Katikati is the place to be this weekend with two major annual events taking place in town
The town ’ s only twilight concert for 2026 is tomorrow night, January 31, at the Haiku Reserve, starring Tony Lewis, the UK’s premier Robbie Williams Tribute act Gates open 5pm, with the concert to start 6pm
30 January, 2026
Then on Sunday, February 1, Katikati
A&P Show opens it gates at the Uretara Domain at 9am
The show will offer oodles of country fun and flair young and old! There’s a huge line-up of free attractions for children, including a puppet show, a kids’ lolly scramble, face painting, donkey rides, a
vertical bungy, a rock climbing wall, an Animal Magic show with sheep by local animal trainer Bex Tasker, train rides for under-fives and giant wooden games
Plus the usual country-flavoured drawcards of wood chopping, dairy cattle competitions, equestrian events, the Home Industries displays and a Children’s
Scarecrow Competition, plus military and vintage and classic vehicles, tractors, and Katikati wrestling would also appeal
Find out more about both events on page 5
Pictured is Cherie Marshall enjoying country fun at a past Katikati A&P Show
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Heavy rain that fell overnight on January 21-22 caused flooding and damage to houses, properties, business and public land and roads across the Western Bay of Plenty district
According to rainfall figures on the Environmental Portal Data on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website, Katikati had received 304mm of rain in 24 hours across January 21-22, while Mount Manganui received 216mm. In comparison, for the month of January 2025, Katikati had 95mm in total and Mount Maunganui had 36.5mm.
Pictured are scenes of local sites sent in by readers during and after the deluge.
Western Bay of Plenty (WBOP) was not spared from the storm that hit January 21-22.
Severe weather swept through the WBOP and Tauranga, causing landslides that killed two people in Welcome Bay Rd and six, police believe, at a Mount Maunganui campsite
Flooding and slips forced dozens of people to evacuate their homes and cut off rural communities as highways and local roads closed In the WBOP district flooding and landslides also caused extensive damage to houses, properties, public land and roads, resulting in many closures on the long weekend
Six WBOP properties were red-stickered after slip or flood damage, according to Western Bay of Plenty District Emergency Control Centre controller Scott Parker Parker said four were in the Welcome Bay area and two in Ōmokoroa
A red placard indicated a building was unsafe to enter, while yellow indicated restricted access due to moderate damage or risks such as unstable ground or adjacent slips Twelve yellow placards were issued to a properties in WBOP; six in Welcome Bay, two in Ongare Point, and one each Kauri Point, Katikati, Ōmokoroa and Waihī Beach
Businesses were also hit hard Owners of two Waihī Beach businesses expect to be closed for several months after floodwaters caused “devastating” damage Waihī Beach
Pip and Joanne Coombes own Surf Shack Eatery in Emerton Rd, Waihī Beach
Pip Coombes said they’d suffered “horrendous” losses after floodwaters swept through their café January 22 “Everything at knee-level was destroyed, including 11 or 12 fridge–freezers and all their contents
“I’ve already taken about 940kg of food waste to the dump It couldn’t even be given to the pigs ” The pair were waiting for their
insurance assessor to determine the full extent of the damage
While their carpark flooded in 2023, Pip Coombes said they’d “ never experienced anything like this” “This is unprecedented, and it’s been a huge shock ”
She said it was already clear they would need to “ start again” “That includes replacing the kitchen, the flooring, a new toilet, and all our whiteware and everything else water-damaged We expect to be closed for several months “But it is what it is What’s happened to us pales in comparison to what people in Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui are going through Our thoughts are with all those devastated families ”
She said the support from the community had been “wonderful”
Next door, the Victoria Lemon Transform Today gym was also severely damaged
Owner Victoria Lemon said her business sustained flood damage in 2023 after a tsunami warning and a king tide, but this was far worse
She said 7am January 22 she received a text and a photograph from a client that showed the inside of her gym was submerged in waist-deep water
“Because of the ferocity of the storm overnight, everything electric-driven will need to be replaced ”
That included the stereo system, treadmills, cable machines, elliptical crosstrainer, office computer, and printer All paperbased records were also destroyed Lemon, who rents the building, expected it to be closed for several months
Metservice meteorologist
Braydon White said
Waihī Beach had 340mm of rain on January 21, an “absurd amount ”
WBOP District Mayor James Denyer said about 80 people self evacuated to community led hubs in Waihī Beach and Te Puke as the weather bore down, including evacuees from affected campgrounds Waihī Beach RSA supported 73 campground evacuees and the rest were at the Settler’s Lounge in the Te Puke War Memorial Hall
“Forty nine people remained in hubs overnight on Thursday [January 22], and 31 evacuees were billeted with local families, reflecting the strong community spirit that continues to shine through during difficult times,” Denyer said
“People opened their homes at short notice, and neighbours checked on neighbours This is who we are as the Western Bay Once again, our community has shown extraordinary support ” Denyer said on behalf of council and communities, he extended his deepest sympathy to whānau, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives in rural Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui “Right across our rohe and our neighbouring city of Tauranga, people have been deeply affected “What has unfolded at Mauao and Welcome Bay Rd is devastating Our communities are hurting, and our hearts are with everyone waiting for news or supporting loved ones ”
In Katikati the Uretara River rose going into the night of January 21, and floodwater spilled over State Highway 2 near Kotahi Lane and sent nearby businesses underwater Bridgestone Tyre Centre Katikati owner Logan Roche said his leased premises on the corner of SH2 and Kotahi Lane started taking water about 10pm
“Last time the shop flooded in 2016 it was just town water This time I think the high tide [later that night] definitely had a lot to do with it; nothing was receding so we assume it was river water ” Roche said at 1am the shop was at its deepest – just under knee-height Staff had prepared beforehand by lifting all expensive machinery using hoists, to keep it out of harm’s way “It [floodwater] got the fridges, cabinetry, office furniture, paperwork, loose tools, repair items and stock,” said Roche, who would claim insurance for losses
On January 22, Roche said the community come out in droves to help clean up “I started 6am and the people just rolled in after that We had so much community support, from friends, family, and people cleaning up to dropping off food, fans, dehumidifiers, squeegees, and everyone messaging us to offer help, it was really cool – I’d just like to thank everyone who supported us ” This made it possible for Bridgestone to re-open Friday, January 23 Across SH2, The Veggie Hub owner Karin Du Plessis said floodwater came into her store near 11pm January 21. “Our premises owner Alan Crapp had done a lot of work prior to us moving in six months ago, to make the shop area higher so it wouldn’t flood But by 10.40pm the water was too much. Our packaging room was totally flooded but not much was in there
“The shop got water through it but no stock was damaged, and outside our leased chiller kept working and nothing toppled over inside – however the water did push it around ” Plessis said the store was open 8am January 22 thanks to her staff coming in early to help clean up “Thank you to everybody because it was a massive effort and we were grateful ”
Sandra Conchie
6AM – 9AM WEEKDAYS
T A U R A N G A 9 0 . 2 F M
Katikati is about to buzz this weekend as two mainstay events take place.
The town ’ s only twilight concert for 2026 is tomorrow night, January 31, at the Haiku Reserve, starring Tony Lewis, the UK’s premier Robbie Williams Tribute act. Gates open 5pm, with the concert to start 6pm.
Katikati Twilight Concerts chair Jane Watson-Baker said tickets will be available on the gate at $30 cash per adult, with under-15s gaining free entry with a paying adult.
“Since the storm event on January 21 we ’ ve cleaned up everything that was stored under the stage and everything will be ready for Saturday”
The check was warranted after flood water swept through the reserve and up to the stage in the storm, said Watson-Baker
“Western Bay of Plenty District Council is scheduled to mow and clean up the reserve so it is ready for the concert, ” said Watson-Baker
She hoped the district would attend so the non-profit group behind it could revert to three events next year Lewis’ show will cover all Williams’ greatest hits, with a few special surprises thrown in for good measure, WatsonBaker said.
“Constantly rebooked, this tribute show has something for anyone and everyone The looks, the moves, the voice, the ego This show has it all!”
Then on Sunday, February 1, it’s A&P Show time at the Uretara Domain Families, friends and grandparents alike are encouraged to enjoy a fun day
out full of country traditions, which begins 9am A huge line-up of free attractions for children will feature, including a puppet show, a kids’ lolly scramble, face painting, donkey rides, a vertical bungy, a rock climbing wall, an Animal Magic show with sheep by local animal trainer Bex Tasker, train rides for under-fives and giant wooden games
A military vehicle display plus classic
cars, hot rods and vintage tractors, wood chopping demonstration and Katikati Wrestling Club’s beach wrestling events would also appeal, plus a variety of food vendors would cater to all tastes.
Katikati A&P Show secretary Sheryl Smith said the committee had brought back the traditional dairy cattle competitions this year too “These competitions, along with the equestrian
events, the Home Industries displays and the Children’s Scarecrow Competition really give kids a taste of rural New Zealand ”
The 2026 Katikati A&P Show is Sunday, February 1, at the Uretara Domain. Gates open 9am. Entry costs adults $10 each, and Under-14s gain free entry
Find out more at: www katikatiaandpshow.nz
Three Katikati teens are excited to perform at Katikati’s second Waitangi Day festival next month, which invites everyone to a free family-friendly event that celebrates Aotearoa New Zealand and acknowledges the country ’ s past in a positive, inclusive way
Organised by the Western Bay Museum, Te Rā o Waitangi Whānau Festival (Waitangi Day Family Festival) will take place at the Haiku Reserve from 11am-3pm on February 6.
Tia-Maraea Brown, 18, Manase Uilou, 17, and Inyamoka Toker, 18, make up local band Katikati Trio, who performed at 2025’s inaugural festival
The trio believe the event is a powerful way to bring Katikati’s diverse cultures together to commemorate the signing of Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi), and to learn more about the history of Aotearoa New Zealand – and each other – in a fun atmosphere
The event will begin with a mihi (official opening) from kuia and kaumatua of Ngāi Tamawhariua’s Te Rereatukahia Marae
Cultural acts
From here a diverse line-up of cultural acts will perform – including Katikati College’s kapa haka group Te Kapa o Uretara ki Wharei, Tauranga’s high-energy Cook Islands group, and Katikati’s Indian “loud and bright” cultural group
Cultural interactive workshops and
craft activities will run throughout the day, including poi making, harakeke weaving, and Pasifika lei and crown crafting
“Last year ’ s craft tent got slammed so we ’ ve doubled the space for 2026,” museum manager Paula Gaelic said A combined kapa haka group performance from students, aged five-12, of Ōmokoroa No 1, Ōmokoroa Point, Whakamārama, Pahoia and Te Puna schools will close the day
“They’re’ so excited about it, so they’ve been practising during the holidays,” Gaelic said
Cool covers
Music will be headlined by King Cool, a dynamic powerhouse trio covers band made up of members Ty Gage, David Hikatangata and Kristian Bennett from the Waikato
The Katikati Trio – of Brown (Ngai Te Rangi iwi, Ngāi Tamawhariua and Tauwhao hapu, Te Rereatukahia and Otawhiwhi marae), Uilou of Pacific Islands heritage, and Toker who is originally from Namibia – return this year after organisers received high praise for their performance at the festival’s 2025 debut
“The vibe the Katikati Trio give off and the fact that they’re local and they sing songs everybody knows – it was just fantastic,” said Gaelic Brown said Katikati Trio had been together three years and honed their craft “We play lots of covers Usually, it’s upbeat stuff ” “We take inspiration from each other’s
own personal music tastes and combine this and share it through the group This makes it more fun and inclusive to ensure we all have a good time,” said Toker
The wairua
Brown said overall the day was about making sure everyone – of all ages and walks of life– felt comfortable to come along “and to make a start on their journey to embracing Waitangi Day and learning more about our country ’ s history”
“It’s just a day of being,” said Brown
“It’s not too heavy,” said Toker “And this lets people come to their own realisation as to why they’re there And it’s really lovely [as a performer] that we help people with that ” “It’s in the moment, ” said Gaelic “With our communities, we make the vibe for the day Then the wairua (spirit) takes over ”
Te Rā o Waitangi Whānau Festival (Waitangi Day Family Festival) is from 11am-3pm at the Haiku Park on Waitangi Day, February 6 For updates check ‘Western Bay Museum’ on Facebook
Located close to the township of Waihi, Waihi Lifecare Village is one of the region’s most idyllic yet affordable lifecare villages
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