Tauranga Nurses Take a Stand

Author

Storm Grimwood
July 31, 2025

Good Morning Scoopers!

Thursday is here, we’ve had a good soak of rain this week, but the skies are clearing and the weekend’s lookin’ dry. Not a bad time to line up something outdoors 👀

In today’s edition, 200 nurses walked off the job at Tauranga Hospital, joining a nationwide strike calling for safer staffing and better conditions. We’ll run you through what went down and what they’re fighting for.

And over on Elizabeth Street, a new Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence has just opened its doors. The founders are on a mission to make Tauranga the Silicon Valley of ADHD care, full story below.

Cash drop this weekend. We’ve been a bit quiet on that front but it’s game on again — clue’s down below 💰

In today’s edition:
✅ Tauranga nurses strike for safe staffing 💥
✅ New ADHD & neurodiversity clinic opens downtown 🧠
✅ Cash Drop – Clue below 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga 🎡

Let’s get into it 👇

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Freddie’s ADHD Story

Tauranga’s own Freddie Bennett, co-founder of Bay Paediatrics, has lived with ADHD his whole life, but didn’t get diagnosed until adulthood. Growing up, he was the classic daydreamer. As he got older, it turned into burnout, stress, and chasing distractions just to cope.

He said he wore a “mask of normality,” but inside, everything felt like it was falling apart. When he finally got diagnosed, it flipped everything. He realised he wasn’t broken, just wired differently.

That breakthrough became the fuel for something bigger. Alongside his wife, Dr. Sarah Moll, Freddie opened Bay Paediatrics, now launching the NZ Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence right here on Elizabeth Street.

They’re making it easier for families to get answers, fast. None of that 2-year waitlist. You walk in at 8am, and by 4pm, you’re walking out with a diagnosis, treatment plan, and some hope.

Freddie’s also run ultra-marathons in the Sahara and Arctic to show kids with ADHD that their “hyper-focus” is a superpower when pointed in the right direction.

He’s on a mission to turn the Bay of Plenty into the Silicon Valley of neurodiversity, and this new centre might just be the first step.

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Nurses Hit the Streets for Safe Staffing

Even with the rain bucketing down, 200+ nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants weren’t backing down, they showed up outside Tauranga Hospital in force, joining a nationwide strike for better staffing and safer conditions.

They held signs, chanted loud, and made their message clear: “Safe care, now.” Firefighters even rolled up in support, walking the team out like legends.

This isn’t a one-off whinge either. NZNO delegate Melissa Jacobsen said they’re being asked to pull 12-hour shifts constantly, and the current staffing levels just can’t keep up with patient demand. Despite Health NZ claiming the average nurse earns $125K, Jacobsen says nah, even at the top tier, she’s nowhere near that.

The strike caused about 4300 procedures to be pushed back across the country, but emergency departments stayed open.

Their goal? Wake Health NZ up and get some real movement on safer ratios and more boots on the ground.

Captured by @jmanyphotography

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

The Upbeats

  • When: Fri 01 Aug 2025, 9:00pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: TheUpbeats

  • Cost: $$

Daytime Clubbing for the 30+ Partygoer

  • When: Sat 02 Aug 2025, 3:30pm - 10:00pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: DaytimeClubbing

  • Cost: $$

No Scrubs

  • When: Sat 02 Aug 2025, 8:00pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street

  • More Info: NoScrubs

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings 🎬

Comedy Improvisation Show with The Honest Liars Improv

  • When: Sat 02 Aug 2025, 7:30pm - 9:30pm

  • Where: 16th Avenue Theatre, Black Box - Side Entrance

  • More Info: Improv

  • Cost: $$

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

Ōtūmoetai College – Art Exhibition by Junior Students

  • When: Thu 31 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 31 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 31 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 31 July - Sat 09 Aug, 10am - 3pm

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

  • More Info: Clay

  • Cost: Free

Pocket Sized Play - Decorate your own reusable bag

  • When: Sat 02 Aug 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm

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

  • More Info: PocketSized

  • Cost: Free

Public Art Walks with Tauranga Art Gallery Director Sonya Korohina

  • When: Thu 31 Jul 2025, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand

  • More Info: ArtGallery

  • Cost: Free

Friday Fun Night at Baywave

  • When: Fri 01 Aug 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

  • Where: Baywave, Corner Girven Road & Gloucester Road

  • More Info: FridayFun

  • Cost: $$

High Rollers and Low Morals

  • When: Fri 01 Aug 2025, 7:00pm - 11:00pm

  • Where: The Tauranga Club, 72 Devonport Road

  • More Info: HighRollers

  • Cost: $$

Blind emboss printing

  • When: Sat 02 Aug 2025, 10:00am - 1:00pm

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

  • More Info: BlindEmoss

  • Cost: $$

Crochet for beginners

  • When: Sat 02 Aug 2025, 10:00am - 12:30pm

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

  • More Info: Crochet

  • Cost: $$

Bonsai 101

  • When: Sun 03 Aug 2025, 9:00am - 12:00pm

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

  • More Info: Bonsai101

  • Cost: $$

Bunnings NPC Rugby Bay of Plenty vs Tasman

  • When: Sun 03 Aug 2025, 10:00am - 4:00pm

  • Where: Wharepai Domain, 91 Cameron Road

  • More Info: NPCRugby

  • Cost: $$

Markets 🍔

The Little Big Markets Mount Maunganui

  • When: Sat 02 Aug 2025, 9:00am - 2:00pm

  • Where: Coronation Park, 230 Maunganui Road

  • More Info: LittleBigMarkets

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday 02 August, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday 03 August, 8:30am-1pm

  • Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School

  • More Info: Community

  • Cost: Free

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Thanks, Scoopers!

That’s a wrap for today, legends.

If there’s something juicy we missed, slide into the DMs, always keen to hear what’s going on in our area. Got an event? Send it through.

If you liked this edition, send it to that mate who sleeps in till mid day. Might be the nudge they need to step outside this weekend.

Cash Drop Clue?
We’re dropping this Saturday — that’s your heads-up 👀

Keep an eye on our Insta stories and flick those notifications on so you don’t miss it.

Have a cracker of a week 👊

— Storm
Tauranga Scoop