WHAKATANE EVENTS CALENDAR

The Whakatane district hosts many events annually. From some of New Zealands biggest fishing tournaments and multisport events to the Summer Arts Festival and sporting events. The Whakatane community puts on a wide range of events, catering for all ages and interests. From Ohope beach Craft Market and Farmers markets to cultural and musical events. We can also provide event managers, excellent facilities and caterers to help make your event a success. Click on gallery to view images of Whakatane. 
For a list of upcoming events, see below.

Click here for the Summer School Holiday Programme

Ohope Craft Market
Held 1st Saturday of every month as well as special dates. 8.30am-12.30pm Arts, Crafts, Gifts, Plants plus more
Venue- Ohope Hall, Bluett Rd
Phone 07 312 3339

Peace Park Market
The Peace Park Market is held on the last Thursday of every month. Next to the Whakatane Museum on Boon Street.
Contact 07 312 5403

The Sunday Market
The Sunday Market is at the War Memorial Hall, Rex Morpeth Park, Whakatane. Held every Sunday morning from 8am - 1pm. Fresh and local produce. Many locals come every Sunday to shop at the market for their veggies, bread, honey and all kinds of treats and treasures! There is also coffee and kai, crepes, sausage sizzle, coffee and kai, specialty foods, 2nd hand books and treasures, plants, baking and preserves, honey, ice cream, live music and a bouncy castle.
Contact 021 1313468

Click Here for the Summer Arts Programme

February

Bike Wise Month
Date: February 1st to 29

Summer Arts 2012 is screening a collection of Art House Films. 

Monday 30th January 5pm – The Mill and the Cross
Wednesday 1st February 5pm – Mrs Carey’s Concern
Friday 3rd February 5pm – Herb and Dorothy
Saturday 4th February 1pm – Mrs Carey’s Concern
Sunday 5th February 1pm – The Mill and the Cross

Location: Whakatane Little Theatre
Cost: $10 per screening or $25 for 3 screenings

The Mill and the Cross  
A Polish film. The Mill and the Cross is a movie inside of a painting, specifically The Way to Calvary (1564) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.  The background is always the actual painting's background with the mill high up on a rock looking down on a large field where most of the action occurs.

Mrs Carey's Concert 
A feature documentary by Bob Connolly and Sophie Raymond.  High School Music Director Karen Carey, puts on a concert every two years at the Sydney Opera House. She insists upon a demanding repertoire, and the participation of all 1200 girls in the school. Not everyone shares her passion.   Mrs Carey's Concert is about music making and coming of age, about talent and courage, compliance and rebellion. About those prepared to open their minds and hearts to what the world has to offer ... and those yet to discover the potential within.

Herb and Dorothy
The incredible true story of a postal worker and a librarian. With their modest means, the couple managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history. Meet Herb and Dorothy Vogel, whose shared passion redefined what it means to be an art collector.

Story Teller Mike O'Donnell
Summer Arts 2012 has a special treat for visitors of the exhibition.  Renowned musician, artist and story teller Mike O’Donnell will be on hand to share his stories.  Come along to the Little Theatre on:
Date: Thursday 2 February at 4pm.  Bring along a cushion.
Note: This is a part of the Exhibition activities.  Exhibition Door Charge applies.

Shakespeare in the Park
Enjoy the live theatre of the Taming of the Shrew. $2 Entry.
Date: Sat Feb 4th from 7pm
Venue: Riverside Ampitheatre, Warren Cole Walkway
Contact: Heather 07 312 5737

The Great Art Debate and Auction
Enjoy an Art Debate and Auction compered by Cliff Stockwell. Debate Topic 'That contemporary art leaves alot to be desired'
Door charge $10. Drinks and nibbles at 5pm
Date: February 5th 5pm
Venue: War Memorial Complex, Whakatane
Contact: Heather 07 312 5737

Margaret Mahy Story Book Time
Readings to inspire a younger audience.
Date: Feb 6 from 10.30am
Venue: War Memorial Hall Complex Whakatane

Ladies Tuna Tournament
The Whakatane Sportfishing Club runs one of the biggest ladies' fishing tournaments in New Zealand every summer. Running for a number of years, the tournament is one of the highlights of the Whakatane sportfishing calendar and attracts over 250 female anglers from all over New Zealand who catch tuna, marlin, shark and kingfish. Anglers and divers enjoy the superb fishing grounds around White Island and the Ranfurly Banks.
Date: 10/02/12 - 12/02/12
Contact : Whakatane Sportfishing Club, Muriwai Drive, Whakatane (07) 307 0334 (07) 308 4977 whakfish@world-net.co.nz

Opotiki A&P Show & Community Fair
The 113th Annual Opotiki A&P Show Community Fair is all about old fashioned family fun....with crowds of up to 5500 people you can expect to be part of an exciting day.
Date: 11/02/12
Venue: Opotiki Showgrounds

Whakatane Mountain Bike - King and Queen of Rawhiti
Date: 14 December, 18 Jan, 15 Feb, March 7 & 28
Venue: Burma Rd, Ohope

Click here for more info and entry forms

The Ohope Sprint Triathlon
The Ohope Sprint Triathlon is a great event for beginners. The tidally assisted 750m swim is in the harbour, the 20 kilometre bike is on a fast and flat course, while the run is a mixture of on and off road, but mainly flat. There is great accomodation at the nearby Ohope Top Ten Holiday Park, and the sponsors Whakatane Cycle Centre give out some amazing spot prizes.
Date: Sun 19th Feb 9am
Venue: Ohope Boat Ramp
Contact: 3077367

Fresh Market - Jazz in the Park
Listen to the sounds of Torch Songs. Gold Coin Donation
A liquor Licence is held for this event.

“The Mike Garner Band"  4 piece Blues

Mike Garner is a well known Blues singer and songwriter from Rotorua. He has a wealth of blues experience, over nearly 40 years, having played in Europe,  Australia, NZ and the Pacific, as well as in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Mike Garner - guitars, harmonica, vocals      
David "Herbie" Riseborough - piano        
Warren Houston - drums, percussion       
Stuart Lawrence - right bass

Date: Saturday 11th  February  5:00pm   Entry $2
Venue: Whakatane Rose Gardens McGarvey Road

Intro to Boccia Workshop
This Intro to Boccia workshop is aimed at those volunteers, coaches, parents and leaders who are interested in finding out about Boccia and how to play and coach the sport.
This workshop will help you  to :
Understand Basic Boccia Rules
Have a good understanding of the game
Teach Basic skill practices
Date: Thursday 23rd February 5.30-6.30pm
Venue: Disability Resource Centre, Whakatane
Contact: Sophie: 07 308 8304

Come and Have a Go at Wheelchair Basketball
Date: Wednesday 29th February 2012  6-7.30pm  
Venue: Rex Morpeth Stadium, Whakatane
Wheelchairs supplied
Call Sophie: 07 308 8304 e: sophie@parafedbop.co.nz

March

The Road Rules Change

Yes from March 5am Sunday 25th of March the Road Rules for Giving Way to other vehicles will change. See this link for the info

Rangitaiki River Festival
Come celebrate life on the Rangitaiki River with a festival. Activities include: Food, Music, Waka Ama Races, Kayak Races, Beach Touch, Kayak Fishing and others yet to be confirmed.
Date: 03/03/12 - 04/03/12
If your group or club would like to be included on the programme please contact Mike van der Boom to register.
Phone 07 3060589 Email: mikv@whakatane.govt.nz

Dog Obedience Tests
Date: March 3rd and 4th
Venue: Prideux Park Kawerau
Contact: Lee Barton 306 9040

Whakatane Mountain Bike - King and Queen of Rawhiti
Date: 14 December, 18 Jan, 15 Feb, March 7 & 28
Venue: Burma Rd, Ohope

Click here for more info and entry forms

Hamertons Whakatane Charity Fishing Tournament
This year’s charity is for the Eastern Bay of Plenty Branch of Child Cancer. Last tournament we raised $19,300.00 for the EBOP Branch of the Riding for Disabled and a further $1,620.00 for the Ohope Life Saving Club. This was an awesome result and we are hopeful that we can exceed these amounts at our next tournament.
Enter online at http://whakatanecharityfishing.yolasite.com
Our days for next year’s tournament are briefing night 7th March and the fishing days 8th 9th and 10th of March. Early Bird entries close on the 13th February so enter before this date to go into a draw to win a prize. Entries on the night will not receive a skippers pack and no boat entries will be accepted after 7pm on the briefing night so make sure you get you entries in early. However, an angler may be added to a boat that is entered after this time.

NZ Canoe Slalom - North Island Champs
Date: March 10 and 11
Venue: Waterhouse St. Reserve, Kawerau
Contact: Lee Barton 306 9040

Mundi
Summer Arts 2012 presents the world music of Mundi. 
Prepare to be transported! With inspiration from as far afield as the deserts of North Africa to the Amazon Basin and beyond Mundi take you on an unforgettable journey... Led by flute virtuoso and composer Tamara Smith, Mundi features an exciting array of instruments including flute sax banjo marimba voice and percussion. This original world music band is not to be missed.
Date: Wednesday 15th March at 7.30pm
Location: Whakatane Little Theatre
Cost: TBA
Tickets available: TBA

Tarawera Ultra Marathon
Starting in Rotorua at sunrise and running through some of the most stunning terrain in the BOP and finishing in Firmin Field Kawerau.
Date: March 17
Contatc: Paul 027 600 0397

Opotiki Charity Concert
The 17th Opotiki Charity Concert recognised as one of the best country music events in NZ
Date: March 23rd and 24th
Venue: Opotiki College, St John St
Contact: 027 230 6914

Fiona Pears - Violinist
Summer Arts 2012 presents Jazz Violinist Fiona Pears.
Fiona and her talented band perform in a range of musical styles – from sizzling gypsy swing, soulful classical and beautiful jazz ballads, through to tango and original Celtic compositions.

Date: Friday 23rd March at 7.30pm
Location: Whakatane Little Theatre
Cost: TBA
Tickets available: TBA

April

Hot Pink
Summer Arts 2012 and Theatre Whakatane present Hot Pink (Penny Ashton). Take Pam Ayres, add a dollop of Cosmo magazine, a slurp of ruby wax, a pinch of glitter, a good splosh of silliness and a nice sturdy bra and voila! You have Miss Hot Pink. Watch out for this show bought to you by Theatre Whakatane. There will be preshow entertainment from Dave McMeeking in the foyer prior to the 8pm start. 2x complimentry drinks from our pink drink menu and nibbles.
Date: Saturday 14 April at 8pm
Location: Whakatane Little Theatre
Cost: $35
Tickets available: Harcourts Whakatane







 

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