Benny Tipene and Jason Kerrison are two of a four-part line up headlining this year's Christmas in the Park.
Benny Tipene and Jason Kerrison are two of a four-part line up headlining this year's Christmas in the Park.
EXCLUSIVE: Jason Kerrison, Benny Tipene, Tiki Taane and MC Tali have been confirmed as the headline acts for the Tauranga Christmas in the Park.
Rachelle and Chris Duffy are excited to announce this year's line up for Christmas in the Park 2014. Photo/Andrew Warner.
Organiser Rachelle Duffy was excited about the huge line-up for this year's event.
"Tiki's going to be presenting it this year. He's going to make an appearance with his son's school. We've got Jason Kerrison from Opshop which is awesome. Tali's just performed at the Vodafone Music Awards," she told the Bay of Plenty Times.
"It's quite different to our one last year - we had Anika Moa and Hollie Smith.
Really the event is very much focused on the local community. It's completely non-profit, for the community.
"We're just trying to change it up every year. All those artists want to come back so it might mean we change it up again next year and get the girls back. We're keeping it fresh and keeping it different every year."
Kerrison asked if he could perform at the concert while talking to Tiki Taane soon after last year's event and was looking forward to it.
"I'm really thrilled to be able to come back to the Bay of Plenty and play as a soloist for Christmas in the Park.
"Tauranga is one of those places that throws you into the deep end of summer.
"With the people, the local beaches and the primo surf spots you can't help but pick up on the vibe and take it home with you.
"My mum lived there for quite a while so Tauranga feels familiar and cosy for that reason too," Kerrison said. "As far as music goes? Well I'll be playing the new songs off my new EP called #JKEP1 and the usual JK staples."
The entertainment would begin at 2pm with local artists such as Georgia Lines playing before the headline acts, Ms Duffy said. There would also be free bouncy castles, a kids' zone, skate demonstrations, Santa's grotto, markets and food stalls. The Night Owl Cinema would also be playing a movie from 5pm."
Tiki Taane performs at the Little Big Markets Christmas Night Market, Mount Maunganui 2013. Photo/file
"Inside the event we've got the world's largest blow-up slide. It's 30m by 20m."
The concert will be fundraising for the Good Neighbour Trust, Homes of Hope, Women's Refuge and the Tauranga Foodbank.
"Really the event is very much focused on the local community. It's completely non-profit, for the community," she said.
"They have a lot of children in those charities' care come Christmas time and they just can't afford a Christmas. We can come in and give them something."
Last year the event drew a crowd of 25,000 people and Ms Duffy was hopeful this year would be even bigger.
What: Christmas in the Park 2014 Where: Blake Park, Mount Maunganui When: December 20, from 2pm Who: Jason Kerrison, Benny Tipene, Tiki Taane and MC Tali
