Making Waves: Beauty and Beach Safety

Author

Storm Grimwood
May 12, 2025

Morning Scoopers!

Hope you had an epic weekend with the lovely sunshine! ☀️

Happy Mother’s Day for yesterday! 💐 Whether you were celebrating with family, pampering your mum, or just taking a well-deserved break, we hope it brought plenty of smiles.

In today’s scoop, we’re bringing you the latest on a local artist making waves – Hannah Cross has been selected as a finalist in Miss Universe New Zealand 2025. Plus, Bay of Plenty’s lifeguards are being celebrated for keeping our beaches safe, with rescues dropping dramatically this season.

No cash drop this week, but we’re cooking one up for you this weekend.

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In today’s edition:
✅ Tauranga artist Hannah Cross in Miss Universe NZ finals 👑
✅ Bay lifeguards credited for record-low rescues 🌊
✅ What’s on in Tauranga 🎡

Let’s get into it 👇

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Tauranga’s Hannah Cross Shines on Miss Universe NZ Stage

Tauranga’s Hannah Cross, a 21-year-old artist, model, and fashion designer, has been selected as a finalist in Miss Universe New Zealand 2025. After growing up immersed in performing arts at Mount Maunganui College, Cross transitioned to pageantry, placing as second runner-up in Miss Auckland last year.

Now back in Tauranga after completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Auckland, she’s using pageantry to blend her passion for community service and creative expression. Cross is currently planning charity fundraisers, including a pink-themed art auction for the Breast Cancer Foundation and a skydiving initiative for the Cancer Society. Her goals include winning Miss Universe New Zealand, launching her own fashion brand, and competing in the World of Wearable Art.

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Lifeguards Lead to Record-Low Rescues

Bay of Plenty lifeguards have been credited for a massive drop in beach rescues, with the region recording just 29 rescues this summer, down from 248 two years ago. The dramatic decline is being attributed to Surf Lifesaving New Zealand's increased focus on preventive actions, including educating beachgoers and ramping up mobile patrols.

Nationwide, rescues also fell from 873 to 577, highlighting the impact of proactive lifeguard efforts. Local lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell said Bay of Plenty lifeguards engaged with over 380,000 people this summer, keeping them out of trouble and ensuring a safer beach experience.

Captured by @jmanyphotography

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

Band And Deliver (May) at The Jam Factory

  • When: Fri 16 May 2025, 7pm

  • Where: The Jam Factory, 159 17th Avenue

  • More Info: BandnDeliver

  • Cost: Free

Marlon Williams Te Whare Tīwekaweka Tour

  • When: Thu 15 May 2025, 7:30pm

  • Where: Holy Trinity Tauranga, 215 Devonport Rd

  • More Info: Marlon

  • Cost: $$

College Colab

  • When: Sun 18 May 2025 4:30pm - 7:30pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui

  • More Info: College

  • Cost: Free

Comedy & Screenings 🎬

All About ART - PAVAROTTI

  • When: Sun 18 May 2025 7:30 PM

  • Where: The Village Cinema, 17th Avenue

  • More Info: Cinderella

  • Cost: $$

Open Mic Standup Comedy Night @ Voodoo Lounge

  • When: Thu 15 May 2025 8PM

  • Where: Voodoo Lounge, 315 Maunganui Rd

  • More Info: OpenMic

  • Cost: $$

Punch Muffin Comics Roast @ 16th Ave Theatre

  • When: Sat 17 May 2025 7:30 PM

  • Where: 16th Avenue Theatre, 164 16th Ave

  • More Info: ComicsRoast

  • Cost: $$

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

Greenman Clay Mask Workshop

  • When: Tue 13 May 2025, 6pm-8pm

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

  • More Info: Greenman

  • Cost: $$

Animal Vases

  • When: Wed 14 May 2025, 10am - 12pm

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

  • More Info: AnimalVase

  • Cost: $$

Heath Franklin’s Chopper: The Last Hard Bastard on Earth

  • When: Wed 14 May 2025, 7pm

  • Where: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Addison Theatre

  • More Info: Heath

  • Cost: $$

Bold Beauty an Exhibition by Jenni Cornelius

  • When: Thu 15 May 2025, 5:30pm - 7pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, Imprint Gallery, 17th Ave

  • More Info: BoldBeauty

  • Cost: $$

Textured Art & Wine Night

  • When: Thu 15 May 2025, 7pm - 9pm

  • Where: Cornerstone Pub, 55 The Strand

  • More Info: TexturedArt

  • Cost: $$

Exhibition Launch and Street Party

  • When: Fri 16 May 2025 5:30pm

  • Where: The Incubator Creative Hub, 159 17th Avenue

  • More Info: Exhibition

  • Cost: Free

Bonsai 101

  • When: Sat 17 May 2025, 9am - 12pm

  • Where: The Creative Community, 159 17th Avenue

  • More Info: Bonsai

  • Cost: $$

Day 1/22 at The Incubator (Check Times)

  • When: Sat 17 May 2025, (For the next 22 days)

  • Where: Historic Village, 159 17th Avenue

  • More Info: Day1/22

  • Cost: Free

Pocket Sized Play - Crafty Creatures

  • When: Sat 17 May 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm

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

  • More Info: Pocketsized

  • Cost: Free

Hoops on the Waterfront with Whai Basketball

  • When: Sat 17 May 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, Basketball court

  • More Info: Hoops

  • Cost: Free

Community planting day at the Pāpāmoa East Interchange

  • When: Saturday 17 May 2025 11am - 2pm

  • Where: End of Te Okuroa Drive, Te Okuroa Dr, Pāpāmoa

  • More Info: Decoupage

  • Cost: $$

Welcome to New York

  • When: Saturday 17-18 May 2025 Various times

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

  • More Info: NewYork

  • Cost: $$

Pink Ribbon High Tea

  • When: Sun 18 May 2025 11am and 3pm

  • Where: Club Mount Maunganui Inc., 45 Kawaka Street

  • More Info: PinkRibbon

  • Cost: $$

Autumn Praise

  • When: Sun 18 May 2025 2pm - 3pm

  • Where: Holy Trinity Church, 215 Devonport Road

  • More Info: AutumnPraise

  • Cost: Free

Sports 🏀

NBL Basketball Whai v Taranaki Airs

  • When: Thu 15 May 2025,

  • Where: Mercury Baypark Arena, 81 Truman Lane

  • More Info: NBLWhai

  • Cost: $$

Markets 🍔

The Floral Hub

  • When: Thursday, 8 May, 8am-9:30am

  • Where: Holy Trinity Church

  • More Info: Floral

  • Cost: Free

The Little Big Markets

  • When: Sunday 18 May 9am - 2pm

  • Where: Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui

  • 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 Scoopers!

That’s it for now! If we missed anything, flick us a message and if you found something useful, send it to the special one that got you flowers for Mother’s Day.

Next drop?
Nothing this week. But stay on the look out for the weekend.

— Storm
Tauranga Scoop