Good Morning Scoopers!
School’s back, time to take a breather, parents. The house is quiet again, and there’s plenty happening around Tauranga to fill that newfound peace and quiet.
Hospitals across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes have slashed surgery wait times, with more patients getting elective procedures faster. But doctors and nurses warn the gains aren’t sustainable as staff shortages continue to bite.
And on the field, the Bay of Plenty Steamers pulled off a massive comeback, storming from 21–0 down to beat defending champs Wellington 33–26 and secure a home quarter-final. Talk about grit.
In today’s edition:
✅ Bay of Plenty’s surgery wait times improve, but can it last? 🏥
✅ Steamers storm back to beat Wellington in NPC thriller 🏉
✅ Cash Drop – Watch our Instagram 💰
✅ What’s on this week in Tauranga 🎡
Let’s dive in 👇
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Steamers Storm Back for a Home Playoff
What a comeback, the Bay of Plenty Steamers roared back from 21-0 down to beat defending champs Wellington 33-26 in Porirua, locking in a home quarter-final.
Teenage halfback Charlie Sinton, fresh out of school, was the hero with two tries that sparked the turnaround. Coach Richard Watt praised the team’s resilience, calling it a win built on “real character” after last year’s heartbreak loss to Wellington in extra time.
With one minor injury concern for flanker Joe Johnston, the Steamers now wait to find out who they’ll face in the quarters, but one thing’s for sure: they’ll be playing at home.
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Health Targets Under Pressure
The Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts have cut surgery wait times, with more patients getting elective procedures within four months, but doctors and nurses warn the gains aren’t sustainable.
The Government’s new health targets show progress: Bay of Plenty jumped from 71.8% to 79% of elective surgeries completed within four months, and Lakes lifted from 55% to 66%. Health Minister Simeon Brown credits a national “elective boost” and partnerships with private hospitals for more than 16,000 extra procedures.
But unions say staff shortages and burnout make the improvements temporary. Sarah Dalton from the senior doctors’ union says “short sprints” of extra effort can’t last, while nurse representative Melissa Jacobsen says there still aren’t enough staff or resources to meet demand.
Labour’s Dr Ayesha Verrall added that outsourcing to private providers is a “short-term fix” that makes public-hospital recruitment harder long-term.
Despite the criticism, the minister says the Bay ranked third nationally for shorter treatment wait times and faster cancer care, with record funding and more frontline investment on the way.
Captured by @jmanyphotography
Check out all the events below! ($$ - Costs or Ticketed Events)
Music & Concerts 🎵
Operatunity Daytime Concerts Presents - Fabulous 50s
When: Fri 10 Oct 2025, 11:00am - 12:45pm
Where: Holy Trinity Church, 215 Devonport Rd
More Info: Operatunity
Cost: $$
Hollie Smith
When: Fri 10 Oct 2025, 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street
More Info: HollieSmith
Cost: $$
Thabani Gapara Live in Tauranga
When: Fri 10 Oct 2025, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Where: 16th Avenue Theatre, 164 Sixteenth Avenue
More Info: Thabani
Cost: $$
Overload Festival
When: Sat 11 Oct 2025, 2:30pm - 11:55pm
Where: Totara Street, 11 Totara Street
More Info: Overload
Cost: $$
Sacred Song with Magick Gong
When: Sat 11 Oct 2025, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Mount Maunganui Community Hall, 345 Maunganui Road
More Info: SacredSong
Cost: $$
The Fleetwood Mac Experience
When: Sat 11 Oct 2025, 7:30pm
Where: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Addison Theatre, 38 Durham Street
More Info: Fleetwood
Cost: $$
Comedy & Screenings 🎬
Comedy Hypnotist - Frankie Mac
When: Fri 10 Oct 2025, 7:30pm
Where: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Addison Theatre, 38 Durham Street
More Info: Hypnotist
Cost: $$
EPIC Families LIVE
When: Sun 12 Oct 2025, 2:00pm
Where: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, Addison Theatre, 38 Durham Street
More Info: EPIC
Cost: $$
Festivals & Special Events 🎉
Tauranga Women's Group Event
When: Tue 07 Oct 2025, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Where: Tauranga Lyceum Club, Building, 68 First Avenue
More Info: WomensGroup
Cost: $$
Young at Heart Festival
When: Mon 6 Oct - Wed 8 Oct 2025, check dates & times
Where: Different Locations
More Info: Young
Cost: $$
Way to Dance! Classes for adults
When: Tue 07 Oct 2025, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Where: Ohauiti Settlers Hall, 459 Upper Ohauiti Road
More Info: WaytoDance
Cost: Free
Discover the Joy of Growing Flowers!
When: Thu 09 Oct 2025, 10:00am - 11:30am
Where: Village Green Community Hub, 20 Third Avenue
More Info: Flowers
Cost: $$
New Zealand Masters Badminton Championships
When: Thu 9 Oct - Sat 11 Oct, times vary
Where: Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, 71 Eleventh Avenue
More Info: Badminton
Cost: $$
Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty
When: Fri 10 Oct 2025, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Where: Mitre 10 Mega Tauranga, 1066 Cameron Road
More Info: RallyDay
Cost: Free
Pocket Sized Play - DIY Paper Wind Turbine Kids Crafts
When: Sat 11 Oct 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Where: Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga Library, 21 Devonport Rd
More Info: PocketSized
Cost: Free
Historic Village Events
When: 6-12 Oct 2025, Times Vary
Where: The Historic Village, The Incubator, 17th Ave West
More Info: HistoricEvents
Cost: $$
Book Launch – Half of Hartwell Hotel
When: Fri 10 Oct 2025, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: The Pilates Loft, First Floor, 77 Devonport Rd
More Info: BookLaunch
Cost: Free
Oktoberfest at The Barrel Room
When: Sat 11 Oct 2025, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Where: The Barrel Room, 26 Wharf Street
More Info: Oktoberfest
Cost: Free
FluroFest 25
When: Sun 12 Oct 2025, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: Memorial Park - Jordan Field, 282 Devonport Road
More Info: FluroFest
Cost: Free
Markets 🛒
Tauranga Night Market
When: Fri 10 Oct 2025, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Tauranga Racecourse, 1383 Cameron Rd
More Info: NightMarkets
Cost: Free
Little Big Markets
When: Sun 12 Oct 2025, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand
More Info: LittleBigMarkets
Cost: Free
Tauranga Farmers Market
When: Saturday 11 Oct, 7:45am-12pm
Where: Tauranga Primary
More Info: FarmersMarket
Cost: Free
Pāpāmoa Community Market
When: Sunday 12 Oct, 8:30am-1pm
Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School
More Info: Community
Cost: Free
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That’s us done for today.
Got a story, event, or hidden gem around Tauranga? Flick it our way, we’re always chasing what’s next.
If you liked this one, send it to that mate who still owes you a coffee.
— Storm
Tauranga Scoop
