Tauranga pub in running for national title

Tauranga's Cornerstone Pub has today been announced as a finalist in a national people's choice competition for New Zealand's best social venue.
The Strand bar is one of an 800-strong list of venues or businesses listed with online Corporate Events Guide, which describes itself as "New Zealand's little black book for conference and event planning".
Cornerstone Pub is up against four other venues from Auckland and Nelson for the Best Nationwide Social Meeting Venue award.
Awards spokesman Aaron Beard said the venue category title was sought after.
"It's a pretty big deal. People really go for it. Throughout the year they would have had people voting for them and about this time of year we chop it down to about four or five in their categories."
Other categories include Best Nationwide Adventure Activity, Best Nationwide Bands and Best Conference Venues.
Bar manager Eva Pearce said the finalist placing was humbling and "fantastic".
"Well what happened was someone nominated us, we are not sure who that was but we are so thankful for it," she said.
"From there we had to work to get the votes."
Ms Pearce said being a finalist in the Corporate Events Guide was huge because so many people used it.
"We kind of wanted to do as something for Tauranga. There are those other big cities like Wellington and Auckland where bars win big awards, so we wanted to own something of our own."
Voting closed last night. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner "like the Oscars" in Auckland on October 28.
FINALISTS
Cornerstone Pub, Tauranga
Cock n' Bull, Auckland
Fashion Island, Nelson
Sale St bar, Auckland
Sugarbar, Auckland