"We can book attractions, accommodation, buses and events for people," she said.
Tourism Bay of Plenty's Kristin Dunne said the ambassadors are knowledgeable locals who can impart their local knowledge to the many visitors during the peak season.
"Mount Maunganui is an iconic summer holiday destination," she said. "It is important we can warmly greet our visitors and help them to know where to stay, eat, shop and the many things to do in the beautiful Bay of Plenty."
While there will be no entertainment or fireworks at Mount Main Beach on December 31, there will be free family-friendly events and fireworks in Tauranga CBD and Papamoa.
Tauranga City Council city events manager Gareth Wallis said the elements of this year's New Year's Eve community celebrations in Tauranga will focus on creating a safe and enjoyable family-friendly environment across the city.
Wallis said early-evening, family-friendly, central-city waterfront and Papamoa events including 9.30pm fireworks, midnight fireworks and a small-scale indoor youth event are all part of the planned community celebrations.
Tauranga City Council's New Year's Eve alcohol-free celebration on the waterfront starts at 6pm with a barbecue with free sausages, roving performers, samba, games, food stalls and more.
Early fireworks will be set off at 9.30pm and will be followed by midnight fireworks to celebrate the New Year.
The Papamoa New Year's Eve Community Celebration at Gordon Spratt Reserve from 6pm on December 31 will include children's rides, music, a glow show, street food and a visit from Batman in his Batmobile.
The free event will end with city-wide fireworks at 9.30pm.
Wallis said elected council members decided to cancel New Year's Eve activity on Mount Main Beach in October 2016 after serious concerns about public safety prompted a detailed review of the event.
"Tauranga City Council, New Zealand police and other key organisations will continue to work together towards a safer environment for Tauranga's residents and visitors on New Year's Eve and will carry on with the successfully implemented changes from 2016 for New Year's Eve 2017-2018."
Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said police will have a presence in Mount Maunganui over the holiday period to ensure the community can feel safe.
"Police work closely with our local community partners, including Tauranga City Council, to help keep people safe and reduce alcohol-related harm, particularly around celebration times such as New Year's Eve," he said.
NEW YEAR'S EVE ROAD CLOSURES:
MOUNT MAUNGANUI:
- Temporary one-way system on December 31 from Salisbury Ave along The Mall, Adams Ave and Marine Parade.
- Prince Ave between Victoria Rd and Maunganui Rd will be fully closed with managed residents' access only.
- Temporary no-parking zones on Marine Parade between Adams Ave and Pacific Ave from 6am on December 31 until 8am on January 1.
- Marine Parade between Adams Ave and Pacific Ave will be closed between 8pm and 6am from December 26 until January 6.
- The intersections of Commons Ave and Marine Parade, and Grace Ave and Marine Parade will be closed between 8pm and 6am from December 26 until January 6.
TAURANGA CBD:
- A full road closure will be in place from 2pm on December 31 to 2am on January 1 on The Strand from Devonport Rd roundabout to Harington St roundabout. Both roundabouts will be open to allow traffic flows.
- No access to The Strand via Hamilton St and Wharf St. Parking on The Strand will be restricted from 6am on December 31 until 8am on January 1.
ALCOHOL-FREE ZONES:
- The 24-hour alcohol-free zone in Mount Maunganui from December 26 until 6am January 6 includes all public areas north of Hull Rd and Tweed St, as well as Waiariki St in Arataki.
- The Strand is a permanent alcohol- and glass-free zone.
- Papamoa's Gordon Spratt Reserve is a permanent alcohol-free zone. Alice Way is also an alcohol-free zone from 10am on December 31 to 6am on January 3.
- Bay of Plenty Police, Tauranga City Council
