Tauranga singer Stan Walker is home for summer and has joined the line-up of stars performing at New Year's Eve events across the city.
Organisers of The G2 Resolution New Year's Eve party this week confirmed he would be hosting the 11 hour R&B; and reggae festival.
Co-ordinator Jewel Tipene said the Greerton concert took shape when G2 Bar and Events Centre staff heard Papamoa's reggae festival Exodus would not be going ahead this year.
"Way back at the beginning of the year we had booked Ardijah to come here for New Year's but when we heard Exodus wasn't happening we thought there's no one catering to the R&B; and reggae scene so we thought we'd take it on," she said.
The event at the little-known bar on Maleme St got a huge boost this week with the announcement Stan Walker would be MC for the night.
"He's really excited about being home and he wanted to do something that's happening at home.
He knows a lot of the people who are performing really well," Ms Tipene said. "He's MCing for us.
"We're hoping he will chuck a couple of songs in there for us. We're just so excited."
Ten Kiwi acts including Ardijah, Three Houses Down, Tasty Brown and DJ Namron would be performing.
About 800 of the 1500 available tickets had already been sold.
"We're hoping to be sold out by the end of next week."
At Mount Maunganui Main Beach two stages would see bands and DJs playing from 8pm on December 31 through to the new year.
Free entertainment will run throughout the day and end with performances by local bands The Generators, RPM and Triple J as well as Kara Gordon Band, Jessie Matthews and DJ Candy.
The new year will be welcomed in with a fireworks display off Main Beach.
The Black Seeds, I Am Giant and Aaradhna are among the line-up for the first ever Mount Vibes, which will be held at ASB Baypark on New Year's Eve.
Event organisers are hoping about 6000 people will buy tickets to see the 17 acts that are performing across two stages.
At Brewers Field Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian will be performing as part of The Get Along Tour with support from David Ryan Harris.
In Papamoa DJs General Lee, Mikael Wills and Ben Merito will be playing at the Pap Tav on New Year's Eve.
During the build-up to New Year's Eve the summer ambassadors will be out and about around the Tauranga City Council Beach Base handing out information and give-aways.
Games and free sausage sizzles will be held at the Classic Hits Beach Village next door.