Baypark's Future Up for Grabs

Author

Storm Grimwood
June 12, 2025

Morning Scoopers!

Thursday’s here and the countdown to the weekend begins. Whether you’re hunting cash drops or just keen for a local event to check out, we’ve got you covered.

In today’s scoop, we visit a spray-free orchard in Katikati where one man’s passion for quality fruit is changing the way locals shop. Plus, a proposal to keep speedway at Baypark until 2039 is on the table, but the council wants to hear what you think.

We’ve also got another couple of cash drops this week. Make sure you're following us on Instagram to catch the drop time and location and watch our stories for clues.

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In today’s edition:
✅ From Katikati to your fridge – the orchard with a local following 🫐
✅ Baypark Speedway deal could keep the engines running ‘til 2039 🏁
✅ Cash Drop - Clue below 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga 🎡

Let’s jump in 👇

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For Property Maintenance, lawn care, hedge & tree trimming, gardening, yard tidy ups & landscaping.
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Call Storm: 0276284840

Tauranga Council Asks Locals: Keep Speedway or Rebuild?

Baypark Speedway could stay put until 2039 under a new proposal.
Tauranga City Council is asking the public for feedback on whether speedway should continue at Mercury Baypark. The deal on the table would see Speedway Racing Ltd purchase the 15,600-seat north stand for just $1 — in exchange for maintaining it over the lease period. The land stays with the council, and the stand would be returned in 2039.

The catch? Without strong public support, the council may explore other options for the site after 2029. Locals can have their say before June 23, with a drop-in session set for June 14 at Baypark.

Have your say here

Specializing in Minor Renovations, Decks, Fences & Retaining Walls, Small Jobs & Maintenance
archetypeconstruction
Call Aidan: 027 908 4040

Blueberries, Bugs, and a Better Life in Katikati

Dave Guy-Taylor, owner of Flame Lily Orchard in Katikati, has built a thriving, spray-free orchard growing blueberries, kiwifruit, avocados, and oranges. Originally from Zimbabwe and formerly a business systems analyst in Auckland, Dave left corporate life to pursue a passion for sustainable farming.

His produce is known for its exceptional taste and long shelf life, thanks to careful harvesting and natural pest control using beneficial insects. Dave values the support of his local community and the camaraderie of the people he works with. For him, the real reward is living simply and well in a tight-knit, beautiful part of New Zealand.

Captured by @jmanyphotography

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

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: Thursday 12 June - 22 Jun 2025, Times vary

  • Where: Places vary (Check Website)

  • More Info: Matariki

  • Cost: Vary

Campus Art Club

  • When: Thursday 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: $$

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)

Painting happiness

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

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

  • More Info: Painting

  • Cost: $$

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

Small Batch | Raw Mānuka Honey | Made in New Zealand
tasteandseenz

Thanks Scoopers!

That’s us for now! If we missed something worth adding, send us a message, and if you enjoyed today’s scoop, send it to someone who owes you a date.

Next drop? It’ll be on Friday.

— Storm
Tauranga Scoop