12.20am: This evening hundreds of people congregated on the Tauranga waterfront, at Pāpāmoa, Mount Maunganui and Matua to watch the midnight fireworks that heralded in the New Year.

The city-wide firework shows were viewable from many locations across Tauranga, with residents being able to watch the midnight show from their own backyard or deck.

In the city centre The Strand was closed off, allowing people to stroll along the waterfront. Bars and restaurants were packed full with revellers, singing and enjoying the celebrations and balmy evening.

As the countdown began, hundreds joined in and cheered as the year that was 2022 ended and the new year begins.

The 9.30pm fireworks display in Pāpāmoa. Photo: Blissful Photography.

10.15pm Greerton came alive this evening with hundreds of people turning out to enjoy dinner from the food trucks, dancers and live entertainment from a stage at Tauranga Racecourse.

The entrance area to the racecourse became a delightful village green with a gentle incline that served as a seating area bordered by trees and providing a natural amphitheater.

On stage from 6pm was Wheriko & Jinan, followed by cultural performance by Nikka a Filipino dancer at 6.45pm.

Wheriko & Jinan were back on stage until 7.30pm, and then Toy Box took over providing music with a cultural performance by Arabian Spice, a Middle Eastern dance group partway through their performance which went to around 9.30pm.

The evening ended with a spectacular laser light show captivating and wowing the crowd below it.

A performer celebrating the incoming new year in Pāpāmoa. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

8.00pm: It's such a perfect end to the year with the sun setting over Pāpāmoa this evening.

Hundreds of people have flocked into the Gordon Spratt Reserve to enjoy the music and entertainment with host Manny Fresh.

Food trucks, rides, a bouncy castle and the playground are busy as children and families eat, play and sit back on picnic blankets to soak in the music vibes.

Fun is being had and bubbles are being blown in Pāpāmoa this evening.

The roving performers have an ‘Alice in Wonderland' theme, and there is free face painting and a roving Photobooth.

Check out the inflatable fun, FunFirst Football and sports activities.

Performers juggling over an attendee at Pāpāmoa's New Year's Eve event. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

Native Poms have been on stage since 6pm, with a cultural performance by Cambodian dancer Chuni Leang around 6.45pm.

Native Poms were back on stage until 7.30pm, when Toner & Franks took over to continue entertaining the crowd until 9.30pm when the evening ends with fireworks.

Performers celebrating the incoming new year at Blake Park in Mount Maunganui. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

7.15pm: At Blake Park people from all over Tauranga are coming together to celebrate New Year's Eve with family and friends with MC Hamish Gleeson.

On stage, Matty Buxton has been performing since 6pm with a Pacific Island cultural performance around 6.45pm.

Decibel take to the stage from 7.30pm playing through to 9.30pm, with a cultural performance by Solivone Pa – a Cambodian dancer at around 8.15pm.

Musician Matty Buxton performing at Blake Park. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

There is also roving entertainment with Circus in a Flash, free face painting, a Photobooth, FunFirst football, amusement rides and plenty of food trucks on site.

There's plenty of Kiwi classics to be enjoyed at Blake Park this evening. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

Remember that water bottle refilling stations are available. Limited car parking is available near the event site at Mount Sports Centre. There is designated parking for mobility cardholders within the Bay Oval car parking area off Miro/Kawaka Streets.

The evening will finish with fireworks at 9.30pm.

Grace Tebbutt from Circus in a Flash showcasing some skills. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

6.30pm: The Tauranga waterfront, with MC Ayesha Kee, is a summer wonderland this evening with families picnicking and enjoying outdoor games and music.

The Mad Hatter is bringing a lot of Alice in Wonderland magic, doing acrobatics with Alice and entertaining the crowd.

Keep an eye on that Mad Hatter, as you'll probably find yourself being tempted to have a try at ‘Have-a-Go' circus.

Ben Geldenhuys is all smiles after finishing some minigolf on Tauranga's waterfront. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

As well as the performers, free face painting and some great music, the city centre waterfront celebration is right across the road from fantastic restaurants.

Water refill stations are also available onsite, so attendees can bring along their own bottles to refill them.

Crowds gathering at Tauranga waterfront. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

The city centre is alive with light installations with ‘Shapes of Summer' – a magical collection of light sculptures and installations by award winning artist Angus Muir, lighting up The Strand as the day turns towards night.

Tauranga musician Josh Pow setting the scene at Tauranga waterfront with his performance. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

From 6pm – 9.30pm there will be roving entertainment and facepainting as well as the Miniput Circus workshop. While this is happening Josh Pow will be on stage performing until 6.45pm, followed by a cultural performance by the Tauranga Chinese Cultural and Art Group. Josh will be back from 7pm – 7.30pm, before the McLean Brothers take to the stage until 9.30pm. During their show, approximately 8.15pm there will be a cultural performance by Filipino Cordeliera Group – an indigenous group from the Phillipines.

And at 9.30pm there will be fireworks to end the free fun celebration.

Matua New Year's Eve host Lauren Mabbett. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

5.30pm: At Matua people are arriving with picnic blankets and chairs to enjoy the summer evening ahead.

Fergusson Park has a stage set up at one end with over 15 food trucks providing everything from hot dinners to desserts circling the field. This event hosted by Lauren Mabbett also features free face painting and roving entertainment from 6pm – 9.30pm.

From 5.30pm – 6pm a low sensory/accessible event was run that provided limited sound and crowds for those with sensory sensitivities.

Tauranga City Council Disability Advisor Amanda Lowrey says the earlier Matua event was a good way to include everyone in the celebrations.

'Fergusson Park is a great place to have the accessible/low-sensory event, it's got great facilities – good accessible wharepaku (bathrooms) and parking."

Rockup Adventure Activities instructor Peter Little is setting up for the evening. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

'Families have been able to bring their kids along for the earlier event, then stay on a bit longer into the main event if everything is going well”.

She recommends people with sensory sensitives come prepared.

'Bring along some headphones and something to sit on if you need some time out,” says Amanda.

Waffle It serving up the longest drinks in town for the evening. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

Ride on jeeps, entertainers and a bouncy castle are also on site and a parking area is provided for people with mobility challenges is close to the stage area.

There are amusement rise, including a rock climbing wall, Funfirst Football and sport activities.

From 6pm – 6.45pm Wildlanes Music are performing on stage, followed by a cultural performance by Mishika Cholangi – a Bharatnatyam dance performance from the southern part of India.

Mike Boyd and Bev Boyd settling in for the fireworks with some cold beverages. Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

Wildlanes Music will be back on stage from 6.55pm – 7.30pm, followed by Indecisive performing from 7.30pm – 9pm.

A cultural performance by Arabian Spice – a Middle Eastern dance group will be on stage at 9am, and then Indecisive will be back performing until the evening finishes at 9.30pm with fireworks.

Roving entertainment at New Year's Eve community celebrations 2020. Photo:Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media.

4pm: Kicking off our SunLive coverage tonight, it's time to celebrate New Year's Eve, the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, with family and friends at one of Tauranga's free community celebrations.

It's been a gruelling year for many. Tauranga has a huge lot of great entertainment lined up for the five free community events across the city tonight, and we hope to see you in front of our cameras as we continue our rolling coverage.

There are five events, running concurrently at Matua, Tauranga Waterfront, Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa and Greerton.

SunLive plans to capture some of the moments as performers, magical wonderful characters and musicians entertain the crowds. There'll be kids' rides, music and street food.

Expect to see Alice in Wonderland-themed entertainers with the Mad Hatter, butterflies and rabbits appearing. Dance to live music from the stage bands, and enjoy roving entertainment, food trucks, plenty of fun activities for the kids and a local MC to host at each venue.

A variety of cultural performances will be featured, with Filipino, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Indian, Cambodian and Pacific Island dance groups and individuals taking to the stages.

Each of the five events will finish with fireworks at 9.30pm, except the Greerton celebration which will finish with a laser light show, which will make for some great photos. This is in place of fireworks, due to the many horses and livestock that live nearby.

Fireworks will go off again at midnight across the city to welcome in 2023. People are encouraged to watch these from their homes – they should be seen from a backyard or deck.

Watching the fireworks on The Strand in Tauranga on New Years' Eve in 2020. Photo: John Borren.

All five community events run from 6pm to 9.30pm, so bring your family, friends, a water bottle, sunblock and come on down to enjoy the night.

There is also a low-sensory and accessible event at Fergusson Park in Matua from 5.30pm – 6pm which is for limited crowds and noise for those with sensory sensitivities.

• Gordon Spratt Reserve – Pāpāmoa
• The Waterfront – Tauranga City Centre
• Fergusson Park – Matua (accessible/low-sensory event 5.30pm – 6pm)
• Tauranga Racecourse – Greerton (laser night show instead of fireworks, as horses are on site)
• Blake Park – Mount Maunganui

At Mount Maunganui, Matua and Greerton events expect to have your face painted, while at the downtown Tauranga waterfront event, Circus in a Flash will be inviting you to try the ‘Have-a-Go Circus'.

As well as the performers, free face painting and some great stage bands, dinner is covered with many food stalls offering a great variety of dinner options, except at the Tauranga watefront. All vendors will have mobile EFTPOS.

Water refill stations will be available onsite, so attendees can bring along their own bottles to refill them. Please remember to keep your pets inside.

Laser light show in Greerton at Tauranga racecourse in 2020. Photo: Daniel Hines.

What to bring

• A picnic blanket and/or something to sit on
• Bring your own kai too, in case the food trucks don't have what you'd like to eat. The city centre waterfront celebration won't have food trucks, but there are lots of restaurants in the area.
• A full water bottle
• With the sun still being strong in the afternoon, remember to slip, slop, slap and wrap
• For those with sensory sensitivities, bring headphones to limit sound at the main events
• Bring cash or card to purchase drinks and snacks. Please note some of the amusement rides will not have EFTPOS facilities so cash is best.

Alcohol-free events

Please note these are alcohol and smoke free events, and temporary and permanent liquor bans are in place in and around each site. Police have the power to search for alcohol and issue a fine.

Getting there - transport, road closures and parking

We encourage residents to bike, walk, bus or share a ride to the New Year's Eve Community Celebrations. Bayhopper buses will run normal services throughout the day on New Year's Eve, see the timetable here. If you do need to drive please find event parking details below.

Tauranga City Centre

A full road closure will be in place from 5pm on December 31 2022 to 2am on January 1 2023 along The Strand, from the Devonport Road roundabout down to the Harington Street roundabout. There will be no access to The Strand via Hamilton Street.

Parking on The Strand will be restricted from 6am on December 31 2022 until 8am on January 1 2023. Resident access and access for deliveries will be maintained during the road closure. Car parking is available for mobility cardholders in the northern waterfront car park.

You can find information on parking in the city centre here.

Gordon Spratt Reserve, Pāpāmoa

Event car parking is available on site but is limited. Designated parking is available for mobility cardholders in the main car parking area adjacent to the Pāpāmoa Sports and Recreation Centre.

Fergusson Park, Matua

Event car parking is available on site but is limited, parking is available for mobility cardholders in the main car parking area adjacent to the Otūmoetai Football Clubrooms.

The Fergusson Park boat ramp will be closed to the public from 3pm on Saturday, December 31 2022 until the site is clear.

Tauranga Racecourse, Greerton

Event car parking is available on site but is limited, designated parking for mobility cardholders is available within the main racecourse entrance off Cameron Rd.

Blake Park, Mount Maunganui

Limited car parking is available near the event site at Mount Sports Centre. Designated parking for mobility cardholders within the Bay Oval car parking area off Miro/Kawaka Streets.

Animals and pets

Although it's a time of celebration for humans, Tauranga City Council Animal Services Team Leader Brent Lincoln recommends keeping an eye on your pets throughout the night as fireworks can be frightening for animals.

'Most of us love the popping and bright flashes of fireworks, but our furry-friends won't be as impressed,” says Brent.

'Keep your pets (small or large) safe and secure for the night. Make sure your cat or dog is microchipped and ensure the correct details are recorded with your council. If your pet somehow runs away from home this will help you reunite.”

Brent also suggested registering your microchipped animal at animalregister.co.nz.

Have a happy and safe New Year

Police are encourage people celebrating New Year's Eve to enjoy themselves, but to be sensible, look after your mates and make sure everyone gets home safely.

"There will be a strong Police presence in traditional holiday hotspots across the country tonight, focused on prevention and helping those celebrating to stay safe," says Acting Commissioner of Police Glenn Dunbier.

"We all have a responsibility to ensure our friends and loved ones are safe this summer, so keep an eye out and report any concerns you have."

If you feel unsafe or have concerns about dangerous, illegal or suspicious behaviour, call Police on 111.

"Any time, every day, we are here to help - Ao te pō, pō te ao, kei konei mātou hei āwhina," says Acting Commissioner of Police Glenn Dunbier.

"Have a happy and safe New Year."