Events

Kawerau's many parks, reserves and buildings combined with its central location make it an ideal venue for events.

Kawerau District Council pro-actively supports events that have either become synonymous with the township and/or utilises our natural resources. We also support smaller community events through subsidised rental fees and assisting with promotional activity. There is a small contestable grant for those interested in establishing a new event. For further information on this fund go to Grants & Funding.

If you would like to hold an event in the Kawerau District please go here for more information.

Major Events up to May 2012

	Seriously Social Rafting Comp 3 March 2012 More fun and frolics on the Tarawera River, with sprint time trials down the 1km course and a full program of head to head knockout races whilst negotiating slalom gates. Get a team of 6 paddlers together and enter this awesome competition and experience the Tarawera grade 2 rapids like you have never done before. There will be top prizes up for grabs with an awesome raft trip for one lucky team down the Kaituna River. Who will be crowned the new champions and earn the right to defend their title and have their name etched on the prestigious Seriously Social Rafting Comp trophy? Click here for Race Format What to bring Race Rules Entry forms Open Social Entry Form Open Social Entry Form College Age Entry Form College Age Entry Form For more information on Kawerau raft comps, please contact SocialRafting@hotmail.com
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Dog Obedience Competition 3 & 4 March 2012 This dog obedience tournament will display the best groomed and most highly trained dogs the region has to offer. This is the oldest of doggy disciplines around and requires years of training by owners. Come down to Prideaux Park and watch the skills both dog and owner have to offer. What is Dog Obedience?
	NZ Canoe Slalom - North Island Champs 10 March 2012 The best of the North Islands kayakers will compete in Kawerau in a preparation race for the Nationals and for some preparation for the Olympics. Check out www.slalomnz.org.nz for the latest in canoe slalom.
	The 4th Annual Vibram Tarawera Ultramarathon & Relays 17 March 2012 Starting at sunrise in Rotorua and embarking on 100km, 80km & 60km runs through some of the most stunning and inaccessible native terrain the Bay of Plenty has to offer. This ultra marathon will take in amazing sights such as Lake Okataina and the Tarawera forest and finish at the foot of Mt Edgecumbe in Kawerau. Click here for more information http://www.taraweraultra.co.nz
	NZMCA Country Music Spectacular 16-18 March 2012 Kawerau will be the venue for up to 500 motor homers for this Country Music Spectacular. Prideaux Park will be a sea of motor homes whilst the Town Hall will be the venue for two nights of entertainment.
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Dog Obedience Club 14 & 15 April 2012 Head down to Prideaux Park for this amazing canine competition as dogs and their owners compete in the 'Championship Jumpers Event'. There will be in excess of 160 'jet propelled' hounds flying through the air over various obstacle courses, a site not to be missed. Kawerau has a fine reputation as a dog friendly town and this 2 day event will highlight that!
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Kennel Club Association Championship Show 5 & 6 May 2012 Prideaux Park will be hosting the best of dog breeds at this championship show. If you are a dog owner specialising in pedigree breeds you will appreciate the level of commitment involved in showing your best breed in competition. There will be a range of pedigree's on show which are always worth making the effort to take a look at. For further information contact Kay O'Carroll from the Kennel Association at Legacy.Kennels@xtra.co.nz
	58th Whakatane Bird Show 19 & 20 May 2012 The 58th Annual Show of the Whakatane Bird Show will be held in the Kawerau Town Hall on 19 & 20 May 2012. Birds catered for include Canaries: Yorkshire, Norwich, Border, Colour Fed and Non Colour Fed, Closter, Lizard and Roller. Budgerigars, Bengalise and Zebra Finches. British Birds include Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Thrushes,Blackbirds and Sparrows. Lovebirds and a foreign section which includes exotic Finches, Parakeets, Doves, Quail and Parrots. For further information please contact vera@netsmart.net.nz

Recent Major Events - 2010-2011

	NZ Canoe Slalom - Selections & Rankings 1 & 2 21 & 22 January 2012 The sight of skill, strength and courage pitted against powerful water makes slalom an exciting spectator sport. For the competitor there is the challenge, together with fantastic friendships, cooperation between national teams, and closeness to the river and the environment. Don't miss this ever popular spectator sport and the opportunity to see two Olympians in action, New Zealand's number 1 paddlers, Mike Dawson and Luuka Jones The Tarawera River will yet again host some of NZ's finest paddlers around. Don’t miss this excellent spectator opportunity, for more.
	Kawerau Christmas in the Park 17th December 2011 A safe family environment with a strong entertainment lineup to appeal to all age groups and musical tastes, rides and slideshows for the kids, crafts stalls and a massive firework display. The day kicks off with the float parade at 11am with the afternoon's entertainment starting at 1pm. Choose a meal from the food stalls, bring plenty of sunscreen and make a real day of it. The evening's lineup will run from 7.30 - 10pm This years main artists
	Seriously Social Rafting Comp 26 November 2011 More fun and frolics on the Tarawera River, with sprint time trials down the 1km course and a full program of head to head knockout races whilst negotiating slalom gates. Get a team of 6 paddlers together and enter this awesome competition and experience the Tarawera grade 2 rapids like you have never done before. There will be top prizes up for grabs with an awesome raft trip for one lucky team down the Kaituna River. Who will be crowned the new champions and earn the right to defend their title and have their name etched on the prestigious Seriously Social Rafting Comp trophy? Click here for Race Format What to bring Race Rules Entry forms Rafting college age entry form college age Rafting open social entry form open social For more information on Kawerau raft comps, please contact SocialRafting@hotmail.com
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Dog Obedience Club 26 & 27 November 2011 Head down to Prideaux Park for this amazing canine competition as dogs and their owners compete in the 'Championship Jumpers Event'. There will be in excess of 160 'jet propelled' hounds flying through the air over various obstacle courses, a site not to be missed. Kawerau has a fine reputation as a dog friendly town and this 2 day event will highlight that! Click Championship Jumpers for more.
	Bay of Plenty Slalom 12 November 2011 Many of the New Zealand top slalom paddlers will be returning back home after months competing in the Northern hemisphere, all of who will have a story to tell of their experiences competing at the highest level. Kawerau will be the first venue of the season for our regional competitors to begin preperation for the 2012 season with many paddlers knowing their chances of competing at the London Olympics or not. Check out www.slalomnz.org.nz to keep up to date with all the slalom news.
	Kawerau King of the Mountain 29 October 2011 The Kawerau King of the Mountain is not for the faint hearted. This is a gruelling 8 km race to the summit of Putauaki - 852 metres above sea level. Some athletes will complete this within an unbelievable 60 minutes. Relay competitions between local primary schools are held earlier in the day. The contest for the Prince and Princess of the Mountain commences at 11 am. This race is for 9 - 13 yr olds and takes runners over approximately 4 km of the lower section of the Mountain Race Course. Enter online at http://kawerauharrierclub.co.nz Read more and cool video
	Kia Kaha Kawerau Concert! 24 September 2011 The Kawerau Town Hall will play host to a wide variety of entertainment which is sure to get you giggling beyond belief. For the first time in Kawerau we are pleased to announce the hilarious comedy duo- The Laughing Samoans! What ever you do, don't miss out on this Charity Concert.
	Kawerau Woodfest 2-4 September 2011 Kawerau Woodfest in the Bay of Plenty is an A&P show for wood - a showcase of the artistic side of working with wood along with a host of other activities associated with the wood industry. The cornerstone of Kawerau Woodfest is the National Woodskills Competition - a huge crowd-puller for over 20 years. With events such as the wood chopping competition, you'll be transported back to an era when the axe was king. The town of Kawerau will become alive with the smell of two stroke, pinus radiatus and timber oil as the nations finest wood craft artists and competitive forestry workers come together to entertain the visiting public and wider community of the Bay of Plenty. This year promises to be jam packed full of entertainment and with the Rugby World Cup coinciding with Woodfest, crowd numbers are anticipated to be the biggest ever. Go here for more.
	Kawerau Big 3 Competition 26-28 August 2011 The Big 3 Competition is a land based fishing and hunting event. The weekend starts at 5.00 pm on Friday 20 August at the Kawerau Sports Club on Firmin Field, Waterhouse Street Kawerau. A family/whanau day will be held on Saturday with field games and challenges set up for children of all ages. Final weigh in is 2 pm Sunday immediately followed by the prizegiving. More information
	Gravity Sports Club '6 HR' [Adventure Race] 13 August 2011 Kawerau's very own Gravity Sports Club will be hosting the 2nd 6 HR Adventure Race and it promises to be another amazing adventure. The stunning environment in and around Kawerau will be the perfect playground as competitors from young to old navigate their way through the mystery course that will test the physical and mental abilties of all involved. Will it be the Tarawera River? Up the monutain? Through the swamp? Who knows, you will have to enter to find out ENTRANTS LIST Gravity Web entries Division results Overall results
	Kawerau Harrier Club Hidden Trails Half-Marathon 3 July 2011 Run the hidden trails of the Kawerau District in our brand new half marathon course. This event is suitable for runners and walkers of all abilities.The circular course winds up through the Native Reserve of Monika Lanham over looking the Kawerau District then following the Trails along the meandering Tarawera River and finishing down the Stoneham Walk Ruarunga stream reserve. View the towns history as you enjoy the event. The course is both On and Off Road. Check out www.kawerauharrierclub.co.nz
	ANZ Netball Discovery Day 23 June 2011 There will be around 100 local year 5 & 6 students attending the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre for this special Netball Discovery Day. There will be an opportunity for developmental coaching clinics for all those aspiring young silver ferns.
	Youth Fashion Show 25 June 2011 The Kawerau Youth Council will be holding the first ever Youth Fashion Show at the Kawerau Town Hall, after the massive success of the Kawerau's Next Big Thing the Kawerau Youth Council will be following on with the fashion show to encourage all budding designers to get creative and use whatever material they can with Natural Resources, Recycled, Evening, Mens, Womens, Children, Funky and Outside the box all included in the categories.
	57th Whakatane Bird Show 14 & 15 May 2011 The 57th Annual Show of the Whakatane Bird Show will be held in the Kawerau Town Hall on 14 & 15 May 2011. Birds catered for include Canaries: Yorkshire, Norwich, Border, Colour Fed and Non Colour Fed, Closter, Lizard and Roller. Budgerigars, Bengalise and Zebra Finches. British Birds include Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Thrushes,Blackbirds and Sparrows. Lovebirds and a foreign section which includes exotic Finches, Parakeets, Doves, Quail and Parrots. For further information please contact vera@netsmart.net.nz
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Kennel Club Association Championship Show 7 & 8 May 2011 Prideaux Park will be hosting the best of dog breeds at this championship show. If you are a dog owner specialising in pedigree breeds you will appreciate the level of commitment involved in showing your best breed in competition. There will be a range of pedigree's on show which are always worth making the effort to take a look at. For further information contact Kay O'Carroll from the Kennel Association at Legacy.Kennels@xtra.co.nz
	Great Rotary Duck Race 30 April 2011 The Rotary club of Kawerau will once again be holding their wonderful annual duck race. There is a limit of 280 ducks available for the race, which starts at 11am from Valley Road in Kawerau and each duck will make it's way down the Ruruenga stream to the finish line at Prideaux Park. Book you duck either at the Kawerau information centre or the Mountain View Rest home. All the proceeds go towards the Mountain View and other local community groups. This is a great community venture and a fun activity for all the family to enjoy, so why not get involved? Click here for more Great Rotary Duck Race
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Dog Obedience Club 16 & 17 April 2011 Head down to Prideaux Park for this amazing canine competition as dogs and their owners compete in the 'Championship Jumpers Event'. There will be in excess of 160 'jet propelled' hounds flying through the air over various obstacle courses, a site not to be missed. Kawerau has a fine reputation as a dog friendly town and this 2 day event will highlight that!
	NZ Secondary Schools Championships & NZ Nationals-CANOEFEST 17-25 April 2011 The Tarawera River will once again be the venue for the New Zealand Secondary School Kayak Champs. NZ Slalom have been investing a great deal of time and resources into the development of white water kayaking which will hopefully pay dividends as the young up and coming kayakers aim to follow in the footsteps of other elite New Zealand kayakers. There will be 4 days of races happening on the Tarawera and plenty of fine skills to be displayed in the secondary schools champs. With a break in competition on Good Friday the seniors will take the water with the pre-nationals on Saturday 23rd and followed by the NZ Nationals on Sunday 24th April. Kawerau will once again be buzzing all week with activity on the Tarawera River. Go to http://www.slalomnz.org.nz for up to date information.Canoefest Info
	The 3rd Annual Tarawera Ultramarathon 19 March 2011 Starting at sunrise in Rotorua and embarking on 100km, 80km & 60km runs through some of the most stunning and inaccessible native terrain the Bay of Plenty has to offer. This ultra marathon will take in amazing sights such as Lake Okataina and the Tarawera forest and finish at the foot of Mt Edgecumbe in Kawerau. Click here for more information http://www.taraweraultra.co.nz
	Gravity Sports BMX and Skate Board Comp. 13 March 2011 The local Gravity sports club will be holding a BMX and skate board competition at the skate park and BMX track in Kawerau. There will be a pro BMX demonstration race and an Eastern Bay of Plenty Secondary School Comp. There will be some top class judges and awesome prizes to be won. Anybody interested should contact Edwina O'Brien for further information 07 306 9031. Come down and check out the top skills of our local skaters as they battle it out to be the champs.
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Dog Obedience Competition 5 & 6 March 2011 This dog obedience tournament will display the best groomed and most highly trained dogs the region has to offer. This is the oldest of doggy disciplines around and requires years of training by owners. Come down to Prideaux Park and watch the skills both dog and owner have to offer. What is Dog Obedience?
	Seriously Social Rafting Comp 19 February 2011 More fun and frolics on the Tarawera River, with sprint time trials down the 1km course and a full program of head to head knockout races whilst negotiating slalom gates. Get a team of 6 paddlers together and enter this awesome competition and experience the Tarawera grade 2 rapids like you have never done before. There will be top prizes up for grabs with an early bird prize for the teams which enter before the 9th February. Who will be crowned the new champions and earn the right to defend their title and have their name etched on the prestigious Seriously Social Rafting Comp trophy? Click here for Race Format What to bring Race Rules For more information on Kawerau raft comps please contact SocialRafting@hotmail.com
	Waitangi Celebration Country Fair 5 Febuary 2011 After the success of the opening launch back in June last year the Waterwheel Heritage Trust are pleased to be holding another event on the park site in Spencer Avenue. There will be a range of attractions and workshops taking place with a the theme of celebrating local crafts, shearing and a showcase of the history of farming in our region. There is even a 'Dirty Hands & Green Fingers Competition' which is a great opportunity for all gardeners from young to old to bring in their home grown produce and see if they can win some prizes for the best and longest in different categories.
	50th Celebration of Rotary in Kawerau 28-30 January 2011 The Kawerau Rotary will be celebrating 50 years of being in Kawerau registrations from 7pm at the Bert Hamilton Hall. On Saturday there will be visits to various attractions in Kawerau with the a tour of the museum,town murals and Monika Lanham Reserve. On Sunday the annual duck race will take place at Ruruanga Stream at 3pm.. For further information please contact rockwren15@xtra.co.nz
	NZ Kayaking Selections & Rankings 22 & 23 January 2011 The sight of skill, strength and courage pitted against powerful water makes slalom an exciting spectator sport. For the competitor there is the challenge, together with fantastic friendships, cooperation between national teams, and closeness to the river and the environment. The Tarawera River will yet again host some of NZ's finest paddlers around. Don’t miss this excellent spectator opportunity. http://www.slalomnz.org.nz for more
	Western Bay of Plenty Harness Club Show 9 January 2011 Kawerau is pleased to welcome for the first time, the Western Bay of Plenty Harness Club. These delightful miniature ponies are simply a wonderful sight to see as they negotiate a series of courses pulling a small carriage with handler on board. Bring down the kids to Boyce Park on River Road in Kawerau to see this unique sporting event take place.
	Christmas in the Park 18 December 2010 A safe family environment with a strong entertainment lineup to appeal to all age groups and musical tastes, rides and slideshows for the kids, crafts stalls and a massive firework display. The day kicks off with the float parade at 11am with the afternoon's entertainment starting at 1pm. Choose a meal from the food stalls, bring plenty of sunscreen and make a real day of it. The evening's lineup will run from 7.30 - 10pm
	Seriously Social 'Rudolph Rafting Comp' 27 & 28 November 2010 Seriously Social rafting is back. This immensely popular event will be held over the whole weekend in Kawerau. There will be a college age competition on Saturday 27th with the open social competition on Sunday 28th. Two days with 16 teams per day will paddle it out to be crowned the champs of this fun fancy dress competition.
	Eastern Bay of Plenty Dog Obedience Club 27 & 28 November 2010 Head down to Prideaux Park for this amazing canine competition as dogs and their owners compete in the 'Championship Jumpers Event'. There will be in excess of 160 'jet propelled' hounds flying through the air over various obstacle courses, a site not to be missed. Kawerau has a fine reputation as a dog friendly town and this 2 day event will highlight that! Click Championship Jumpers for more.
	1st National Maori Tae Kwon Do Open Championships 20 November 2010 Kawerau will play host to the finest martial art experts New Zealand has on offer, this tournament will also hold the Master Norm Edwards Open competition as a fitting memorial to the local coach who gave a great deal to the sport.
	NZ R6 Raft Team Selections 14 November 2010 The cream of New Zealands competive rafters will be on show for this selection race. The competition will start with a series of time trials which will establish placings for the head to head competition. The day will progress into the slalom discipline before finishing with the down river endurance race. There will also be a local kayak competition happening throughout the day. Come down to Waterhouse St. Reserve and watch the male and female elite rafters battle it out for the right to represent their nation in Costa Rica at the 2011 R6 World Champs.