An opportunity for Tauranga people to support those displaced by the war in Ukraine with a fundraising event this weekend.

An evening of music, fun, dance and entertainment is being held at the Tauranga Rowing Club on Saturday, July 30.

Organiser Subha Cable has no direct links to Ukraine but is eager to help the people who've been forced out of their country.

'I was born and raised in India, lived in the US, and have been in New Zealand for more than 24 years. I'm a Kiwi now but having lived in three countries I think of myself to be a global citizen.

'On a humanitarian level, I think borders are meaningless as we all belong to the same species.

'We feel compassion for all people, irrespective of which country they're from.”

Subha has rallied community support for the fundraiser; Tauranga Rowing Club has provided the venue, there will be live music by Hillford, Moone and Leon Gray Lockhart.

Zumba Tauranga is putting on a performance and there will be comedy routines by Gordon Gray Lockhart and Summer Xia as well as a fashion show by Polished Frocks.

'We live in a small country in the south Pacific, but we are still very much connected with the rest of the world,” says Subha.

'I felt I wanted to do something to show our support so that's where the idea for the fundraiser came from.”

The Russian invasion has forced more than 12 million Ukrainian people to flee their homeland.

'They have abandoned their homes and their way of life not knowing what their future is going to be. Just reading the news on a daily basis about Russia bombing schools, hospitals, apartment buildings and other civilian targets, I kept thinking how wrong this is,” says Subha. 'It's important to me that all the proceeds from this event will be donated to people displaced by the war in Ukraine.”

Tickets for the Ukraine fundraiser are $50 at: www.humanitix.com and include food and a welcome drink.

Additional donations are gratefully received.