>New 9-Day Festival Launches in Bay of Plenty

New 9-Day Festival Launches in Bay of Plenty*

*TAURANGA, Thursday 14th January 2009:* The Bay of Plenty is to celebrate its wonderful coastal lifestyle and world-class produce with a nine-day festival taking place from 26 February to 6 March, 2010.

Called */Kiwi Festival,/* it encompasses 22 events (some new, some already existing), that will celebrate the Bay’s natural beauty, produce from the land and sea and the cultures, talents and interests of the people in the coastal Bay of Plenty.

The events are listed below with more details on the individual events to follow:

*CALENDAR OF KIWI FESTIVAL EVENTS 2010*

*Friday 26 February *

* Iron Kid Triathlon
* ZESPRI Industry Challenge
* The Grand Banquet
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition

*Saturday 27 February *

* Maketu Kaimoana Festival
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition
* Bay of Plenty Steamer: Welcome to Tauranga

*Sunday 28 February *

* Multicultural Fun Football
* Bay of Plenty Steamer – train rides Te Puke
* Fiesta in the Park, Te Puke
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition

*Monday 1 March *

* Have a Go Golf
* 100 Mile Menu
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition

*Tuesday 2 March *

* 100 Mile Menu
* One Base Fishing Tournament
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition

*Wednesday 3 March *

* ICE Line Careers in Horticulture
* Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition and
Awards Dinner
* 100 Mile Menu
* Nutritional Science Made Simple
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition
* One Base Fishing Tournament

*Thursday 4 March *

* One Base Fishing Tournament
* 100 Mile Menu
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition
* LipStick Lunch
* Kiwi Festival Golf
* Capoeira Brasil & Latino Workshop

*Friday 5 March *

* Quadathlon
* One Base Fishing Tournament
* 100 Mile Menu
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition

*Saturday 6 March *

* Bay of Plenty Steamer Coastal Tour
* One Base Fishing Tournament
* Lifestyles of the Bay Art Exhibition
* Multicultural Festival
* Kiwi Festival Carnival

*Kiwi Festival* *2010* will officially commence on Friday 26 February with the *Iron Kid Triathlon* at The Lakes Estate, Tauriko, to promote healthy exercise for school children. Then, on the same day starting at 1:00pm, the *ZESPRI Industry Challenge *– a top town style industry event in Centennial Park, Te Puke - will celebrate the lead-in to the kiwifruit harvest season. On Friday evening *The Grand Banquet, *raising money for the Child Cancer Foundation, will be held at the Sebel Trinity Wharf, Tauranga. The Sebel will also host during the week of the *100 Mile* *Menu* lunch, inspired by the best food sourced within the region.

The *Lifestyles of the Bay Art exhibition *in association with Creative Tauranga, is another new event in the Kiwi Festival programme and the *Maketu Kaimoana Festival *will celebrate its 3rd year running. It promises to be bigger and better than ever with delicious seafood, great music and entertainment for the whole family.

On Saturday 27^th February at 12.15pm the *Bay of Plenty Steamer*, a lovingly restored monster steam engine, departs Auckland bringing visitors to Tauranga at 6.30pm (expect a huge public welcoming!). The train remains in the Bay undertaking promotional activities and excursions during festival week and the return journey on Sunday 7^th March back to Auckland will be a great experience.

Sunday 28 February is a FREE big day out to *Fiesta in the Park*, held in Jubilee Park, Te Puke, and ‘The Kiwifruit Capital of the World’. Highlights include kiwifruit inspired Guinness World Record attempts and other kiwifruit inspired activities. Look forward to the *Iron Chef Cook Off* between sports celebrities using only local ingredients from the Bay. Food and drinks, exhibits, plus great music AND the *World’s Tallest* *Inflatable Water Slide*. Visitors can even travel to Fiesta in the Park by steam train- *The Bay of Plenty Steamer* – with three return trips from the Mount to Te Puke.

*The* *Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower Contest* created with the aim of inspiring and acknowledging the talent of young people employed in the industry and the *ICE Line Careers* *in Horticulture Careers Day* will also be held during the festival.

Comvita, the Paengaroa based global marketer of high-end natural health products from New Zealand will host free public seminars including ‘*Nutritional Science Made Simple’* by Dr. Ralf Schlothauer. To celebrate the lifestyle of Bay of Plenty women, a *LipStick Lunch *with a gourmet menu will be held at Kiwi360. Natalie Bridges, the editor of the national fashion magazine /Simply You,/ will talk about how she juggles her successful career around that of her husband’s – local MP Simon Bridges.

Bernadette Soares, who has a Masters Degree in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship and owns the company Brand Value and some of New Zealand’s most iconic beauty brands, will also share her secrets of success.

Kiwi Festival 2010 also includes sports events such as the *Multicultural Football* *Tournament *and fun *Golf *events for children and parents* *plus a *Golf Tournament* for the more serious golfer. Arguably one the most exciting fishing events in New Zealand with up to 1,000 entries is the *One Base Fishing Tournament* organised by the Tauranga Game Fishing Club. A *Quadathlon *for students takes place at Pilot Bay. Mt Maunganui. Also during the week *Capoeira Brasil and Latino workshop* will display the excitement of their unique dance, music and martial arts.

On Saturday 6 March three very special activities bring Kiwi Festival 2010 to a close. The *Multicultural Festival* is a dedicated family day celebrating different cultures, dance, food, arts and crafts and it will be held at The Tauranga Historic Village. *The Bay of Plenty Steamer Coastal Trip *sees the steam train depart for a day excursion along the Pacific coast to Matata where in association with Classic Flyers, there will be an air display plus M.A.S.H chopper rides, classic cars and motorcycles and lots more entertainment.

Kiwi Festival 2010 will conclude on Saturday afternoon with a fabulous *Carnival *in Wharepai Domain Tauranga to celebrate global culture and music. New Zealand’s hottest live act *Kora* will take centre stage and be supported by *Batucada Sound Machine, Tahuna Breaks, Kantuta *and local Bay favourites *Tauranga Samba* and *Regan*, presenting the perfect blend of home grown and South American inspired music. Live street art, rovers and stilt walkers*, *food and wines,* Capoeira and Samba *performances* *are all part of the experience and everyone is encouraged to dress up in outlandish Carnival costumes.

Kiwi Festival 2010 was founded by the Coastal Bay of Plenty Festival Charitable Trust. It is planned that the Kiwi Festival will become an annual event, starting locally and becoming an international branding opportunity to promote the coastal Bay of Plenty.

Visit www.kiwifestival.co.nz for more information.

ENDS

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