In 2007 the Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society Incorporated celebrated their Golden Anniversary - the fiftieth Tauranga Festival of Performing Arts.
Records show that the Competitions were first held in Tauranga in 1958, run by a private group of interested business men and women, a number of the societies trophies originate from that very first competition.
Following the 1967 competitions these people were no longer able to maintain their commitment and the competitions were to be discontinued. Support was sought from amongst the wider performing arts community, and a new nine member committee was formed under the presidency of Mr. Hardie F. Drake. Committee members included stalwarts of the competitions movement Mrs. Nora Warrington and Mrs. Undine Clarke.
Despite some times of anxiety caused by dwindling finances, and from time to time a diminished volunteer base the Tauranga Competitions Society has held an annual festival ever since. Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society Inc, as we know it today, was formally incorporated in 1987.
Tauranga has long been a supporter of the competitions movement at a national level. Records show that the first association began in 1958 when Tauranga was listed as a member of the New Zealand Competition Festivals Association. At the time there was a high level of political interest with the attendance of then Prime minister the Rt. Hon. Mr. Walter Nash at the 1959 Annual Conference. Mr. Nash was recorded as stating (abridged):
“I question whether or not there is any other supplementary educational institution doing more than the Competitions Societies. Whilst I feel there was little difference between the teenagers of sixty and more years ago with those of today, it must be accepted that there were certain differences with far more temptations available to today's youth. Such temptations result from greater prosperity and the greater amount of money available to teen agers of today. I believe that there was always a desire and a willingness for the display of talent, Competitions Societies do much to give that opportunity. It is extremely difficult to truly value the advantages accruing to a community because of that work.”
In December of 2011 Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society Inc established a Community Endowment Fund with the Acorn Foundation. To discover more visit our Community Endowment Page .
Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society is a member of the national body for performing arts; Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand Inc. (Pacanz).
Tauranga was the host city for the National Young Performer of Awards (Finals) from 2004 - 2008.
Records show that the Competitions were first held in Tauranga in 1958, run by a private group of interested business men and women, a number of the societies trophies originate from that very first competition.
Following the 1967 competitions these people were no longer able to maintain their commitment and the competitions were to be discontinued. Support was sought from amongst the wider performing arts community, and a new nine member committee was formed under the presidency of Mr. Hardie F. Drake. Committee members included stalwarts of the competitions movement Mrs. Nora Warrington and Mrs. Undine Clarke.
Despite some times of anxiety caused by dwindling finances, and from time to time a diminished volunteer base the Tauranga Competitions Society has held an annual festival ever since. Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society Inc, as we know it today, was formally incorporated in 1987.
Tauranga has long been a supporter of the competitions movement at a national level. Records show that the first association began in 1958 when Tauranga was listed as a member of the New Zealand Competition Festivals Association. At the time there was a high level of political interest with the attendance of then Prime minister the Rt. Hon. Mr. Walter Nash at the 1959 Annual Conference. Mr. Nash was recorded as stating (abridged):
“I question whether or not there is any other supplementary educational institution doing more than the Competitions Societies. Whilst I feel there was little difference between the teenagers of sixty and more years ago with those of today, it must be accepted that there were certain differences with far more temptations available to today's youth. Such temptations result from greater prosperity and the greater amount of money available to teen agers of today. I believe that there was always a desire and a willingness for the display of talent, Competitions Societies do much to give that opportunity. It is extremely difficult to truly value the advantages accruing to a community because of that work.”
In December of 2011 Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society Inc established a Community Endowment Fund with the Acorn Foundation. To discover more visit our Community Endowment Page .
Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Society is a member of the national body for performing arts; Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand Inc. (Pacanz).
Tauranga was the host city for the National Young Performer of Awards (Finals) from 2004 - 2008.