Good morning and welcome to Saturday. Ko te ra tenei i hanga e te Ariki. Ka koa tatou, ka koa hoki ki reira.

MetService is forecasting a cloudy with westerlies, dying out this evening.

It's a two-layer clothing day with an expected high of 25 degrees, and an overnight low of 18 degrees. High tide is at 12.38pm and low tide is at 6.50pm. Sunset is at 7.54pm.

What's on today?

City of Tauranga Pipe Band members Jess Willson, Doug Hendry, Duncan Hendry and Jayne Wylie, ready for the contest. Photo: Brydie Thompson.

The skirl of bag pipes and the steady beat of drums will swirl Mount Maunganui today as the City of Tauranga Pipe Band holds a prestigious contest for the first time in a decade. Everyone is welcome at Soper Reserve at Mount Maunganui today Saturday, March 2, as City of Tauranga Pipe Band host the Central North Island Pipe Band Contest from 10.30am-3pm.

The Ultimate Beach Run is happening this morning at Mount Maunganui. Choose your distance from 3 km, 6 km, 10 km distances, on the beach at low tide or the new coastal pathway. Yes you can walk, and this event is for everyone. Gather your friends and family and head to breakfast afterwards at one of the many cafes open. The course is accessible for adaptive athletes, families with prams and  furry friends are welcome for the dog-friendly 3km and 6km routes.Everyone who crosses the finish line will receive a well-deserved finishers medal. For more information click here.

Roller Disco.

Head along to the Roller Disco Oceania’s fundraiser at the Mount Sports Centre from 4pm - 6pm. Come along to support our Tauranga Roller Skaters competing at the 2024 Oceania championships.Hire skates are available, and drinks and treats are also for sale. Entry: $10 (under 5's free with paying adult); Skate hire: $5; Family pass: $45 (2 adults & up to 4 children).Spectators free

The Holi Colour Splash will be held from 3pm-6pm at Memorial Park today, Saturday, March 2. Entry is free! For more information, see:  https://www.mytauranga.co.nz/whats-on/event-details/eid/7245/tctl/7663_

Keep an eye on mytauranga.co.nz/citycentre for upcoming activities.

Check out https://www.mytauranga.co.nz/its-on-in-our-city-centre for details of other upcoming events.

The Incubator. Photo: Supplied.

At The Incubator Creative Hub at Tauranga Historic Village, there are many exhibitions, workshops and events happening daily. For more information click here.

For more events visit My Tauranga.

The Mission House at The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga in Mission St is open from 10am - 4pm. Come and view the Mission House and gardens. For more information click here

Love public art? CITY ART WALK TAURANGA app is a free to download walking tour of 20 public artworks in Tauranga's city centre. For more information click here

Diana Bomford, Tony Fraser and Hugh Bomford at the Lion and Tusk Museum at Mount Maunganui. Photo: Daniel Hines.

Have you been to the Lion and Tusk Museum yet? It's open today from 10am - 3pm at Unit 4, 14 Portside Dr, Mount Maunganui. Come and see a massive display of Rhodesian military history records and exhibits of uniforms, medals and equipment. Opening hours are 10am – 3pm Thursday to Sunday. For more information click here

What else is on today?

Art in the Park
Original art for sale. Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui. 9am - 4pm. Weather permitting. Tauranga Society of Artists

Association Croquet
Sat. Mon. & Wed at Club Mt Maunga nui, 45 Kawaka St. 9.15am for 9.30am start. Newplayers & visitors welcome. Ph Malcolm 027 681 5204

Bay Singles Social Groups
Join a bunch of over 50"s young singles. Weekend dinners, pot-lucks, occasional outings, Have a go! Ph Delia 027 284 8762, Andrea 021 133 0313

Boules - Petanque
Tauranga BOP Club Tawa Street, Mt Maunganui. Social and competitive play. Boules available. New players welcome. Phone Ray 027 756 3565 for times, further details.

Seniors & Travel Expo
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd March 2024 10am - 3pm FREE ENTRY Mercury Baypark Arena, 81 Truman Lane Mount Maunganui. https://www.seniorsandtravelexpo.com/

St Stephens Jigsaw Library
Every Saturday 10am-12noon. Hire for 2 weeks a variety of 600 puzzles. Cnr of Brookfield and Highmore Terrace.

Taijiquan and Qigong
Sat & Wed 9 am free Taiji / Qigong group. Kulim Park on beach by big rock. All welcome. Ph Petro 021 751 665