One Street Opens, Others Now Cost to Park On

Author

Storm Grimwood
July 24, 2025

Good Morning Scoopers!

Thursday’s here and the weekend’s peeking around the corner. Hope your week’s been solid, few cold mornings. Might be a good one to plan a slow morning and a hot coffee..

In today’s edition, the city’s rollin’ out paid parking to more fringe streets, and yeah… local businesses aren’t stoked. We break down what streets are affected, what it’s gonna cost, and how it’s landed with some shop owners already feeling the pinch.

On the brighter side, a new street in Bethlehem has been named after Don Brebner, a legend who dedicated 25 years to helping Tauranga families into homes. Five new houses are going up, and they’ll carry his legacy forward.

And yep we’ve got a cash drop this week. Clue’s down below 👀

Wanna be first in? Hit follow:

📲 Instagram
📲 Facebook

In today’s edition:
✅ Paid parking rolls out to more city streets 🚗
✅ Bethlehem street named after community legend 🏡
✅ Cash Drop – Clue below 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga 🎡

Let’s get into it 👇

SPONSORED BY YARD BARBERS

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

Another Blow to Local Biz? Parking Gets Pricier

This one’s hitting nerves, from August 4, Tauranga’s rolling out paid parking across more fringe CBD streets, and it’s fair to say some local business owners are not stoked. The deal? $1 an hour for the first two, then $2 per hour after that (up to $10). Two-hour time limits are also coming to key streets like Cliff, Brown, Fourth to Eighth Ave, and more.

Places that were once free all-day parks for workers are now on the meter. Excelso Coffee’s owner says she’s “gutted,” especially for her staff who now face parking fees chewing through 10% of their weekly pay. Over at Vetro, Liz reckons she’ll lose customers if people get pinged for popping in.

There’s even a staff-led petition going around.

Council says it’s all about freeing up short-stay parks, encouraging turnover, and nudging all-day parkers into buildings and lots. They’re giving a 10-minute grace period, but that’s not exactly solving it for small businesses juggling customer flow and tight margins.

Look, something’s gotta give with Tauranga parking, but this rollout feels rushed. No real convo with local businesses. No alternatives offered. Just flick the switch and let the meters start running. I think it’ll just drive more people to our malls instead of town.

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

A Street Named After a Local Legend

The Doing Good Foundation (formerly Habitat for Humanity) just named a new Bethlehem street Don Brebner Way, honouring a Tauranga legend who dedicated 25 years to helping families into homes. This isn’t just another housing project. It’s a rent-to-own model aimed at giving five local families a real shot at owning a home, even if they’re living on the financial edge.

The homes: 3 double-storey three-bedders, and 2 single-level homes (a two-bed and a three-bed), all part of a plan to turn renters into homeowners, with rent refunded after 2–5 years to help with a deposit.

The kicker? Every family selected also contributes 400 hours to upskilling and homeownership prep. No handouts, just a hand up.

Massive respect to Don Brebner, who passed in 2022. The man started the “Thousand Dollar Club” and hustled food drives, donations, and support for Tauranga’s most vulnerable. Now every car that turns down this road carries his legacy with it.

They’re aiming to get families in by Christmas if consents go through fast. Let’s hope it gets moving soon.

Captured by @jmanyphotography

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

Band and Deliver at The Jam Factory

  • When: Fri 25 Jul 2025, 7pm - 9:30pm

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

  • More Info: Band&Deliver

  • Cost: Free

HomeBass and Friends with Special Guest: Brigsy

  • When: Fri 25 Jul 2025, 9:00pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: HomeBass

  • Cost: $$

Automatic 80's

  • When: Sat 26 Jul 2025, 7:00pm - 12:00am

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: Automatic

  • Cost: $$

The Harmonic Resonators

  • When: Sat 26 Jul 2025, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

  • Where: Holy Trinity Tauranga, Auditorium 215 Devonport Road

  • More Info: Harmonic

  • Cost: Free

Legally Blonde The Musical

  • When: Sat 26 - Sat 02 Aug Jul 2025, 2:00pm or 8:00pm

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

  • More Info: LegallyBlonde

  • Cost: $$

Sunkissed | Pop Tribute Show

  • When: Sun 27 Jul 2025, 3:30pm - 7:30pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: Sunkissed

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings 🎬

Rebels, Misfits, and Disobedient Daughters: an evening with the saints

  • When: Tue 22 Jul 2025, 6:00pm - 7:15pm

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

  • More Info: Saints

  • Cost: Free

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

Ōtūmoetai College – Art Exhibition by Junior Students

  • When: Thu 24 July - Sat 09 Aug, 10am - 3pm

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

  • More Info: ArtExhibition

  • Cost: Free

It's all about the chair - An Exhibition by Tauranga Northern Health School

  • When: Thu 24 July - Sat 09 Aug, 10am - 3pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, The Incubator Gallery & Studios, 17th Ave West

  • More Info: Chair

  • Cost: Free

The Circus

  • When: Thu 24 Jul - 10 Aug 2025, Times Vary

  • Where: Mercury Baypark Arena, 81 Truman Lane

  • More Info: TheCircus

  • Cost: $$

Feet of Clay Ceramic Show Case

  • When: Thu 24 July - Sat 09 Aug, 10am - 3pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, The Pot House, 17th Ave West

  • More Info: Clay

  • Cost: Free

Pocket Sized Play - Fantastic Face Painting

  • When: Sat 26 Jul 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm

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

  • More Info: PocketSized

  • Cost: Free

Band and Deliver at The Jam Factory

  • When: Fri 25 Jul 2025, 7pm - 9:30pm

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

  • More Info: Band&Deliver

  • Cost: Free

Splash n Dash Dragon Boat Festival

  • When: Sun 27 Jul 2025, 10:00am - 2:00pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand

  • More Info: Splash

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga City Tridents Open Day: Contact Football

  • When: Sun 27 Jul 2025, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

  • Where: Waipuna Park, 25 Kaitemako Road

  • More Info: Tridents

  • Cost: Free

John Chen - Solo Piano

  • When: Sun 27 Jul 2025, 7:00pm

  • Where: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, X Space, 38 Durham Street

  • More Info: JohnChen

  • Cost: $$

Markets 🍔

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday 26 July, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday 27 July, 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 today.
If we’ve missed something juicy, flick us a DM, we’re always keen to hear what’s going on around town, so send your event our way.

If you enjoyed the read, send it to your mate who games way too much.

Cash Drop Clue? Same clue as last edition.
It’s right in the guts of town.

Keep an eye on our Instagram stories — and make sure your notifications are on so you don’t miss the drop.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend 👊

— Storm
Tauranga Scoop