The Record-Breaking Mile

Author

Storm Grimwood
March 20, 2025

Happy Thursday, Scoopers!

Hope you’re charging through the week, almost there!

In the news, one of the Pāpāmoa East Interchange ramps could open nearly a year early, giving locals a much-needed traffic break. And Tauranga’s Sam Ruthe just became the youngest person ever to break the four-minute mile, adding his name to NZ’s legendary middle-distance runners.

We’ve also got a cash drop this weekend, so if you wanna get amongst it. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook:
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Plenty happening, so stay tuned, support the locals, and get after it!

In today’s edition:
✅ Pāpāmoa’s new ramp could open early 🚗
✅ Sam Ruthe smashes the four-minute mile record 🏃‍♂️
✅ Cash drops this week—Follow us on Insta or FB 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga this weekend 🎉

Keep up with Tauranga Scoop!

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Pāpāmoa East Interchange Ramps Could Open Early

Good news for Pāpāmoa locals—one of the new interchange ramps could open almost a year early, making daily commutes way easier. Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford has been pushing for it, saying it’ll cut travel times, ease congestion at Domain Rd, and improve safety as the suburb keeps growing.

NZTA and Tauranga City Council are working through the details—signage, tolling, and making sure construction doesn’t get held up—but if all goes to plan, at least one ramp could be open by late 2025. Rutherford reckons it’s exactly what Pāpāmoa families need right now.

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Tauranga’s Sam Ruthe Breaks Four-Minute Mile at 15

Tauranga’s Sam Ruthe just made history, becoming the youngest person ever to break the four-minute mile, running 3m 58.35s in Auckland. With Olympian Sam Tanner pacing him through the second half, Ruthe finished second behind Tanner, with Ben Wall also sneaking under the mark at 3m 59s.

Ruthe’s been on fire all season. Shattering world records for 15-year-olds in the 3000m, becoming the youngest-ever senior national champ, and even tying with Tanner for gold in the 1500m. Now, he’s cemented himself in NZ’s rich mile-running history, adding his name to a list that includes Sir John Walker and Peter Snell. One to watch.

Captured by @jmanyphotography

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

Music & Concerts 🎵

Dave Alley

  • When: Thursday 20 March, 7:00pm - 9:30pm

  • Where: The Jam Factory - Music Platform, The Incubator, Historic Village, 17th Avenue

  • More Info: DaveAlley

  • Cost: $$

LSB & DRS - Space Age Tour

  • When: Fri 21 Mar 2025, 9:00pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: SpaceAge

  • Cost: $$

Flaxxies

  • When: Sat 22 Mar 2025 8pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: Groove

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings🎭

Open Mic Standup Comedy Night

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 8pm

  • Where: Voodoo Lounge, 315 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui

  • More Info: Voodoo Lounge

  • Cost: $$

Comedy Night at Miss Gee's

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 7:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.

  • Where: Miss Gee's Bar & Eatery, 59 The Strand

  • More Info: OpenMic

  • Cost: $$

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

No-Till, Weed-Free, Garden Construction

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 10am - 12:30 pm

  • Where: 9 Kaiwha Road, Welcome Bay

  • More Info: GardenConstruction

  • Cost: Koha or something for shared lunch

Food Lovers Masterclass

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 6pm - 8pm

  • Where: Mercury Baypark, 81 Truman Lane, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: FoodLovers

  • Cost: $$

PIXelated - Duality+ - Digital Art Showcase

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30pm-7pm - Sat 22 Mar, 10am-3pm

  • Where: The People’s Gallery - Toi Ka Rere, The Incubator, Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: PIXelated

  • Cost: Free

Buildings, Blocks and Stacks by Z - A Ceramic Exhibition

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30pm-7pm - Sat 22 Mar, 10am-3pm

  • Where: The Pot House Ceramics Gallery & Studios, The Incubator, Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: The Pot House

  • Cost: Free

New Original Art at The Artist Window Gallery - Launch

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30p.m. - 7:00p.m.

  • Where: The Artist Window Gallery, Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: Artist

  • Cost: Free

Clothes Swap Tauranga

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30pm-7:30pm

  • Where: Envirohub, 31B Glasgow Street, Tauranga

  • More Info: ClothesSwap

  • Cost: Free

Fermentation Workshop

  • When: Saturday 22 Mar, 1pm - 3pm

  • Where: Envirohub, 31B Glasgow Street, Tauranga

  • More Info: Fermentation

  • Cost: $$

Exploring Structure (Ceramic Workshop)

  • When: Sat 22 Mar 2025, 9:00am–3:00pm

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

  • More Info: Structure

  • Cost: $$

26th Annual Tauranga Multicultural Festival

  • When: Saturday, 22 Mar, 10am-5pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: Multicultural

  • Cost: Free

The Extravaganza Fair

  • When: Sat-Sun 22-23 Mar, 9am

  • Where: Simpson Reserve, cnr Parton Rd & Dickson Rd, Papamoa

  • More Info: Extravaganza

  • Cost: $$

Street Art Cycle Tour

  • When: Sun, 23 Mar, 2pm -3:30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand

  • More Info: Tauranga Waterfront

  • Cost: Free

Wickets and Words with the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 2:30pm-3:45pm

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

  • More Info: Wickets&Words

  • Cost: Free

Kombucha Workshop

  • When: Sunday 23 Mar, 1pm - 5pm

  • Where: Kiwi Homesteaders, 19 Waikite Way, Welcome Bay

  • More Info: Kombucha

  • Cost: $$

Markets 🍔

The Floral Hub

  • When: Thursday, 20 Mar, 8am-9:30am

  • Where: Holy Trinity Church

  • More Info: Floral

  • Cost: Free

Dinner in the Domain

  • When: Thursday, 20 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Pāpāmoa Pony Club

  • More Info: Dinnerinthedomain

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Night Market

  • When: Friday, 21 Mar, 5pm-8.30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Race Course

  • More Info: TaurangaNightMarket

  • Cost: Free

Gourmet Night Market

  • When: Friday, 21 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Coronation Park

  • More Info: Gourmet

  • Cost: Free

Omokoroa Night Market

  • When: Friday, 21 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Omokoroa Domain

  • More Info: OmokoroaDomain

  • Cost: Free

The Little Big Markets

  • When: Saturday, 22 Mar, 9am-2pm

  • Where: Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: LittleBigMarkets

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday, 22 Mar, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Eco-Conscious Market

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 10am-1pm

  • Where: The Cargo Shed

  • More Info: Eco-conscious

  • Cost: Free

Dinner in the Domain

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Matua Park

  • More Info: Dinnerinthedomain

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School

  • More Info: Community

  • Cost: Free

Sports 🏉

Double-header T20 - WHITE FERNS v Australia and BLACKCAPS v Pakistan - Cricket

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 2:45pm-10:15pm

  • Where: Bay Oval, Blake Park, Kawaka Street

  • More Info: Cricket

  • Cost: $$

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Cheers!

That’s it for today, Scoopers! If we missed anything or stuffed something up, let us know. And if you found something worth sharing, flick it to a mate.
More than a pie, not quite a spa, find the spot where the treasures are. See you Saturday.

Storm
-Tauranga Scoop