Kittens & Community

Author

Storm Grimwood
March 27, 2025

Morning Scoopers!

Stacked weekend of events coming up. We’ll definitely be checking out the pop-up carnival with the kids!

In the news, Wild to Warmth, a local charity in Welcome Bay, is rescuing and socialising stray kittens to prep them for new homes. And over on Matakana Island, work has started on a brand new $2.1 million wharf at Panepane Point, keeping the community connected.

We’ve got a couple drops happening over the weekend too, so if you're chasing that cash, follow us on Instagram & Facebook:
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Lots happening, so stay fresh, support the locals, and see you out there!

In today’s edition:
✅ Stray kittens get a second chance thanks to Wild to Warmth 🐾
✅ Panepane Point wharf rebuild begins on Matakana Island ⚓
✅ Cash drops this week – Look out for the clue 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga this weekend 🎉

Let’s get into it!

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Panepane Rebuild Begins

Something special is taking shape out at Panepane Point on Matakana Island. After years of kōrero, the community’s finally seeing action. A brand new $2.1 million wharf is going up, set to replace the old timber one from the 1980s that’s been pretty much eaten through by marine worms.

The new setup is a big step up. Steel and aluminium, built to last, with two jetties and a pontoon for better access and more space. Local hapū and iwi have been heavily involved from the start, making sure it reflects both the cultural values and practical needs of the island whānau. Even the timber from the old wharf will be recycled into seats and picnic tables for the foreshore reserve. The goal’s not just better transport, it’s connection. For the tamariki catching the boat to school, the uncles heading out fishing, and future generations yet to come, this wharf is a new chapter. Expected to be finished by July 2025.

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From Wild to Warmth in Welcome Bay

What would you do if your living room suddenly turned into a kitten jungle?
Hope Dobbs and Sam Meredith didn’t plan on starting a cat rescue at 20 and 21—but the need was too loud to ignore. Now running Wild to Warmth Cat Rescue from Welcome Bay, the duo’s days are filled with socialising feral kittens, partnering with foster families, and prepping strays for a better life. So far, no adoptions, just patience, progress, and the long game.

Every rescue takes time (and money): vaccinations, desexing, microchips, and the quality kai that keeps their little fighters thriving. They’ve been “slammed” with requests, but with each tiny breakthrough, they’re building something bigger than they expected.

Captured by @jmanyphotography

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

Great Gable - Small Fry Album Tour

  • When: Thursday 27 March, 8pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: GreatGable

  • Cost: $$

Shooless

  • When: Friday 28 Mar 2025, 8pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: Shooless

  • Cost: $$

NO SCRUBS | Tauranga

  • When: Sat 29 Mar 2025, 8pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: NOSCRUBS

  • Cost: $$

Operatunity Presents - From Phantom to Les Mis

  • When: Friday 28 March 2025, 11am - 12:45pm

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

  • More Info: Operatunity

  • Cost: $$

Soulful Melodies (Dil Se Dil Tak)

  • When: Saturday 29 March 2025, 5:30pm - 9pm

  • Where: The Chapel St Cafe, 65 Chapel Street, Tauranga

  • More Info: Soulful

  • Cost: $$

Search For Yeti with Cowboy Dan and Francis Eleen

  • When: Sat 29 Mar 2025, 7:00pm - 9:30pm

  • Where: The Historic Village ,The Jam Factory

  • More Info: Yeti

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings 🎭

Menopause made me do it

  • When: Thursday 27 March - 12 April, 7:30pm - 9:30pm

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

  • More Info: Menopause

  • Cost: $$

Pirates of the Curry Bean

  • When: Saturday 29 - Sunday 30 March, various times

  • Where: Baycourt X Space, 38 Durham Street, Tauranga

  • More Info: CurryBean

  • Cost: $$

Intro to Improv Comedy Workshop

  • When: Sunday 30 March 2025 10am - 1pm

  • Where: 16th Avenue Theatre, Tauranga

  • More Info: Improv

  • Cost: $$

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

Tauranga Crossing Pop Up Carnival 2025

  • When: Thu 27 Mar - Sun 30 Mar, Times vary

  • Where: Tauranga Crossing, Tauriko

  • More Info: PopUpCarnival

  • Cost: Free Entry (Rides cost $$)

Flavours of Plenty

  • When: Thursday 27 Mar - 13 April 2025

  • Where: Multiple locations, see website

  • More Info: FeastofPlenty

  • Cost: $$

Start-Up Weekend Tauranga

  • When: Friday 28 Mar 5pm - Sunday 30 Mar 7pm

  • Where: Creative Community Campus, Historic Village

  • More Info: Start-Up

  • Cost: $$

Lights Out Fight Series

  • When: Sat 29 Mar 2025, 5:30pm

  • Where: Mercury Baypark Arena, 81 Truman Lane

  • More Info: Structure

  • Cost: $$

Baypark Speedway - Bay Mayhem

  • When: Sat 29 Mar 2025, 6:30pm

  • Where: Mercury Baypark Stadium, 81 Truman Ln

  • More Info: Baypark

  • Cost: $$

Pooch in the Pool

  • When: Sunday 30 March 2025 10:00am - 2:30pm

  • Where: Memorial Pool, Memorial Park, Tauranga South, Tauranga

  • More Info: PoochinthePool

  • Cost: $$

Sports 🏉

Skateboarding Nationals 2025

  • When: Friday, 28 - Saturday 29 Mar, 8:30am-8:45pm

  • Where: Mt. Maunganui Skatepark and Blake Park Vert ramp,

    Hull Road and Maunganui Road

  • More Info: Skateboarding

  • Cost: Free

Markets 🍔

The Floral Hub

  • When: Thursday, 27 Mar, 8am-9:30am

  • Where: Holy Trinity Church

  • More Info: Floral

  • Cost: Free

Dinner in the Domain

  • When: Thursday, 27 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Pāpāmoa Pony Club

  • More Info: Dinnerinthedomain

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Night Market

  • When: Friday, 28 Mar, 5pm-8.30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Race Course

  • More Info: TaurangaNightMarket

  • Cost: Free

Gourmet Night Market

  • When: Friday, 28 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Coronation Park

  • More Info: Gourmet

  • Cost: Free

Omokoroa Night Market

  • When: Friday, 28 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Omokoroa Domain

  • More Info: OmokoroaDomain

  • Cost: Free

The Little Big Markets

  • When: Saturday, 29 Mar, 9am-2pm

  • Where: Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: LittleBigMarkets

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday, 29 Mar, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Eco-Conscious Market

  • When: Sunday, 30 Mar, 10am-1pm

  • Where: The Cargo Shed

  • More Info: Eco-conscious

  • Cost: Free

Dinner in the Domain

  • When: Sunday, 30 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Matua Park

  • More Info: Dinnerinthedomain

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday, 30 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School

  • More Info: Community

  • Cost: Free

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Cheers!

That’s it for today! If we missed anything, let us know. And if you found something useful today, share it with your dentist. I think Welcome Bay will get the sauce next. See you Friday.

Storm
-Tauranga Scoop