AIMS Games Take Over Tauranga

Author

Storm Grimwood
June 09, 2025

Morning Scoopers!

The cold has well and truly settled in, every morning’s felt a little chillier than the last. Hope you’re all rugged up and staying cosy. Fingers crossed the rain holds off and we get a few crisp, clear days this week.

In today’s scoop, Tauranga Special School is getting two new classrooms in Te Puke, helping more kids with high needs access specialised support close to home. And in exciting news for the city, this year’s AIMS Games will be the biggest ever, with over 14,000 young athletes set to compete in Tauranga.

We’ve got another couple of drops this week. So make sure you're following us on Instagram for the exact drop time and location.

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In today’s edition:
✅ Te Puke win: New classrooms for kids with high needs 🏫
✅ AIMS Games smashes records – 14,000+ athletes coming to town 🏅
✅ Cash Drop - Clue below 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga 🎡

Let’s jump in 👇

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AIMS Games Shatters Records with 14,022 Athletes

The 2025 Zespri AIMS Games in Tauranga will host a record-breaking 14,022 intermediate-aged athletes from 431 schools across New Zealand and the South Pacific, up more than 1,000 from last year.

With no new sports added, growth comes from expanding divisions in popular events like netball, basketball, and mountain biking. The tournament runs August 30 to September 5 and continues to inject millions into the local economy.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the city is proud to host such a high-energy, meaningful event that promotes youth development and manaakitanga.

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Tauranga Special School Expands to Te Puke with Two New Classrooms

Tauranga Special School will receive two new satellite classrooms in Te Puke, funded through the Government’s $30 million Budget 2025 allocation to specialist education. Principal Barrie Wickens says the new spaces, set to be built at Te Puke Primary School, will support 16 high-needs students and help alleviate growing demand.

With 122 current students and a waiting list of 21, the school is stretched. The investment has been welcomed by Rotorua MP Todd McClay as a “big win” for local families, promising more tailored support in the community. Construction is expected to begin within 12 months.

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

The Eagles Greatest Hits

  • When: Tue 10 Jun 2025, 7:30pm

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

  • More Info: TheEagles

  • Cost: $$

Symphonic Showdown - YPT Free Concert

  • When: Tue 10 Jun 2025, 7:30pm

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

  • More Info: TheEagles

  • Cost: $$

Vivaldi's Gloria and JS Bach's Mass in A Major

  • When: Saturday 14 June 2025 7:30pm

  • Where: St Peters in the City, 130 Spring Street

  • More Info: Vivaldi

  • Cost: $$

Overload 5

  • When: Sat, 14 Jun 2025, 5:00 – 11:55pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: Overload5

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings 🎬

The Importance of Being Earnest

  • When: Various Dates Jun 2025, 7:30pm - 9:45pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, Detour Theatre, 17th Ave West

  • More Info: Earnest

  • Cost: $$

Cori Gonzalez-Macuer in Tauranga

  • When: Saturday 14 June 2025 8:00pm - 10:00pm

  • Where: The Hop House, 12 Wharf St, Tauranga

  • More Info: CoriGonzalez

  • Cost: $$

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

Matariki Te Tauranga o ngā Waka

  • When: Monday 9 June - 22 Jun 2025, Times vary

  • Where: Places vary (Check Website)

  • More Info: Matariki

  • Cost: Vary

Play Day in Tauranga city centre

  • When: Wed 11 Jun 2025, 10:00am - 2:00pm

  • Where: Tauranga city centre, Red Square, Wharf Street, Masonic Park

  • More Info: PlayDay

  • Cost: Free

Why the face

  • When: Wed 11 Jun 2025, 3:30pm - 5:30pm

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

  • More Info: Whytheface

  • Cost: $$

BOP Dance Fresh Moves 2025 - I wonder

  • When: Wed 11- Thu 12 Jun 2025, 7pm

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

  • More Info: BOPDance

  • Cost: $$

Campus Art Club

  • When: Thu 12 Jun 2025, 4pm - 5:30pm

  • Where: The Incubator Creative Hub, The Historic Village, 17th Avenue, , Tauranga

  • More Info: Campus

  • Cost: $$

Textured Art and Wine Night - Textured Wave

  • When: Thursday 12 June 2025 7:00pm - 9:00pm

  • Where: Cornerstone Bar & Eatery, 107 The Strand, Tauranga

  • More Info: Textured

  • Cost: $$

Upside down, Inside out - book launch

  • When: Fri 13 Jun 2025, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

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

  • More Info: UpsideDown

  • Cost: Free

He Pō Pūrakau

  • When: Fri 13 Jun 2025, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

  • Where: Te Ao Mārama - Pāpāmoa Library, Library Area, 15 Gravatt Road

  • More Info: Pūrakau

  • Cost: Free (Ticketed)

Pocket Sized Play - Poi Making Workshop

  • When: Sat 14 Jun 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm

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

  • More Info: PocketPlay

  • Cost: Free

Whānau Weekend on the Waterfront Kids Market

  • When: Sat 14 Jun 2025, 9:00am - 2:00pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand

  • More Info: Waterfront

  • Cost: Free

Symphonic Showdown - YPT Free Concert

  • When: Sat 14 Jun 2025, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

  • Where: Graham Young Youth Theatre, 664 Cameron Road

  • More Info: Showdown

  • Cost: Free

Night Owl Cinema - Moana 2 in te reo Māori (English subtitles)

  • When: Sat 14 Jun 2025, 4:30pm - 7:30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand

  • More Info: NightOwl

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Ethel and Bethel Bingo Evening

  • When: Sat 14 Jun 2025, 7:30pm - 10:30pm

  • Where: Bethlehem Community Hall, 239, State Highway 2

  • More Info: Ethel

  • Cost: $$

Painting happiness

  • When: Sun 15 Jun 2025, 10:00am - 4:00pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, The Incubator - Creative Hub

  • More Info: Painting

  • Cost: $$

Classic Kiwi Country Quiz Night

  • When: Saturday 14 June 2025 7:00pm - 11:30pm

  • Where: Oropi Memorial Hall, 1295 Oropi Road, Tauranga

  • More Info: Quiz

  • Cost: $$

Pyes Pa Art Lovers Exhibition

  • When: Saturday 14 June 2025 10:00am - 4:00pm

  • Where: Pyes Pa Settlers Hall, 742 Pyes Pa Road, Tauranga

  • More Info: ArtLovers

  • Cost: Free

Bricks of Plenty

  • When: Saturday 14 June 2025 10:00am and Sunday 15 June 2025 10:00am

  • Where: Tauranga Racecourse, 1383 Cameron Rd, Greerton

  • More Info: Bricks

  • Cost: $$ (Door Sales only)

Markets 🍔

The Little Big Markets (Whānau Weekend on the Waterfront)

  • When: Sunday 15 June 9am - 2pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand

  • More Info: LittleBigMarkets

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday 14 June, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday 15 June, 8:30am-1pm

  • Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School

  • More Info: Community

  • Cost: Free

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Thanks Scoopers!

That’s us for now! If we missed something cool, drop us a message, and if you enjoyed today’s scoop, share it with your family group chat.

Next drop? We’ll have some clues this week on our stories so keep your eyes peeled.

— Storm
Tauranga Scoop