From Reef to Relief

Author

Storm Grimwood
May 05, 2025

Good Morning Scoopers!

Did you catch some rays over the weekend? After all that rain, it was great to finally get outside again.

In today’s scoop, Sir John Kirwan’s mental health programme Mitey has landed in the Bay, helping teach our tamariki how to navigate emotions and build resilience from the get-go. And beneath the waves, a new artificial reef project in Tauranga Harbour is restoring marine life with some serious local innovation.

We’ve got a couple of drops this week, so if you want that cash, keep an eye out and follow us:

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📲 Facebook

In today’s edition:
✅ ‘Mitey’ lands in local schools to support tamariki mental health 💬
✅ Artificial reefs restoring marine life in Tauranga Harbour 🦞
✅ Cash drop this week – clue below 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga 🎡

Let’s get into it 👇

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BOP Businesses Remain Optimistic Despite Challenges

A new initiative in Tauranga Harbour is restoring marine life through the installation of artificial reefs. Launched by Māori and Pacific-owned company Deep Dive Division, the project called Peara (“pearl” in te reo Māori) combines mātauranga Māori with marine science and technology.

Nine reefs have been placed 13 metres underwater, designed to replicate natural habitats for species like crayfish and seaweed. The reefs are a collaboration between Deep Dive Division, local iwi, universities, and businesses like Hynds Pipe Systems.

The trial will run for 24–36 months and aims to boost biodiversity, support aquaculture jobs, and strengthen the “blue economy.” Early signs show rapid marine life return, with crayfish occupying the reefs just days after installation.

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Tauranga's History Comes to Life in New Documentary Series

Sir John Kirwan’s Mitey programme just launched in the Bay of Plenty — aiming to bring mental health education into the everyday classroom for Years 1–8, completely free for schools.

Pyes Pa, Waihi Beach and Omanu schools are already on board, with principals calling it a “no-brainer” especially in communities facing high mental health and suicide rates. Mitey helps kids learn how to express their emotions early, turning mental health into something we talk about at school just like we do reading and maths.

Kirwan’s goal? 600 schools by the end of 2025, and eventually every primary school in Aotearoa. The curriculum’s grounded in mātauranga Māori and built with input from the University of Auckland.

Mitey is fully backed by the Wright Family Foundation and supported by local MP Tom Rutherford, who says it’s a game-changer for a region still feeling the effects of Covid, social pressure, and long-term inequality.

“We’re normalising these conversations early,” Rutherford said. “That’s the kind of future we want for our tamariki.”

Captured by @jmanyphotography

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

NZ Choral Federation Workshop in Tauranga

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

  • Where: St. George’s Anglican Church, 1 Church St, Gate Pa

  • More Info: NZCF

  • Cost: $$

The Bitter Brothers

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025, 7:00pm – 9:30pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, The Jam Factory, 17th Ave West

  • More Info: TheBitterBrothers

  • Cost: $$

SOJØURN “Love In The Way” Album Tour

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025 8pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui

  • More Info: Sojourn

  • Cost: $$

No Exit Band

  • When: Saturday 10 May 2025 7:30pm - 10:30pm

  • Where: Jack Dusty's Ale House, 50 Bureta Rd, Tauranga

  • More Info: NoExitBand

  • Cost: Free

BOP Symphonia - Beethoven's Violin

  • When: Sunday 11 May 2025 3:00pm - 5:00pm

  • Where: Holy Trinity Church, 215 Devonport Rd, Tauranga

  • More Info: Symphonia

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings 🎬

Cinderella (Broadway Version)

  • When: Wed 7 May - 10 May 2025 7:30 PM

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

  • More Info: Cinderella

  • Cost: $$

International Standup Comedy Show

  • When: Friday 9 May 2025 8:00pm

  • Where: Luxe Cinema, 4 Golden Sands Dr, Papamoa, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: Comedy

  • Cost: $$

Summer's Solo Hour Standup Comedy WIP

  • When: Saturday 10 May 2025 6:30pm - 7:30pm

  • Where: Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: Standup

  • Cost: $$

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

Campus Art Class

  • When: Thu 8 May 2025, 4pm - 5:30pm

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

  • More Info: CampusArtClass

  • Cost: $$

McLaren Falls Trail, Aramex Kiwi Walk & Run Series

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025, 9:00am - 12:00pm

  • Where: McLaren Falls Equestrian Park, 358 McLaren Falls Rd, Omanawa

  • More Info: McLarenFalls

  • Cost: $$

Healthvision Festival of Disability Sport

  • When: Sat 10-11 May 2025 9am - 4pm

  • Where: Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga

  • More Info: Healthvision

  • Cost: Free

Jammin’ on the Jam Bus

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025, 9:30am - 11:30am

  • Where: Te Ao Mārama - Mount Maunganui Library, 398 Maunganui Road

  • More Info: Alchemy

  • Cost: $$

Community Open Day: Opal Drive Pump Station

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025, 10am - 1pm

  • Where: Opal Drive Pump Station, 45 Opal Dr, Pāpāmoa

  • More Info: OpalDrive

  • Cost: Free

Haumaru Opening Celebrations: Community Fun Day

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025, 10am - 2pm

  • Where: University of Waikato Haumaru Sport & Rec Centre, 483 Cameron Rd

  • More Info: Haumaru

  • Cost: Free

Pocket Sized Play - Slime Time!

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

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

  • More Info: Pocketsized

  • Cost: Free

Memory Meadow - Tauranga

  • When: Sat 10 May 2025, 1pm - 4pm

  • Where: Tutarawānanga - Yatton Park, Fraser Street, Parkvale

  • More Info: MemoryMeadow

  • Cost: Free

Decoupage & Gild Workshop

  • When: Saturday 10 May 2025 10am - 12:30pm

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

  • More Info: Decoupage

  • Cost: $$

Mothers Day Circular Blooms

  • When: Sunday 11 May 2025 2pm - 4:45pm

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

  • More Info: CircularBlooms

  • Cost: $$

Markets 🍔

The Floral Hub

  • When: Thursday, 8 May, 8am-9:30am

  • Where: Holy Trinity Church

  • More Info: Floral

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Night Market

  • When: Friday, 9 May, 5pm-8.30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Race Course

  • More Info: TaurangaNightMarket

  • Cost: Free

The Little Big Markets

  • When: Saturday 11 May 9am - 2pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront

  • More Info: LittleBigMarkets

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday, 10 May, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday, 11 May, 8:30am-1pm

  • Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School

  • More Info: Community

  • Cost: Free

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Thanks Team!

That’s it for today! If we missed anything, flick us a message and if you found something useless pass it on to your mate who thinks walking to the fridge counts as cardio.

Next drop? You choose.
Keep an eye out for our story and vote for your closest suburb. The spot with the most votes gets the drop 💰

— Storm
Tauranga Scoop