$14M Netball Move Approved

Author

Storm Grimwood
July 17, 2025

Good Morning Scoopers!

Hope your week’s been kind so far, looks like rain’s sticking around today, so rug up, stay dry, and dodge that nasty flu going around. It’s that time of year.

In today’s scoop, Tauranga teen Sam Ruthe is rewriting the record books again, smashing national times in the 1500m and closing in on historic milestones. Meanwhile, Tauranga Netball’s $14M relocation to Baypark just got the green light, a major upgrade for one of our city’s most popular sports.

We’ve got a cash drop coming your way this week, so scroll down for the clue 👀

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In today’s edition:
✅ Tauranga teen Sam Ruthe smashes national 1500m records 🏃‍♂️
✅ $14M netball hub approved for Baypark 🏐
✅ Cash Drop – Find the clue below 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga 🎡

Let’s get into it 👇

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$14M Netball Move to Baypark Gets Green Light

Tauranga City Council has approved the next phase in a proposed $14 million plan to relocate the Tauranga Netball Centre from Blake Park to Baypark. The new Netball Multisport Centre would include 23 new courts, an 800sqm building, and future expansion options.

Netball board chair Nicola Compton said Blake Park is no longer fit for purpose, with court shortages, traffic congestion, and limited growth capacity. The Baypark site offers room for expansion and opportunities for income from non-netball activities.

While some councillors raised concerns about traffic at Baypark, the majority supported the move as a positive investment in community sport. Construction could begin in 2026, with an 18-month build expected. The netball relocation is part of a larger Baypark redevelopment plan, which includes $23 million for roads and parking upgrades and a renewed speedway lease through 2039.

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Tauranga Teen Sam Ruthe Smashes More National Records

Tauranga teenager Sam Ruthe, 16, continues to break records, recently setting new New Zealand U17 and U18 marks in the 1500m with a time of 3:49.17 at the Sound Running Sunset Tour in Los Angeles. It was his first sub-3:50 race and just 0.4 seconds off fellow Tauranga runner Sam Tanner’s U19 and U20 records.

The race came a week after Ruthe ran another sub-4-minute mile at the Prefontaine Classic. In March, he made headlines as the youngest person ever to run a sub-4-minute mile, clocking 3:58.35 at age 15.

After a strong winter cross-country season, Ruthe has quickly transitioned to competing on the international track stage, showing he's a rising star in middle-distance running.

Captured by @jmanyphotography

Check out all the events below! ($$ - Costs or Ticketed Events)

Music & Concerts 🎵

Mid Winter | Blame it on the Boogie | Funky Disco Party

  • When: Fri 18 Jul 2025, 8:00pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: MidWinter

  • Cost: $$

19-Twenty

  • When: Sat 19 Jul 2025, 7:30pm - 11pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: 19-Twenty

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings 🎬

Bay of Plenty Actors Studio Industry Night

  • When: Sat 19 Jul 2025, 5:00pm - 6:30pm

  • Where: Bay of Plenty Actors Studio, 100 Grey Street

  • More Info: BOPAS

  • Cost: Koha - Register

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

The Historic Village Events

  • When: Times vary, check website

  • Where: The Historic Village, Creative Community Campus, 17th Ave West

  • More Info: HistoricVillage

  • Cost: $$

Magic Men 2025

  • When: Thu 17 Jul 2025, 8:00pm

  • Where: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Addison Theatre, 38 Durham Street

  • More Info: MagicMen

  • Cost: $$

The Circus

  • When: Fri 18 Jul - 10 Aug 2025, Times Vary

  • Where: Mercury Baypark Arena, 81 Truman Lane

  • More Info: TheCircus

  • Cost: $$

  • When: Sat 19 Jul 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm

  • Where: Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga Library, 21 Devonport Rd

  • More Info: PocketSized

  • Cost: Free

Meet and Greet Greyhounds

  • When: Sat 19 Jul 2025, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

  • Where: Decor Garden Centre, 165 Moffat Road

  • More Info: Meet&Greet

  • Cost: Free

Lost wax ring making

  • When: Sun 20 Jul 2025, 10:00am - 1:00pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, Creative Community Campus, 17th Ave West

  • More Info: LostWax

  • Cost: $$

Markets 🍔

Little Big Markets

  • When: Sat 19 Jul 2025, 9:00am - 2:00pm

  • Where: Coronation Park

  • More Info: LittleBigMarkets

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday 19 July, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday 20 July, 8:30am-1pm

  • Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School

  • More Info: Community

  • Cost: Free

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Thanks, Scoopers!

That’s us for today.
Think we missed something? Hit us with a DM, we’re always keen to hear from you.
If you enjoyed the read, send it to your in-laws.

Cash Drop Clue?
We’ve got one locked and loaded for this week — and here’s your hint:
Close to the waves, where shops and smoothies brighten sunny days

Keep an eye on our Instagram stories for updates — and make sure notifications are on so you don’t miss the location drop.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

— Storm
Tauranga Scoop