DescriptionJocelyn Buchanan, former Tauranga Jazz Society president, put together a visual history of the festival which showcased at Creative Tauranga from March 30 over the Easter period. This poster represented the 1990s. The Nineties 1990 It's official! The Festival is granted national status by the 1990 Commission. However organisers experience difficulties in attracting sponsors as Auckland again starts a simultaneous jazz festival of their own. 1991 Jazz and rock go head to head at the first annual cricket match played each Easter Monday – Jazz vz Rock “n Roll. The teams are led by Neil McKenzie “Dr Jaz” and Richie Pickett. All proceeds are donated to the Children”s Ward of Tauranga hospital. 1992 The Festival moves to Ōtūmoetai Trust Hotel to cut costs and save time. At the Racecourse volunteers took a week off work to build stages and backdrops as well as have sound systems and chairs brought in. The Trust had most of these facilities available in two separate rooms so two stages could continue to run concurrently. The Festival is located at the Trust for the next five years. 1997 Major sponsorship becomes difficult to find. Local business leaders are no longer a part of the organising committee. Musicians keep the festival going. 1998 Baycourt now has sound proofing between the Exhibition space and the Main Theatre. So with the need for a larger venue, the Festival moves back into town with two venues. Baycourt and the “Jazz Carnival” on the Strand. 1999 A big year for the Festival as it goes online with its first website. A recordbreaking number of bands, twentythree compete in the Youth Band Competitions. Montana Wines become the naming rights sponsor and this alliance remains until 2007. And it”s all held together by volunteers.
