Newcomers and locals are invited to attend the free ‘New to the Bay' Expo for 2019.

The expo is a free event to help locals and newcomers access services, information and activities that can support settlement and participation in the Western Bay of Plenty community.

The expo is being held at Tauranga Boys College on Saturday September 28, from 10am to 3pm.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council will even get you, your family and friends there for free on any urban Bayhopper bus. Just simply show your free event ticket to ride to/from the venue.

The expo will focus on showcasing services and information from a wide range of commercial, civic, regulatory, emergency, social, sporting and other community organisations active in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Manager of Citizens Advice Bureau Tauranga and Papamoa Kim Saunders, encourages local organisations to get involved and showcase what they have to offer, and invites locals and newcomers to come along and enjoy the experience.

'This event is all about people helping other people create a great life in the Bay, with lots of useful information, advice and organisations ready to offer their services,” says Kim.

The Ethkick Multicultural Football Tournament, led by Multicultural Tauranga with support from New Zealand Police and Blue Rovers Football club, will also be run alongside the expo, offering extra excitement at the event.

'Multicultural Tauranga is very pleased to help organise this expo,” says president of Multicultural Tauranga Ann Kerewaro.

'It is a useful way to promote information that many newcomers seek when they first arrive in the Western Bay of Plenty.”

The event is a welcoming initiative as part of the Welcoming Communities pilot programme being delivered by Tauranga City Council and Western Bay District Council in partnership with the local community.

Registrations for expo stall sites close on Monday August 26. Organisations can register to promote their services by emailing commdev.admin@tauranga.govt.nz

Entrance to the New to the Bay Expo is free. For free public transport to get to/from the expo, visit Eventbrite – https://newtothebay.evenbrite.co.nz – for a free New to the Bay expo ticket.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/newtothebayexpo