Creative Bay of Plenty and Our Place Magazine invite you to share a meal, exchange ideas, and build creative community with us in the Western Bay! We’re once again gathering artists, friends, and community leaders for the next Creative Connections Lunch on 25 February at Trinity Wharf. Join us for a truly inspiring meal, casual conversations, and talk of arts, culture, and heritage in 2021...

Our special menu includes a choice of grilled lamb rump served with Moroccan style couscous, baby vegetables and rosemary jus; pan-fried Mt Cook salmon served with minted garden pea puree, summer vegetables, tomato concasse and saffron Beurre Blanc; chicken galantine served with potato fondant, spiced red cabbage, grilled baby vegetable and cider jus; and roasted potato gnocchi served with grilled Mediterranean vegetables, sun-dried tomato & basil pesto and shaved parmesan.

Once again, we promise there will be no speeches, no slide shows, and no printed agenda—but plenty of good food, shared conversations, and spontaneous ideas about arts, culture, and heritage. If you missed the inaugural Creative Connections Lunch, here's your chance to dine with Bay of Plenty artists, producers, non-profit staff, musicians, civic leaders, gallery managers, educators, community advocates, curators, carvers, poets, festival directors, story-tellers and other creative people in the neighbourhood.

Reserve your place now then join us at noon on 25 February at Trinity Wharf in Tauranga. It’s all part of our plan to make the Western Bay the most creative and interesting place in Aotearoa—and collaborate with one another like never before. Let's sit down, break some bread, have a chat, and get some new things going...

About Trinity Wharf

Crafted by our team of gifted chefs, Trinity Wharf's seasonal menus reflect the Bay of Plenty's abundant supply of superb ingredients and the highest quality New Zealand produce. Bold and flavourful dishes are designed to be remembered and enjoyed with our vast selection of wines, craft beers and cocktails. Set over and above the water on one of Trinity Wharf's three piers, the restaurant's panoramic harbour views framed by floor to ceiling glass bring the tranquil elements of the outside world in—with coastal decor elements imparting a tranquil ambience and relaxing waterside retreat. Our team is ready to welcome you to your table for the first Creative Connections Lunch!

About Our Place Magazine

If National Geographic and Monocle had a love child it would look like Our Place. The little gem of a magazine celebrates our area and champions our locals in each and every issue. It draws in curious minds and introduces lesser-known businesses, movements and people—revealing a rich mix of content all connected by the theme of community. It tackles design and architecture without sounding stuffy or elite, and offers a different perspective on subjects ranging from fashion, sport and music, to wellbeing, restaurants and bars. The magazine's contemporary and playful approach to design and photography captures the distinct spirit of our city—through bespoke content and page after page of good writing and Bay of Plenty stories. Our Place offers an original and stimulating view into what makes our place - our city - tick—and we can't wait for you to join us at the Creative Connections Lunch table.

About Creative Bay of Plenty

Creative Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand's leading regional arts and culture organisations. We were initially established in 1969 as the Tauranga Community Arts Council to support the growth of the creative sector—and have been doing that ever since. Now based at The Kollective, our small team promotes local artists and organisations, supports cultural identity and civic developments, offers networking opportunities, advocates for creative placemaking and community engagement, and dreams up new arts, culture, and heritage initiatives. We provide leadership on the delivery of the Arts and Culture Strategy Toi Moana, and receive important operational funding from both the Tauranga City Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council to serve the region. We love partnering with creative folks like Our Place Magazine and local businesses like Trinity Wharf—who share a desire to make our lives more interesting and expressive. In fact, our board, staff, and partners won't stop until Tauranga and our region are known as the most creative place in Aotearoa. Thanks for helping us get there. Now let's do lunch!