginning to sit up and take notice of the wide range of products for men that are becoming available...

SunLive Operatunity competition

Award-winning Operatunity are presenting a favourite theatre genre with its ever-popular national tour of The Magnificence of the Music Hall. Favourite guest artists Stuart Coats, Tessa-May Brown, Lynette...

SunLive His and Hers Home and Leisure Expo competition

The Bay of Plenty Home & Leisure Expo is at Baypark Stadium, Mount Maunganui on September 16-18, 2011. The Expo is designed to coincide with the opening of the Tauranga Indoor Sport & Exhibition...

SunLive Claire’s Good Food Trading Co product review

Try this exquisite smooth bacon pate, I was completely hooked and will be back for more. The L’authentique French Cuisine bacon pate is topped with a merlot and cranberry jelly. It went down a...

SunLive Claire’s Good Food product review competition

Glassye Creek Wild Meat Sauce – it just sounds great before you even try it.  It’s a brilliant addition with beef, pork, venison, chicken, fish, lamb – in fact you can pretty much...

SunLive Head Like A Hole competition

Starting a new relationship by dredging up the past never bodes well, but for Kiwi rock band ‘Head Like A Hole’, bringing up the last 10 years of absence worked in their favour. A decade after...

SunLive Claire’s Good Food Trading Co review

Chocolate dessert cups, what can I say! They disappeared in just two nights in our house, so I guess that really says it all. The CB chocolate dessert cups available from The Good Food Trading Company...

SunLive Imbibe competition

Off the back of a sell out show in June, Imbibe has locked in another night of laughs. Bringing three of New Zealand’s most renowned comedy legends to the stage – Ewen Gilmour, Vaughan King...

SunLive Tauranga Musica competition

Drama and passion combine in a New Zealand Chamber Soloists’ concert in Tauranga on Sunday, August 28 – featuring a romantic programme of works by Schubert, Brahms and New Zealand composer...

SunLive Hot Shots competition

Get ready for Australia’s hottest men live on stage, with Australia’s number one male revue ‘girls night out’ show. The Sydney Hotshots are scheduled to perform in Tauranga on...

SunLive book review competition

My first car was red by Peter Schossow, Gecko Press, RRP $19.99 An entertaining tale of a child’s first car given to him by his grandfather. It’s a rusty old car, but exactly the right size...

SunLive Claire’s Good Food Trading Co review

Check out this great new product exclusive to the Good Food Trading Co at the Mount. Fresh As freeze dried whole raspberries are made in New Zealand and really pack an intense flavour punch! You can...

SunLive Capitol Cinema competition

Celebrate the life of the legendary Billy T James – New Zealand’s best-loved entertainer – in the new feature movie ‘Billy T: Te Movie’. The film explores Billy’s extraordinary...

Sunlive Good Food Trading Company competition

The label on the jar states you will taste the difference and it was right – I certainly could. Va-Va homemade ajvar from The Good Food Trading Co is the oldest recipe in the Mediterranean. It...

SunLive Tease Botanix Rosehip Eye and Lip Creme

Gliding on easy, this creme gives your often neglected skin around your eyes and mouth a good pick-me-up. This all natural product is packed with anti-oxidents to rejuvenate the skin – Jojoba, Rosehip...

Sunlive Rialto competition

French drama about a man whose romantic jealousy pushes him to take drastic measures. Paul Exben (Romain Duris) is a success story – partner in one of Paris' most exclusive law firms, big salary,...

SunLive Waikato Rivertones competition

The Waikato Rivertones, New Zealand’s current champion four-part harmony chorus, is to perform in Tauranga in early August.The group heads to Denver, Colorado, next year to represent New Zealand...

SunLive Avalanche City competition

Former Tauranga musician Dave Baxter is heading home after completing a successful overseas tour and achieving a number one chart-topping hit with Avalanche City. The work continues though with him embarking...

SunLive The Good Food Company competition

Light, sweet and made with all natural ingredients, it took me less than 20 minutes to eat nearly half a packet of La Panzanella Sweet Crisps. The light crisps are made with enriched flour and coated...

Sunlive Little Red Riding Hood competition

The lights are set, the Dames glittering eyelashes are in place and Red Riding Hood is off to see Granny – but who is that in Granny’s bed? Te Puke Repertory Society is holding a pantomime...

Sunlive Grown Hand Cream competition

As someone who has eczema and other sensitive skin conditions, I am picky when it comes to using moisturisers. Often creams and the like, dry out my skin and I end up scratching like crazy – not...

Sunlive Claire’s Wine competition

A nice Chardonnay is hard to beat; this one is to be savoured for sure. The Ash Ridge 2009 Chardonnay has gorgeous ripe fruit, combined with barrel fermentation, creating good complexity in this wine. Aromas...

Sunlive Potato NZ competition

Bay of Plenty grandparents, parents and caregivers are being called on to teach children how to cook healthy meals these school holidays. Ministry of Health research shows two thirds of Kiwi kids are...

Sunlive Good Food Trading Co competition

If you are looking for a spectacular looking dip to put in the centre of a platter, then the Georgatti Delicious Baby Tricolour definitely fits the bill. A very moorish, layered blend of cream cheese,...

SunLive Claire’s Product Review

If you love Middle Eastern food, then Sami’s Kitchen has spice blend products that make it easy for you to dish up gourmet Middle Eastern dishes right in your own home. Grab a packet from The Good...

SunLive Tauranga Musica Competition

NZ Symphony Orchestra member Alexa Still is a popular performer with Tauranga audiences and is returning as part of Tauranga Musica’s concert series. Alexa has performed for Tauranga Musica a number...

SunLive Rialto Competition

Drama about corporate high-flyers who find themselves jobless once the recession hits. Directed by John Wells, creator of TV's ER and featuring an all-star cast: Ben Affleck, Mario Bello, Tommy Lee Jones,...

SunLive Rialto Competition

Hypatia, history’s first recorded female mathematician-philosopher, lived in Alexandria during the 4th century in the waning days of the Roman Empire. The daughter of the last director of the...

SunLive Bel Mondo Competition

I picked up a really great product at a recent quick trip to Bel Mondo this week. In search of something quick and different for dinner, Grant and Claudia both recommended trying the Clevedon Valley Buffalo...

Jan Preston, Beat Out The Boogie.

Australia’s Queen of the boogie piano Jan Preston comes to Tauranga on July 14 and is bringing a few special guests. Jan is performing some great toe-tapping classics with special guests Derek Jacombs...

SunLive Dorothy the Dinosaur Competiton

The show stars Dorothy the Dinosaur, a graduate of R.A.D.D (The Royal Academy of Dinosaur Dancing). The show is written by blue Wiggle Anthony Field, who also produced the music. “My three children...

SunLive Claire’s Wine Review

There is nothing like a good bottle of red wine and a movie on a rainy afternoon and it looks as though we are in for a few, so best grab a bottle of this lovely Ash Ridge 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon today....

SunLive Claire’s Product Review

Pasta is always a great staple to have in the cupboard; it doesn’t take much to throw together a nice meal by adding a few simple ingredients to pasta. Good news again this week for the gluten...

SunLive Table Pride Competition

This week, The Weekend Sun has a very strange looking metal ring device from Table Pride – resembling that of Mickey Mouse’s head. It is about the length of a fat highlighter and is very...

SunLive Operatunity Competition

Award-winning Operatunity is on the road again with its first ever French-themed concert touring nationally, stopping in Tauranga on July 15 at the Holy Trinity Church. ‘Vive la France!’...

SunLive Inika Competition

It was through Miranda Bond’s personal struggle with medical conditions which lead her to develop a range of natural make-up. The CEO and founder of Inika make-up spent many years battling endometriosis...

SunLive Rialto Competition

Comedy set in provincial France starring Gerard Depardieu. From French filmmaker Jean Becker (Conversations with My Gardener, Elisa). Germain (Depardieu) is a semiliterate 50-something whose...

SunLive Jett’s Fitness Centre Competition

A brand new fitness centre is opening its doors this Saturday, June 25 for good. Jetts Fitness operates 24 hours a day, to allow members to workout on their own terms – at a time that suits a busy...

‘Johnny Cash’ returns to the stage

Following sold-out seasons in Australia, the award-winning show ‘The Man in Black: The Johnny Cash Story’ comes to New Zealand, touring to 16 centres nationwide. The show, winner of the...

SunLive The Travelling Restaurant Competition

The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else, Gecko Press, RRP $24.99 Magic and mystery keep readers guessing in this adventurous tale set on Fontania’s high seas. Jasper Ludlow has been separated...

SunLive Claire’s Mid-Winter turkey Competition

As the nights get shorter, it is a great time to invite a few friends around for a mid winter Christmas party. Why not make a Crozier’s Free Range Turkey the centre piece of your party. Our turkey...

SunLive Claire’s Product Review Competition

Finding a gluten-free breakfast cereal that doesn’t taste like cardboard is not easy. I tracked down great muesli at The Good Food Trading Co this week though. The toasted muesli from Cec’s...

SunLive Rialto Competition

Drama from director Robert Redford about the trial of an alleged conspirator in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Mary Surratt (Robin Wright) is the lone female charged as a co-conspirator...

SunLive Bel Mondo cooking class Competition

Learn the art of French Mediterranean cooking with one of Tauranga’s top chefs at Bel Mondo. Peter Blakeway is hosting a series of cooking classes, hosted by Bel Mondo, educating people on Mediterranean...

SunLive BIC Competition

During the next two months, BIC is inviting readers to grab a pen and tap into their inner creativity as a mark of support for New Zealand’s rugby team – the All Blacks. All you need to do...

SunLive Griffins Competition

Griffin’s Mini Treat Bites family is expanding with two more of New Zealand’s favourite biscuits created in a mouth-watering bite-sized version – say “hello” to Griffin’s...

SunLive Tauranga Musica Competition

Tauranga Musica is hosting well-known New Zealand baritone David Griffiths, accompanied by his wife Christine Griffiths on piano, in Schubert’s famous song cycle Die Schone Mullerin. The concert...

SunLive Claire’s Wine review Competition

Like Anna Flowerday’s personality, you just know the wines produced by her and her husband, fellow winemaker Jason, are sure to reflect their drive and passion for the industry. Te Whare Ra was...

SunLive Claire’s Product review Competition

Polenta is such a delicious versatile product to work with and the Polenta ai Porcini (polenta with porcini mushrooms), just has that extra flavour punch. Polenta is an excellent product for those who...

SunLive Rialto Competition

Drama about the life of Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti), who meets the love of his life (Rosamund Pike) at his wedding – and she is not the bride. Based on Mordecai Richler’s prize-winning...

SunLive Scallop Festival Competition

The 2011 Whitianga Scallop Festival is locked in for September 17, promising to be a big day of food, fun and laughter. The Whitianga Scallop Festival had its debut in 2005, created to showcase the Coromandel’s...

SunLive Rialto Competition

A Christmas time romance about late-life love, starring screen greats Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn. Lonely old Robert (Landau) lives alone and sticks to a routine that includes bagging groceries at...

SunLive Bel Mondo review Competition

There is nothing more pleasant than a leisurely walk around Bel Mondo on a Friday afternoon to stock up the pantry shelves for the weekend. I left armed with beautiful cheeses, crusty bread,...

SunLive Claire’s Wine review Competiton

Ash Ridge wines produced in the Hawke’s Bay are all hand-crafted single estate wines, which reflect the unique location of the vineyard in the Ngatarawa Triangle – “the heart of Syrah...

SunLive Claire’s Wine review Competiton

Think warm toasty dinning room, good friends, good food and a bottle of this fab Saint Clair 2010 Merlot. I can’t think of a better way to beat the winter blues. I really enjoyed this delicious...

SunLive Bert’s Bees Competition

Win: A men’s honey prize pack to celebrate Bee Week, valued at about $150, with SunLive. To enter, you must be logged in, if you are new click here to register for free!...

SunLive Mossop’s Honey Competition

As someone whose family has been in bee keeping for 60 years, Wendy Mossop from Mossop’s Honey knows the importance of bees is more than just their honey. “Bees are essential for the environment....

SunLive Winston Marsh Competition

Sales and marketing guru Winston Marsh is coming to Tauranga on June 15, proudly brought to the Bay of Plenty by Financial Independence. He is presenting a no-nonsense, no-fluff seminar to uncover simple...

SunLive Table Pride Competiton

Table Pride Kitchen Store is a one-stop shop for all items hot for the kitchen. With a range from milk frothers and plungers, to knives, gadgets and wacky tools, Table Pride has everything to jazz up...

SunLive ‘Four Flat Whites in Italy’ Competiton

A little bit of Italy comes to Tauranga when 16th Avenue Theatre brings Roger Hall’s well-known comedy ‘Four Flat Whites in Italy’ to town. Denis Smith from the society says this particular...

SunLive Baypark Drive-In Movie Festival Competition

SunLive has vehicle passes for six of the films being shown at the Baypark Drive-In Movie Festival to give away. They are: Viva Las Vegas, Jaws, Goodbye Pork Pie, Tron Legacy, E.T. and The Goonies. The...

Virtues of vitamin C

SunLive has 10 tickets to give away to the charity presentation by Allan Smith, the man who survived swine flu by being treated with vitamin C intravenously. He is speaking at Baypark on Friday, May 27...

SunLive Pruning Competition

Most people think of pruning when they have a plant or tree that is overgrown or in bad health – but the trick is don’t wait for your plants to become overgrown. Pruning your plants on a...

SunLive Rialto Competition

Crime-drama based on Graham Greene’s novel that follows the misadventures of a razor wielding sociopath, the woman who loves him and the woman who wants to bring him to justice. Updating Greene’s...

SunLive Rialto Competition

From Time to Time A haunting ghost story spanning two worlds, two centuries apart. With World War II finally coming to an end and his father still missing in action, Tolly (Alex Etel) is sent to stay...

SunLive Tauranga Musica Competition

German-born pianist Michael Endres is making his very first recital tour of New Zealand and Tauranga Musica are bringing him to town. The recital is part of Tauranga Musica’s 2011 season, with Michael...

SunLive Claire’s Product Review Competition 1

Birds Eye has a great new versatile product on the market. The new Birds Eye Fish Strips are succulent and nice and crunchy. This is an ideal quick and easy product to have as a staple in the freezer....

SunLive Claire’s Product Review Competition 2

There is nothing like eggs bene’ on a Sunday morning and using free range eggs from Kirkfield Family Farm makes all the difference. Gisborne egg producer Beau Kirk knows free range. His Kirkfield...

SunLive Bel Mondo Competition

It was great to see Bel Mondo has my all-time favourite yoghurt in store; Clevedon Valley Buffalo Yoghurt, which is truly to die for. Add in my other current addiction, Heilala vanilla and this product...

SunLive Margrain 2008 Riesling Competition

Riesling has taken a high priority on my wine favourites list, particularly off-dry style Rieslings. The Margrain 2008 Riesling is a lovely wine. A floral scented tautly structured wine, showing classic...

SunLive Home Show Competition

Next weekend, May 13-15, marks the 12th anniversary of the region’s favourite home and lifestyle event, the Tauranga Home Show. To celebrate, Bay Events are doing another great show to be staged...

SunLive Rialto Competition

PJ (Rangimoana Taylor, Waewae Express) is a truck driver with a workingman’s pride in his job. His partner Ronnie (Carmel McGlone, Predicament), her two kids bordering on adulthood, singing at the...

SunLive Operatunity Competition

The next Operatunity concert in Tauranga will include Tom Sharplin and his award winning band. ‘Rock around the 50s’ is on Friday, May 27 at the Holy Trinity Church on the corner of 3rd Avenue...

SunLive BOP Synphonia Competition

Every two years since 1999, Tauranga Concert Orchestra, as it was known then, now Bay of Plenty Symphonia, has performed the Proms in May at Baycourt. Since that time, audiences have been treated to...

SunLive International Comedy Festival Competition

Generational difference is the talking point for a first time act at the 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Cold Duck and Tamagotchis is a show conceived by comedians John Carr and Mount...

SunLive Mothers’ Day Bedroom Pack Competition

Spoil mum this Mothers’ Day with a beautiful bedroom pack, simply by keeping up to date with all the Bay’s news at www.sunlive.co.nz The bedroom pack includes a Turkish bedspread, slippers,...

SunLive Southern Ocean Salmon Competition

Spoil mum on Mothers’ Day by treating her to a home-cooked meal she doesn’t have to prepare herself. Frittatas are easy to make and healthy, with the addition of Southern Ocean smoked salmon...

SunLive Chia Seeds Competition

Boost your super mum with one of the greatest super foods there is this Mothers’ Day. Chia seeds are renowned for their nutritional value – they contain the highest known combined source...

SunLive Cottage Block Chardonnay Competition

If you are looking for a great Chardonnay, then I can certainly recommend this lovely Corbans’ Cottage Block Hawke’s Bay 2009 Chardonnay. This creamy, highly-textured Chardonnay has stone...

SunLive Fawlty Towers Competition

The UK’s most loved TV comedy Fawlty Towers comes alive on the Tauranga stage for the first time at Detour Theatre from May 25 to June 11. Don’t miss the outrageous Basil Fawlty, his long...

SunLive Rialto Heartbreaker Competition

(Reviewed by Laura Weaser) There is something so utterly charming about French cinema. Usually, the thought of a ‘romantic comedy’ more predictable than a Disney film wouldn’t interest...

SunLive Home Show Limo Competition

The 2011 Home Show is set to be the big event of the year for anyone interested in the home, health and beauty, indoor and outdoor design and so much more. What better way to get there than in a limousine....

SunLive Margrain Chardonnay Competition

I am really enjoying the wines from Margrain Vineyard and their 2009 Chardonnay is a real palate pleaser. Margrain is a boutique estate in the Martinborough region, producing superb handcrafted wines....

SunLive BOP Symphonia Proms Competition

On May 14 and 15, Bay of Plenty Symphonia proudly presents the Ryman Healthcare Proms 2011 which is its Antipodean equivalent of the London original with all the flag waving, hat-wearing fun which follows...

SunLive Rialto Another Year Competition

Another Year is a British comedy-drama from veteran director Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky, Secrets & Lies) with Jim Broadbent (The Young Victoria) and Ruth Sheen (Vera Drake). Broadbent and...

SunLive Canterbury Competition

Inspired by the spirit of the game, Canterbury of New Zealand’s off-field and accessories range is designed to the same high standards set by Canterbury on the field over the last 100 years. From...

SunLive Rialto Mozart’s Sister Competition

Mozart’s Sister (M) French drama about Wolfgang Mozart's elder sister, Nannerl (Marie Feret). Beginning in 1763, it follows the Mozart family’s life on the road, travelling by coach from one...

SunLive Soy Body Competition

Soy Body massage candles are a luxurious blend of nourishing shea butter, soy, almond and jojoba oils that are lightly fragranced for the skin.    These candles burn at a safe, low temperature...

SunLive Sleeping Beauty Competition

A mixture of traditional ballet, modern jazz and hip hop are showcased in the upcoming Susanne Hangar Dance production of Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty is playing at Baycourt Theatre on Friday, April...

SunLive Wine Competition

This luscious full-bodied Viognier exudes intense peach and apricot aromas and flavours with a hint of pears. The subtle oakiness adds complexity to this deliciously smooth and creamy wine. The grapes...

SunLive Old Mout Cider Competition

There is nothing like a refreshing glass of Old Mout Cider at the end of the day. Cider has grown hugely in popularity in New Zealand; personally I have been drinking it for quite a long time. Old Mout...

SunLive MLC @ The Oko Competition

Lovers of Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton are expected to converge in Okoroire for the first ‘MLC @ The Oko’ concert. The concert, which is expected to attract up to 5000 people, features popular...

SunLive Rialto Oceans Competition

Disney Nature ecological documentary, filmed throughout the globe's mighty oceans. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan. A meditation on the vanishing, weird and wonderful creatures of the aquatic world, Oceans sets...

SunLive Southern Ocean Salmon Competition

I love smoked salmon slices as they are so versatile and healthy. I have always found the large packs rather inconvenient though, so I was really pleased this week to find the new twin packs from Southern...

SunLive Bel Mondo Competition

I made my own ricotta last week, but I have to say, I think I need to leave it to the experts at Clevedon Valley and just pick it up from Bel Mondo next time I feel the need. It sure is a lot easier and...

SunLive Autumn Gardening Competition

As the nights get darker, it’s easy to forget about life in the vege patch. While many are tempted to put up the ‘closed sign’ for the winter, some are drawn to being able to harvest...

SunLive Microgreens Book Competition

My microgreens are the best thing I have discovered in a very long time. I am right into it, fresh microgreens, morning, noon and night. It helped picking up a copy of this excellent book ‘How...

SunLive Rialto Inside Job Competition

Inside Job Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary. Documentary narrated by Matt Damon that sets out to expose the truth behind the economic crisis of 2008. Through extensive research and interviews...

SunLive Tauranga Musica Competition

The second Tauranga Musica concert features a husband and wife duo with a passion for Bach, Pruden and Liszt. The La Belle Alliance is playing on April 9 at Otumoetai College Performing Arts Centre....

SunLive Mills Reef Reserve Merlot Malbec Competition

I enjoyed this wine and it is always so interesting talking about wine with Dan Shea from Mills Reef. I have put a couple of bottles away, so am particularly looking forward to trying it again in a few...

SunLive Certified Copy (M) Competition

The 2010 Cannes International Film Festival was the year of Juliette Binoche. She graced the festival’s poster – then she took the Best Actress Award for her role in this tantalizing film....

SunLive Margrain Pinot Noir Competition

I have added the Margrain 2008 Pinot Noir to my favourite list! Margrain Vineyard is a boutique estate situated on the river terraces of Martinborough. The soil is free draining with low fertility which...

SunLive Bel Mondo Competition

Bel Mondo provided me with a quick delicious meal option for unexpected guests this week. A quick stop at the store saw me leave with a packet of the new Alfieri Pasta brand. I chose the Riccioli pasta...

SunLive Water Saving Kit Competition

Water is a vital ingredient of any successful garden. It is a key element in producing healthy tasty vegetables, fruits and for maintaining flowers, pots and lawns. Lack of plant performance is often...

SunLive Rialto Get Low Competition

A comedy-drama, set in 1930s Tennessee, about a feared backwoods recluse known as Felix Bush (Robert Duvall), who wants to hold a funeral for himself while he is still alive. Sensing a big payday in...

SunLive Antipodes String Trio Competition

The Tauranga Musica is kicking off its 2011 season with a youthful approach and is set to prove classical music is not something to be scared of. The Antipodes String Trio is the first of six acts to...

SunLive Kenny Wizz Competition

You could see him at the supermarket and wouldn’t think twice, but once the costumes and make-up is on, performer Kenny Wizz is the world’s number one Michael Jackson impersonator. “I...

SunLive How to Train Your Husband Competition

Detour Theatre's latest madcap comedy addresses an issue close to every woman's heart – how to train your man! Sound impossible? Not when you have a legendary Husband Trainer living right next...

SunLive Muay Thai Mayhem 4 Competition

Local and national kickboxing talent will be showcased at the Muay Thai Mayhem 4 event at Mount Sports Centre on Saturday, March 19. “This is the first of three shows we have planned for 2011, and...

SunLive Len Rawle Competition

Theatre organ enthusiasts are to be treated to a performance by legendary British player Len Rawle on March 13. Born in Tonypandy, South Wales, Len began his musical education at the age of four. His...

SunLive Rialto Tamara Drewe Competition

A comedy of manners from Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity) about young newspaper writer, Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton). Tamara returns to her English countryside hometown - stocked with pompous...

SunLive Briars Horse Trek Competition

Get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life with a guided horseback ride through peaceful native forests, alongside beautiful rivers, and across magnificent farm land. Briars Horse Trek is situated...

SunLive Nicky Rubin Competition

Get drawn into the world of singer/songwriter Nicky Rubin and fall in love with the passion for his work, his stories and his voice, which is tempered by the kilometres, weathered by the storms and watered...

SunLive KiwiFresh Direct Competition

Our staff were pretty excited this week when we announced they would be receiving fruit at work, a box of fresh fruit delivered right to our door by local company KiwiFresh Direct. We had thought that...

SunLive Mills Reef Sauvignon Blanc Competition

Mills Reef wines are made in a soft rounded style with natural fruit characters the main emphasis. They are designed for everyday enjoyment and are well priced. The 2010 Mills Reef Sauvignon Blanc is...

SunLive Rialto Love Birds Competition

Love Birds is a New Zealand romantic comedy, from the director of Second Hand Wedding, which tells the story of a regular bloke on a quest to find true love – all with the help of a native...

SunLive In Love with Moko Competition

The second Moko book is now in print following the dolphin’s death in Tauranga in July. First out was an illustrated children’s book by Gisborne’s Andrea Skuse. It was self published...

SunLive Summerhouse Pinot Noir Competition

Think ripe red cherries, plums and spice, late summer warmth – Summerhouse Pinot Noir. Heather and Meric Davies planted Summerhouse vineyard on north-facing glacial soils in 1995, and quickly established...

SunLive Corned Beef Competition

Corned beef would have to be one of the easiest, most versatile meal options, and is high up there on my husband’s list of favourites. Aussie Butcher produces outstanding corned beef; John uses...

SunLive Red Light Pledge Competition

The debut album for Tauranga band Red Light Pledge is looking to shed light on the underground genre of post-hardcore with the album release set on February 25. The Tauranga band is part of a larger...

SunLive Blue Blood Competition

Blue Blood, a title typically associated with nobility, doesn’t seem apt for a band with a self-described sex, drugs and rock and roll attitude. The band formed a year ago with Joel Thompson and...

SunLive Stan Walker Competition

Tauranga will always be home for Stan Walker. Currently based in Sydney, and living between New Zealand and Australia all his life, the singer says he isn’t away from Tauranga for too long at any...

SunLive Operatunity Competition

Opera may evoke images of men and women belting out tunes in Italian, but the New Zealand Operatunity is “light hearted fun”, says director Geoffrey Hughes. Celebrating its 10 year anniversary,...

SunLive Rialto The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell Competition

The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell, reviewed by Laura Weaser Directed: Brendan DonovanStarring: William McInnes, Robyn Malcolm, Josh McKenzie, Joel Tobeck.Caption: Robyn Malcolm’s scribble on my...

SunLive GreenSmart pots and Kings Seeds Competition

Finally, I have found a gardening solution that fits my lifestyle and location, and I am totally hooked. I really enjoy cooking and eating fresh produce, and always struggle with meal ideas if I don’t...

SunLive Trinity Hill Sauvignon Blanc Competition

If you think good Sauvignon Blanc only comes from the Marlborough region, then you need to try the Trinity Hill 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from Hawke’s Bay – it wasn’t rated in the top five...

SunLive Pet Friendly Gardens Competition

Passionate gardeners who are animal lovers can find it challenging to strike a balance between a lush, productive garden and a place that pets, children and other people can enjoy. Cats and dogs love...

SunLive Rialto In A Better World Competition

Winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the 2011 Golden Globes. Danish drama from director Susanne Bier (After the Wedding, Brothers), follows the lives of two Danish families, stretching from a...

SunLive Maketu Rotary Kaimoana Festival Competition

Historically, Maketu is of great significance – it has been the landing place of the Arawa canoe, a major population centre, a trading port and, at times, a battle-zone, but on February 26, the tiny...

SunLive An Emerald City Competition

Recording their album in an abandoned German secret state police headquarters certainly had an impact on the new sound of An Emerald City. “It was nice to have this mystery about it,” says...

SunLive Primo Amore Merlot Competition

Bel Mondo has the perfect romantic gift for your Valentine. What more appropriate gift for the love in your life than a bottle of Primo Amore (first love) Merlot. The stunning label on the bottle features...

SunLive Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Competition

Pour a glass of this lovely Sauvignon Blanc and breathe in the aromas and flavours of passion fruit and gooseberries with a touch of grassiness. Saint Clair Family Estate owners and viticulture pioneers...

SunLive Paeroa Highland Games and Tattoo Competition

The Paeroa Domain will ring with the sounds and sights of Scotland at the 18th Paeroa Highland Games and Tattoo on Saturday, February 12. The games begin at 8.30am with the solo piping contest, followed...

SunLive Wild Target Competition

Wild Target is an action-crime-comedy about a middle-aged assassin who is trying to give up the game. Victor (Bill Nighy) is a most respected assassin and also the most expensive, carrying on the family...

SunLive Billy T James Competition

Laughter is actor Peter Rowley’s favourite memory of friend Billy T James and he wants to share his memories with Tauranga. Peter worked with Billy T from the mid 1980s, and will host ‘Billy...

SunLive Cologne New Philharmonic Orchestra Competition

A German orchestra is coming to Tauranga to perform on its New Zealand tour this year. The Cologne New Philharmonic Orchestra (Junge Philharmonie Köln) will perform a wide selection of classical music...

SunLive Mahi Chardonnay Competition

Mahi makes great wines and this 2008 chardonnay from Twin Valleys Vineyard is certainly no exception. The single estate wine from Mahi, really does express the individual characteristics of the vineyard...

SunLive Rialto The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell Competition

Howick gets its close-up, and actor William McInnes (Look Both Ways) nails the can-do, get-ahead, ever-loving barbecue dad (with rocks in his head) in Brendon Donovan’s affectionate comedy-drama. The...

SunLive Rialto Special Screening Competition

A special Tauranga screening of Auckland film ‘The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell’ offers a unique opportunity on Friday 28. Director Brendan Donovan and actor Robyn Malcolm are attending...

SunLive Beyond Apple Pie Competition

Growers seeking a recipe for all those wonderful crops in the garden may find something different in the New Zealand Tree Crops Association’s Recipe Book. Beyond Apple Pie, savouring your seasonal...

SunLive Tga Musical Theatre Get Over It Competition

Singing, dancing, lots of comedy, audience participation and a great time had by cast and audience alike can only mean one thing – another summer youth production at  Tauranga Musical Theatre. From...

SunLive Inzpire Moments Competition

@Heart is an organisation that is close to Inzpire dance company director Mila Barach’s heart, and she wanted to do something to help. “Two of the girls I teach at the dance studio have heart...

SunLive Rialto The Kings Speech Competition

The King's Speech tells the story of the man who would become King George VI, the father of the current Queen, Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ‘Bertie’ VI (Colin Firth) reluctantly...

SunLive Aurum Pinot Gris Competition

Aurum Wines in Central Otago is a boutique family vineyard which produces stunning, sustainably grown, hand harvested wines. This fabulous Pinot Gris crafted by winemaker Lucie Lawrence is a harmonious...

SunLive Rialto Red Competition

Red is an action-comedy about ex-CIA agents who ditch their quiet, retired lives and get back in the game. The stellar cast includes Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman...

SunLive Martinborough Vineyard Competition

Paul Mason from Martinborough Vineyard describes the 2010 season “as a very nervous year for grape growers in Martinborough”. The cooler 2010 climate has produced one of the most aromatic Sauvignon...

SunLive Peppered Pancetta Competition

Long hot sunny days are there to be enjoyed, so planning easy meal options is essential. Bel Mondo in St John Street has loads of ideas and the ingredients to create awesome easy dishes. I really enjoyed...

SunLive Maketu Pies Competition

The humble New Zealand pie is a Kiwi delicacy, yet reviewing one is no easy task as people eat them at all times of the day, and in a variety of states. So it was with great pleasure to find that Maketu...

SunLive Rialto The Kids are All Right Competition

Independent filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko's (Laurel Canyon) third feature,is a Berlin Film Festival-winning comedy-drama with Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. (R16 – contains sex scenes...

SunLive Read, Relax Remember Competition

Remember to laugh these holidays with inspiration from ‘Read, Relax and Remember’, by Fran O’Keefe-Jones ‘Laughter is the best medicine, and we have too little to laugh about...

SunLive Fire at the Mount Competition

Te Puna woman Jeanette Knudsen has co-authored a book about the changes that Christianity underwent in the 1970s at one particular Mount Maunganui church. She wrote the book, titled Fire at the Mount,...

SunLive Grove’s Chilli Oil Competition

I have a new addiction! Grove’s chilli oil, produced right here in Tauranga from locally grown naturally ripened avocados. I am finding ways to have it for breakfast (not recommended on cereal),...

SunLive Summerhouse Sauvignon Blanc Competition

With lots of summer sun expected over the holiday period, what better way to enjoy it than relaxing with a lovely glass of Summerhouse Sauvignon Blanc? This stunning wine is produced and crafted from...

SunLive Rialto The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest Competition

(R16) Contains violence, sexual violence, offensive language and content that may disturb The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is the third and final film adaptation of the best-selling Millennium...

SunLive Garden Shed Essentials Competition

Garden sheds all over the country are going through a revival; gone are the days when only the tin shed types prevailed. Nowadays garden sheds can be anything from an old packing crate, to recycled wardrobes...

SunLive Marchwood Blues Competition

The hills will be alive with the sound of (blues) music on February 5. Whether you bring your own picnic and wine, or buy some at the event, the picnic offers a great way to spend a long summer’s...

SunLive Tree Crops Recipe Book Competition

People who are stuck on finding the perfect Christmas gift for that special person may be interested in the New Zealand Tree Crops Association’s Recipe Book. Beyond Apple Pie – Savouring...

SunLive Trinity Hill Noble Viognier Competition

If you are planning your Christmas menu then I suggest you pick up a bottle of 2009 Trinity Hill Noble Viognier. It would be perfect to serve with a platter of lovely fresh seasonal fruit. The 2009 harvest...

SunLive Rialto Love Crime Competition

This French thriller is a tale of office politics, played out by two ruthless executives – the bilingual Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier. With ambition and jealousy oozing from their...

SunLive Havaianas Jandals Competition

Jandals are the staple summer footwear for people in the Bay of Plenty as they are perfect in the sun, sand and surf. For the largest selection of jandals this season visit the new Havaianas kiosk (the...

SunLive Martinborough Vineyard Te Tara Competition

Pinot Noir is the flagship for Martinborough Vineyard; a place established in 1980 by a small partnership with the main objective of producing world class cool climate wines from classical grape varieties....

SunLive Rialto Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale Competition

From Finland comes a fantasy-comedy about the closely-guarded secret of Christmas, lying hidden 486 metres under the Korvatunturi Mountains. The time has come to dig it up. (Based on award-winning shorts...

SunLive Envoy Gewurztraminer Competition

We are heading into a beautiful weekend and it’s a great opportunity to sit outside and enjoy a lovely glass of Envoy Gewurztraminer 2007. This wine is an icon for Spy Valley Wines and certainly...

SunLive Cooling Collar Competition

Keep your cool this summer, with a Cooling Collar from the Wheat Feet People Ltd, based in Waihi Beach. Simply pop the collar in to your freezer inside a plastic bag until the heat rises. The Cooling...

SunLive Rialto Monsters Competition

A British independent sci-fi thriller set six years after NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed on re-entry over Central...

SunLive Container Gardening Competition

Growing plants in containers is a popular way to bring patios, outdoor rooms and the garden to life. Plants soften edges, add colour, vibrancy and in some cases perfume to areas where they are placed....

SunLive Coastal Country Christmas Concert Competition

Auckland country music artist Marian Burns is guest artist at the Coastal Country Christmas Concert to be held at Tauranga Boys’ College on November 27 at 7pm. She will be supported by artists from...

SunLive Morton Estate Mimi Competition

There’s a new girl in town. Just in time for summer, Morton Estate has launched ‘Mimi’, the latest addition to its Methode Traditionelle range. Look out for the distinctively-packaged...

SunLive Rialto Les Misérables in Concert

This is a recording of a gala performance at London’s O2 theatre in October, held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Les Misérables’ premiere at the Barbican in London. Claude-Michel...

SunLive Rialto City Island Competition

City Island (M – contains offensive language) Set in a quaint fishing community on the outskirts of New York City, this is a comedy about a family whose compulsive capacity to lie creates a perfect...

SunLive Operatunity Competition

Operatunity is gearing up for its final 2010 national tour, presenting the hilarious Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Bean Sprout, at Tauranga’s Holy Trinity Church on Friday, November 19. The...

SunLive Wurlitzer and Steinway Show Competition

The dual sounds of keyboards old and new can be heard at the Wurlitzer and Steinway Show at Baycourt Centennial Theatre on November 21 at 1.30pm. Australian’s Scott Harrison on the Wurlitzer theatre...

SunLive Mills Reef Reserve Pinot Gris Competition

It was a pleasure to enjoy a glass of the 2010 Mills Reef Reserve Pinot Gris in the barrel room with Dan Shea from Mills Reef Winery. What a lovely, fresh and vibrant summer wine. The grapes were sourced...

SunLive Kina Beach Merlot Rose Competition

No. 1 The Strand is bringing the best of both worlds to you on Wednesday, November 10, with five great wines matched with five great dishes. Winemaker David Birt from Kina Beach Vineyard and Daryl Switalla,...

SunLive Leading Ladies Competition

Two men, two dresses, two million dollars… it just might work! Leading Ladies is Detour Theatre’s new side-splitting comedy of mistaken identity and harebrained schemes hits the Tauranga...

SunLive Tui Berry Competition

Sweet, juicy summer berries are hard to match for taste and flavour. The joys of picking your own fruit far outweigh the small amount of effort required to produce handfuls of fresh, delicious berries....

SunLive Fresh! Book Competition

Get the best of New Zealand from market to table with ‘Fresh!’ a new cookbook created by Peter and Anne Blakeway. Originally from the UK, Peter and Anne immigrated to New Zealand in 2004 and...

SunLive Panettone and Lucaffe Competition

Bel Mondo is a great place to visit for Christmas presents, especially as it is full of gorgeous-looking and tasting products. If you’re looking for ideas, Grant and Claudia are there to offer excellent...

SunLive Ruud Kleinpaste Presentation Competition

Among the draw cards for the 2010 Garden and Artfest held in the Bay of Plenty is New Zealand’s most famous bug man Ruud Kleinpaste. The ‘bug man’ has worked for over 20 years as an...

SunLive Rialto After the Waterfall Competition

After the Waterfall (contains violence, offensive language and drug use) A New Zealand drama based on the novel, ‘The Paraffin Child’ by UK author Stephen Blanchard. Set and shot...

SunLive Class of ’99 Competition

Dig out your MC Hammer pants, funky flouros, and get your tickets now for a great, feel good night of entertainment at Tauranga Musical Theatre’s production of Class of ’99. Cast your mind...

SunLive Selaks Sauvignon Blanc Competition

Finally we can say summer is nearly here, and what better way to enjoy the sunshine than with a glass or two of this new style of wine from the Selaks Premium Selection. Selaks Sauvignon Blanc Pinot...

SunLive Chia Seeds Competition

Chia seeds are renowned for their nutritional value. They contain the highest-known combined source of omega 3, protein, fibre and antioxidants. These essential nutrients are often missing from modern...

Te Mata Estate Elston Chardonnay Competition

The Te Mata Estate 2009 Chardonnay is a standout, illustrating the quality of the vintage.  Te Mata Estate was established in 1896 and remains a family-owned vineyard, producing internationally recognised...

SunLive Rialto Winter’s Bone Competition

Winter's Bone R-13 (contains violence, drug use and offensive language) In the harsh backwoods of Missouri, 17-year-old Ree (Jennifer Lawrence), smart beyond her years, takes care of her incapacitated...

SunLive BOP Symphonia Competition

Bay of Plenty Symphonia’s ‘A Night in Vienna’ promises a treat for lovers of romantic music and timeless masterpieces from several of Europe’s most popular composers: Mozart, Lehar,...

SunLive Tomato Competition

If you only grow one crop this year make it tomatoes. They can be used in so many meals and will produce loads of juicy fruit.The health benefits of fresh produce are endless, the flavour can’t be...

SunLive Keep it Simple cookbook Competition

Mount Maunganui woman Steffi Mueller believes cooking is not rocket science and should be easy for both men and women. She has just released her first cookbook, ‘Keep it Simple-Affordable family...

SunLive The Sunday Girl Competition

When Tauranga artist Lenore Safi attended a lecture on the art of Modigliani, she had no idea she would end up creating a book featuring her own paintings inspired by the modernist artist. Lenore launches...

SunLive Envoy 2007 Chardonnay

A big thanks to Oliver from Red + White Cellars for tasting the lovely Envoy 2007 Chardonnay with chief Spy Valley wine maker Paul Bourgeios.Given that I have thoroughly enjoyed this wine before, I am...

SunLive Rialto Four Lions

“Boundary-pushing British comedian Chris Morris (The IT Crowd, The Day Today) has mounted many memorable media hoaxes in his quest to expose and explode public gullibility. Here he sets out...

SunLive Mahi Sauvignon Blanc Competition

This Mahi 2008 Sauvignon Blanc rates right up there with me. I am not a huge Sauvignon Blanc fan, but this very stylish Sauvignon has me converted. The lovely combination of fruit characters, a small...

SunLive Operatunity Competition

Talented touring group Operatunity is set to sing up a storm and get toes tapping at Tauranga’s Holy Trinity Church on Friday, October 22 with its latest concert, The Dancing Years. The award-winning...

SunLive Rialto Farewell Competition

A 1980s-set French spy thriller, from the director of Joyeux Noël, based on real events. A KGB spy (Emir Kusturica), disenchanted with what the Communist ideal has become under Russian leader...

SunLive Juicy Tubes Competition

A woman’s beauty goes well beyond appearances. Leading beauty company Lancôme combines research and science with passion and femininity, and is committed to furthering its support of the Breast...

Gem and mineral show rocks

Learn about geology and see world class crystals, gems and fossils at the gem and mineral show next weekend, October 16 and 17 at the Tauranga Racecourse. “The show is back by public demand and...

Rialto - The Insatiable Moon

‘Down and out in Ponsonby’ doesn’t have the ring about it that it had 30 years ago, but The Insatiable Moon makes a colourful, dramatic plea for the continued existence of halfway houses...

Relief for people touched by cancer

Reflexology is a natural complementary therapy which can help with relief for people who have been affected by cancer and various other health conditions. A reflexologist applies gentle pressure...

Lovely salads in a flash

Bel Mondo’s new owners, Claudia and Grant Lues, have a huge knowledge of their wonderful products, plus lots of handy hints, ideas and recipes. By Claire Rogers. This week I stopped by to stock...

Pinot hits the jackpot

Tony Lawrence from Aurum winery, a boutique family wine estate in Central Otago is excited about the 2009 Aurum Pinot Noir, and rightly so.  Let’s face it, we know Central Otago has a reputation...

Jan Preston Competition

Award winning musician Jan Preston presents The Life and Music of Winifred Atwell, Queen of the Ivories, at Baycourt on October 8. The multimedia photo and live music presentation takes audiences on a...

Rialto Soul Kitchen Competition

A culinary comedy set in Hamburg, from director Fatih Akin (The Edge of Heaven). Winner of the Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival 2009. Young restaurant owner Zinos (Adam Bousdoukos) is down on his luck....

Spring Vege Competition

Springtime is a great time to plant vegetables. Here are some top tips for a successful harvest this summer. 1. Weed it and clean it! Remove all weeds and unwanted dead plants from last season’s...

Mills Reef Reserve Chardonnay Competition

An outstanding growing season combined with low-yielding vines produced exceptional quality grapes, resulting in Mills Reef producing a rich, full and creamy 2009 Reserve Chardonnay. The wine exudes lovely...

Rialto South Solitary Competition

South Solitary (M) Contains sex scenes. This Australian drama, set in the 1920s, stars Miranda Otto (Lord of the Rings, In My Father’s Den) as a young woman stationed in a remote lighthouse. Meredith...

Aussie Butcher Smoked Bacon Competition

John from the Aussie Butcher has been smoking bacon. I thought we had cured him of this habit! This is seriously good bacon and once I discovered it I was hooked. If you like nice crispy bacon, this is...

Aroha String Quartet Competition

One of the finest chamber music ensembles performing in New Zealand today, The Aroha String Quartet, plays Tauranga Park Auditorium on Sunday October 3 at 2pm. Known for their passionate musicality, impressive...

Yalumba Shiraz Viognier Competition

Shiraz Viognier is a fantastic entry level wine from Yalumba in South Australia. The oldest family-owned winery in Australia has produced a lovely and different Shiraz, bringing the variety’s rich,...

The Nutcracker Competition

The Yvonne Edwards School of Dance presents its annual production of The Nutcracker on Saturday, October 2 at Baycourt. The ballet will be brought to life by a cast of more than 100 dancers, providing...

Operatunity Vienna Competition

Operatunity is bringing music lovers the world’s most romantic music with the award-winning touring group’s latest show ‘I’m in Love with Vienna’, playing in Tauranga on September...

Rialto Mother and Child Competition

Three women’s lives share a common core in this drama: they have all been profoundly affected by adoption. Karen (Annette Bening) placed a baby for adoption at age 14 and has been haunted ever since...

Boat Show and A1 Limos Competition

A1 Limos is offering the opportunity for one person and three of their friends to win a limo ride to the Boat Show; one of these prizes is available for each of the three days. The prize includes...

Rialto The Concert Competition

A French comedy about Andrei (Alexeï Guskov), a cleaning man at the Bolshoi orchestra in Moscow. Thirty years ago he was the renowned conductor of the Bolshoi, but was fired for hiring Jewish musicians....

Summerhouse Chardonnay Competition

Summerhouse Chardonnay is a powerful wine with juicy ripe fruit lifted with fresh sweet oak that captures the essence of long, hot summer days. The 24 hectare Summerhouse Vineyard was planted in 1995...

Feel great and help a good cause

Spring into summer with a lighter step thanks to The Biggest Winner; a 12 week at-home programme that begins August 30 and finishes in time for summer. $20 from every entry goes to the Cancer Society....

Acoustic Church Tour Competition

Dave Dobbyn plays at Tauranga's Holy Trinity on Saturday September 11 as part of the 2010 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour. He will be supported by Christchurch up-and-comers Dukes. The tour is an acoustic...