Fun in the sun at Arataki Community Day

The sun shone as hundreds of people enjoyed the activities and entertainment at the Proud to be Arataki Community Day.

Grenada Park was packed with families and friends who celebrated the first birthday of the Arataki Community Centre at the weekend.

Centre manager Matthew Strange said the event was about showcasing the talents of people in the community to the wider Western Bay and reduce the negative stigma surrounding Arataki.

"It has been a lot of hard work organising this and I would like to thank all the people for coming because this is a great community," he said.

"We wanted to showcase this community to the greater Tauranga and show people there's been a real change in Arataki. The community centre has helped bring people together and I am really proud of what we have all achieved today."

On show were performances from community groups, including Zumba, flamenco dancing, Brazilian capoeira, hip hop and cheerleading.

For one of the entertainment acts, aerial silk artist Teresa Gosling defied gravity and hung underneath a crane by a piece of silk, wrapped delicately around her body.

The Papamoa woman climbed up the piece of silk and when she was about 10 metres above the ground, she released her hands and her body twirled downward, stopping less than two metres from the ground.

Mr Strange said the day provided opportunities for people in the community, such as Mrs Gosling, to showcase their talents to the wider community.

"There's a lot going on in our community and sometimes people comment that they didn't even know these groups existed."

At the nearby skate bowl, experts led skate boarding, scooter and BMX demonstrations to a crowd of about 100 youth.

Mr Strange said there wouldn't be any financial gains from the free community day but was rewarded in other ways.

"We weren't doing this for our own benefit, we were doing this for the community because that's what this is all about."

"I really enjoy seeing people enjoy themselves ... and I think today has exceeded all our expectations."

More than 40 groups use the Arataki Community Centre.