Anzac Day services and events
ROTORUA
Anzac Dawn Service 2025
The Rotorua Dawn Service will take place on Anzac Day (Friday, 25 April 2025) at 5.45am at Ōhinemutu, conducted by Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League Inc.
Schedule:
- 5.45am: Gather at Ōhinemutu
- 5.50am: Parade march to Muruika Soldiers’ Cemetery (by St Faith’s Church)
- 6am: Dawn Service begins with a mihi (welcome) from Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League, prayers by Reverend Tom Poata, Anzac dedication, hymn, and guest speaker.
The Dawn Service is expected to conclude about 6.30am.
Anzac Civic Memorial Service 2025
Rotorua will host an Anzac Day Parade and Civic Memorial Service. Locals and visitors can come to reflect and remember all the men and women who have served their country.
Schedule:
- 8.50am: Meet at Te Arawa War Memorial (next to Rotorua Museum in Government Gardens)
- 9am: Anzac Parade leaves Te Arawa War Memorial and heads along Queen’s Drive
- 9.25am: Parade arrives at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre
- 9.30am: Anzac Civic Memorial Service begins
The officiating Minister will be Reverend Tom Poata, with Mayor Tania Tapsell introducing guest speakers Angela Swann-Cronin (Formerly Royal New Zealand Air Force), and youth representatives Patience Lister (Rotorua Girls’ High School) and Harrison Roberts-Brake (John Paul College).
Mr G Botting will play the Last Post on his bugle before the Ode to the Fallen is read by WO11 Captain Rangi Rata and Dr Reynold MacPherson. The service will include the laying of wreaths, performances by the City of Rotorua Highland Pipe Band, Rotorua Municipal Brass Band, and a special performance by Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue honouring Sir Robert (Bom) Gillies.
Road closures (8.30am – 10am):
- Queens Drive from Prince’s Gate Arch to Te Arawa War Memorial (roundabout next to the Rotorua Museum).
- Arawa Street from Prince’s Gate Arch to the intersection of Fenton Street (not including the roundabout).
People are encouraged to avoid the Prince’s Gate entrance to Government Gardens due to the road closure.
TAURANGA
On Friday, 25 April, Anzac Day services are happening across Tauranga to remember and honour our past and present servicemen and women.
Tauranga City Council, community groups, and local RSAs have come together to bring you dawn and civic ceremonies in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga City Centre, Pāpāmoa, Te Puna, and Pyes Pā.
Tauranga City Centre Services:
- Tauranga Dawn Service - 6am, Tauranga RSA Cenotaph, 1237 Cameron Rd.
- Tauranga Civic Memorial Service - 9am, Memorial Park, Eleventh Ave.
Park and Ride and wreath laying are available at the Tauranga Civic Memorial Service.
Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui Services:
- Pāpāmoa Memorial Dawn Service – 6am, Pāpāmoa Memorial, Stella Place beach car park, Pāpāmoa Beach Rd
- Mount Maunganui Dawn Service - 6am, Mount Maunganui Cenotaph, Marine Parade (opposite Mount Drury Reserve, Hopukiore)
Park and Ride is available for the Mount Maunganui Dawn Service
- Mount Maunganui Civic Memorial Service - 9.30am, Mount Maunganui Cenotaph, Marine Parade (opposite Mount Drury Reserve, Hopukiore)
Te Puna
- Tauranga Moana Tumatauenga Anzac Commemorations - 5.45am, Poututerangi Marae, 26 Pitua Road, Te Puna
Pyes Pā
- Pyes Pā Remembrance Service - 11am, Pyes Pā Cemetery, 403 Pyes Pā Rd
Road closures
Tauranga city centre
From 7am to 12 noon on Friday, April 25
- Eleventh Ave – between Devonport Rd and Thirteenth Ave
- Fraser St – between Eleventh Ave and Thirteenth Ave
Mobility card holders will be able to get through the road closures.
Mount Maunganui
From 2.30am to 12 noon Friday, April 25
- Marine Parade - between Commons and Banks Avenues
- Pacific Avenue – between Rita Street and Marine Parade
Friday, April 25:
- Catch the Gallagher Chiefs vs Western Force at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui with kickoff at 7.05pm. Enjoy pre-match entertainment from 5.30pm, including performances by Cassie Henderson, an ANZAC service, RSA Flyover, food trucks, and giveaways; tickets are $10 - $40.
- Catch Greg Johnson on his 30th Anniversary Tour at Totara St, Mount Maunganui at 8pm. Enjoy live performances of his classic hits from the Vine Street Stories album; tickets are $69.60 each.
- Join us for Soaring Collective at The Jam Factory, Tauranga from 7pm to 9.30pm. Experience an ethereal blend of ambient, downtempo folktronica; tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for students and under 18s.
- Join us for the Tauranga Night Market at Tauranga Racecourse, Greerton from 5pm to 8.30pm. Enjoy food trucks, market stalls, live music, and kids’ activities; free admission for all ages.
- Get ready to rock out at Chaos Fest, Rotorua’s newest heavy metal and rock event from 6pm to 11.30pm at Crates N Cues Bar. Enjoy performances by KAOSIS, Metadeth, The Neverminds, The Green Daze, and INTHEIRIMAGE, with DJ sets by XEN; tickets range from $20 to $40.
Friday, April 25 to Saturday, April 26: Experience X AIR, New Zealand’s largest action sports festival, at Mercury Baypark Arena, Mount Maunganui from 8am to 6pm. Watch top athletes in BMX, skateboarding, scooter, big air, and rollerblade compete on a custom-built course; tickets range from $20 to $280.
Saturday, April 26:
- Check out for the Picture Perfect Easter Trail & Event at Jubilee Park, Te Puke from 9am to 1pm. Enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt, photo exhibition, market stalls, and more; a free community event for the whole family.
- Join us for Heathen Combat’s “Let The Ocean Take Me” at Mount Maunganui Intermediate from 6pm to 9pm. Enjoy punk rock pro-wrestling with tickets ranging from $10.25 to $16.58; don’t miss the exciting championship matches.
- Join us for The Little Big Markets Papamoa Summer Series at The Papamoa Pony Club, Mount Maunganui from 9am to 2pm. Enjoy gourmet street food, curated stalls, live music, and free activities for the little ones; free admission for all ages.
Sunday, April 27:
- Celebrate the 78th King and Queen of Mount Maunganui from 10.15am to 1pm at Main Beach. Enjoy a social walk or run to the summit of Mauao, with options for all ages, prize money, spot prizes, and finishers medals for juniors; tickets are $20 - $60.
- The Little Big Markets Tauranga CBD at No.1 The Strand, Tauranga from 10am to 2pm. Enjoy market stalls, live music, free workshops, and games; free admission for all ages.
- Discover the art of Bonsai at The Incubator Creative Hub, Tauranga from 9am to 12pm. Learn to develop and care for a Bonsai tree with Dawid De Villiers; tickets are $101, and all materials are included.
- Join the 2025 Great K Valley Cycle Adventure at Kopurereua Valley Reserve from 10am to 3pm. Enjoy a scavenger hunt, map reading, and puzzle solving by bike; tickets are $40 for a team of up to six, with proceeds supporting native plant restoration. Registrations are open on the day.
- Join us at the Agrodome Farmers Market on the last Sunday of each month, from October through April, for a fun-filled day of fresh, local, and sustainable products. Enjoy free entertainment, including special appearances by Shaun the Sheep, working dog trials, and more. From 9am to 2pm at 141 Western Rd, Ngongotahā.
Monday, April 28: Enjoy Jazz at the Mount on from 10.15am to 5pm at Papa o Nga Manu Porotakataka Park, Mount Maunganui. This free event features live music, a vintage car display and parade, and a fun day out for all ages in the heart of Mount Maunganui’s main shopping area.
Tuesday, April 29: Experience “Around the World in 90 Minutes” at Rotorua Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 11am to 12:45pm. Enjoy a musical journey with hits from around the world; tickets range from $35.00 to $42.00, with complimentary morning tea included.
May
Saturday, May 3: The Red Stag Rotorua Marathon from 8am to 8.30pm in Rotorua offers a stunning race experience through geothermal landscapes, lush forests, and scenic lakesides. Whether you’re running the full marathon, half marathon, 12km, 5km, Runway5, or Runway Mile, this event promises breathtaking views and a celebration of achievement and the outdoors.
Sunday, May 4:
- Car Boot Sale for Rotary Club of Otumoetai 7.30am for sellers and 8am for buyers at Car Boot Sale at the college car park on Windsor Rd to raise funds for Otumoetai Rotary. Sellers $10 a space. Electronic and Appliance recycling. Fees apply. Details Brian 021 1228735 Bevan 027 4612127.
- Join us for the annual Rotorua Jazz Club Local Showcase celebrating May Music Month: Amazing talent of the Sue Brown Quartet featuring Keey Fremm, AJ Moke and Sam Rainey, the JPC jazz combo, Toi Ohomai music students and vocalist Wayne Wright. Rotorua Citizens Club 4.30pm to 8pm, $30 casual, $20 members, $5 students.
Wednesday, May 7 to Saturday, May 10: Experience the magic of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, performed by the talented students of Tauranga Boys’ College and Tauranga Girls’ College, from May 7 to 10. Enjoy a modern twist on the classic fairytale with tickets starting at $19.45.
Saturday, May 10: Join us for the Parksyde Variety Concert from 6pm to 8pm at Parksyde Community Centre, 9 Tarewa Place. Tickets are by minimum donation of $20 on sale at Parksyde reception, open 9am–3pm weekdays. For queries, call 348 9892.
Thursday, May 15: Join us for the Parksyde Breakfast Fundraiser from 7.45am to 9.20am at Parksyde Community Centre. Guest speaker Vittoria Shortt, CEO of ASB Bank, will discuss “Progress During Turbulent Times.” Tickets are $38 per person. For inquiries, call 021 275 8034.
Thursday, May 15 and Saturday May 17: Marlon Williams announces the Te Whare Tīwekaweka album tour of Aotearoa, featuring his first Māori language album. Catch him with The Yarra Benders and special guests on Thursday at Holy Trinity, Tauranga, and Saturday at Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua. Tickets go on sale at 12pm on Wednesday, March 5.
Sunday, May 18: Te Puna Quarry Park is hosting a plant sale from 10am to 1pm. Entry is free with garden and indoor plants for sale plus pots, crafty gifts, tools and preserves.
Wednesday, May 21: The Royal Family Dance Crew brings their Honour The Crown show to Baycourt on Wednesday, 21 May at 7pm. Witness all their iconic sets from the past 14 years in a performance of precision, power, and pure entertainment. Tickets start at $53.25.
Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24: Women on the Fly (WoTF) and Eastern Fish & Game will host a women’s fly fishing workshop at The Hatchery in Ngongotahā. The event is for beginners, offering small learning groups and experienced mentors. For more information, contact Jill Sweeney, WoTF NZ Regional Co-ordinator.
June
Friday, June 6: Join us for BATTLE CHORUS: DISCO at 9pm at Baycourt Tauranga’s, Whare Matarau / X Space. Form teams, learn disco choruses, and compete in a fun, retro-themed sing-along battle!
Saturday, June 28: Catch Devilskin’s Re-Evolution Tour 2025 with special guests Villainy and Midwave Breaks at the Stadium Lounge, Mount Maunganui, on Saturday, 28 June. Tickets available at devilskin.co.nz.
Regular events
Activities at Parksyde Community Centre:
Mondays:
- 8.30am: Pilates ($8 per class)
- 2.30pm: Seated Aerobics ($7 per class)
Tuesdays:
- 9.30am: Zumba ($8 per class)
- 1.30pm: Strength and Balance Class ($7 per class)
Wednesdays:
- 9am: Tai Chi ($10 per class)
- 11.15am: Pilates ($8 per class)
Thursdays:
- 1pm: Strength and Balance Class ($7 per class)
- 2.30pm: Seated Aerobics ($7 per class)
Fridays:
- 9.30am: Zumba ($8 per class)
- 12.45pm: Seated Zumba ($8 per class)
- 2pm: Qi Gong Tai Chi ($10 per class)
All classes are for Rotorua residents 55+ and held at Parksyde Community Centre, 9 Tarewa Place.
Mondays:
- Join a run club every Monday evening at 5.30pm, starting outside the EightySix Coffee kiosk at the lakefront (old QE end). Everyone’s welcome.
- Harmony A Plenty have been singing for 20 years. Covid has reduced our numbers. We are inviting men to join and enjoy our 7pm-9pm Monday practice, supper and sing-outs in Tauranga. If this appeals to you contact Frank 576 3037 or David 576 0575.
Tuesdays:
- Rotorua District Cadet Unit Parades – if you’re Year 9 and up, come along to see if you are the next cadet to join the ranks. Where: 23 Geddes Rd, Rotorua, on Tuesdays during school term, 6.15pm to 9pm.
- Cards 500 at the Mount Community Hall 12.30pm to 4pm. All welcome. Inquiries to phone 0276586848.
Thursdays:
- Rotorua Night Market, weekly at Tutānekai St from 5pm until 9pm. Weather dependent.
- The Mount Art group meets every Thursday at St Peter’s Anglican Church hall, 15 Victoria Rd at the Mount, from 9am until noon. Call Merilynn on 0274846874 for more information.
- Air Training Corp parade during term weeks from 6.15pm at 23 Geddes Rd. Age 13-plus. Come down and have a look or contact cucdr.75sqn@cadetforces.org.nz for more information. You are welcome to come and have a look.
- Cards 500 at the Mount Community Hall 12.30pm to 4pm. All welcome. Inquiries to phone 0276586848.
Fridays:
- Friday Night Fun Night at Baywave – enjoy two hours of racing down the hydroslide, bobbing through the waves in our wave pool and bombing off a special platform to the latest tunes for $6 a person. From 6pm to 8pm Fridays, excluding public and school holidays.
- Tauranga Night Market at McKinley Park in Tauranga Racecourse. 5pm-8.30pm. Come along for food, small business stalls and entertainment.
Saturdays:
- The Little Big Markets – Summer Series: October 20, Tauranga CBD Waterfront, 9am to 2pm.
- Rotary Charity Market at Kuirau Park has been operating for 37 years, every Saturday morning, wet or fine, 7am to 2pm. Stalls selling vegetables, a wide range of takeaway food, popcorn, coffee, meat, jewellery, clothing, gift cards, and more. Proceeds are used for various community undertakings. Sites for stalls cost $30.
- Tauranga Farmers’ Market rain or shine, 7.45am to noon at Tauranga Primary School.
- Kuirau Park Book Sale on first and third Saturdays, from 9am until 1pm in the kiosk near the playground. All proceeds to Rotorua Library.
- The Greerton Hall Market on the second and last Saturday of every month from 8am to noon.
Sundays: Waihī Beach Sunday Market 9am to 1pm at Wilson Park.
Daily: Government Gardens Guided Tours, 11am, outside Rotorua Museum.
Fortnightly:
- Pakihi Ora Māori Business Network Māori Business Rōpū focused on bringing together and supporting ngā pakihi Māori. Anchored in Māori values, knowledge and cultural practices, dedicated to creating spaces that are mana enhancing. A place where Māori business owners can come together and feel connected through mātauranga. This is a Wednesday fortnightly kaupapa held at Kai Caff Aye, Fenton St, 7.30am to 9am. Visit Pakihi Ora on Facebook for more information.
Twice-monthly:
Geyserland Country Music Club aims to foster and share the love of Country Music with people of all ages, we meet on the first Wednesday from 1 pm-4pm and the third Sunday of the month from 1 pm–4.30 pm at the Rotorua Bowling Club next to the Blue Baths in the Government Gardens, $6 door charge for non-members, children under 13yrs free. For more information go to Geyserland Country Music Club Facebook page or contact Dallas 350 2048 or Bruce 027 446 5800.
Monthly:
- Muscular Dystrophy Support Group meets the last Sunday of the month at 11am at the Whipped Baker Cafe, Historic Village. Family and friends welcome. Any inquiries to reactn2you@gmail.com.
- Sol Markets at Simpson Reserve includes products, services and information from local stallholders that consider sustainability in their business practises. From 9am to 2pm on the first Sunday of the month.
- Geyserland Country Music Club meets on the first Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm and the third Sunday of the month from 1pm to 4.30pm at the Rotorua Bowling Club. Non-members $6, children under 13 are free. For more information go to Geyserland Country Music Club Facebook page.
- Rotorua UkeBox Ukulele Open Mic and Strum Along. Third Sunday of the month, 3pm to 4.30pm at Te Runanga Tea House. Free to strum or sing along or watch.
- Western Bay Crop Swap, a free event for backyard gardeners, home bakers and food foragers to swap and share high-quality local food on the first Saturday of the month, 10am to 11am at SuperGrans Western Bay of Plenty, 14 Jocelyn St, Katikati.
- Rotorua Jazz Club meets first Sunday of every month, 4.30pm to 8pm, winter and summer. Rotorua Citizens Club, Arawa St. $20 entry for adults, $2 for juniors. The public is always welcome. For upcoming events and bands go to Rotorua Jazz Club Facebook page or email rotjazzclub@gmail.com.
- Historic Village Wellbeing Market on the third Saturday of the month from 10am to 3pm.
- Ōmokoroa Market featuring arts and crafts, produce, plants and car boot, plus more. Held on the last Saturday of the month 9am to noon at Ōmokoroa Settlers Hall.
- Maketū Market from 7am at Maketū Village Green on the third and fifth Sunday of the month. Vendor stalls $10. Phone Maureen 021 2671 685.
- Improv Comedy with The Honest Liars – 16th Ave Theatre. First Saturday of the month 7.30pm to 9pm, entry $15.
- BoP Blues Club Jam, first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, Rotorua Citizens Club.
- Art By Bike Tours, third Saturday of the month, (finishes April 15) 10am, Te Manawa.
- Collective Energies Holistic Wellness Market the fourth Saturday of each month 9am to 2pm at the Mount Community Hall, 345 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui. Collective Energies Facebook/Insta. Contact Melanie 027 286 8268 for more information.
■ To include your event, email details to whatson@dailypost.co.nz at least a week before the event.
