A driving force behind some of Tauranga’s largest suburb’s most iconic events and initiatives has stepped down after six years.
Julia Manktelow resigned from her role as marketing and events manager for Pāpāmoa Unlimited in April.
Known for her boundless energy, creative vision and deep-rooted commitment to connection, Manktelow leaves behind a legacy that’s less about accolades and more about impact.
“My role wasn’t a job – it was a mission,” Manktelow said.
“To find the soul of Pāpāmoa and make it shine so brightly the rest of New Zealand couldn’t help but notice.”
During the past six years, Manktelow said she had worked to transform Pāpāmoa from a quiet coastal suburb into a vibrant community with a national profile.
During her tenure, Pāpāmoa Unlimited became synonymous with family-friendly events, cultural celebrations and community connection.
Papamoa Unlimited's event and marketing manager Julia Manktelow at the 2022 Alice in Wonderland Easter hunt. Photo / supplied
From the beloved Santa Parade to her brainchild – the award-winning Manawatia Matariki celebration – she brought bold ideas to life, always with an eye toward inclusion, joy, and purpose.
Manktelow said her path to Pāpāmoa was anything but conventional. A single mother to daughter Amaleigh, she arrived seeking connection – and found far more than she expected.
“We were Pāpāmoa’s original superhero duo,” she said, reflecting on memories from dressing up for the first Polar Plunge to standing tall as Supergirl beside Santa.
“We just wanted to sprinkle a little magic and a lot of heart around the town we are so proud to call home.”
Julia Manktelow with Mickey and Minnie Mouse at a Pāpāmoa Christmas parade. Photo / Supplied.
That combination of heart and hustle has defined Manktelow’s career.
Before joining Pāpāmoa Unlimited, she held high-level strategic roles, including national brand and sales manager at Motion Entertainment, earned awards for excellence in media, and even helped raise $150,000 through ‘Harcourts Dancing for Hospice’.
Bryan Graham and Julia Manktelow helping raise funds in Dancing for Hospice in 2021. Photo / Daily Post
Her past event creations included everything from whisky clubs to bridal shows, and she’d managed projects for MTV at Rhythm and Vines. But it was in Pāpāmoa that her passion truly took root.
Community spirit
Manktelow’s role was marked by innovation, even in the face of adversity.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, when gathering in person wasn’t possible, she devised the ‘Spooktacular Halloween Hunt’, creating socially distanced fun for families.
That spirit of reinvention continued with immersive experiences like the ‘Alice in Wonderland Trail’ and her magnum opus, the ‘Manawatia Matariki’ celebration.
For Manktelow, that Matariki event wasn’t just professional – it was personal. She said in learning more about local iwi and the history of the whenua, she reconnected with her own whakapapa and marae, Pikitu.
“It grew my own soul,” she said. “The most rewarding part was seeing the pride sparkling in the eyes of our local hapū as their stories lit up the waterway.”
Pāpāmoa waterways Matariki event in 2023. Photo / Supplied
Even as she reflected on her achievements – such as spearheading Pāpāmoa’s winning campaign for Trade Me’s “Choicest Suburb” – it’s the quiet moments that remain closest to her heart.
“The look on a child’s face seeing the lights for the first time. A message from a family saying it was the best day they’d had all year. That’s the real payment. That’s the fuel.”
What’s next
Despite her passion, Manktelow made the decision to step back. Juggling her full-time career, community commitments, and solo motherhood left her running on empty.
“The passion was still burning bright, but the fuel was gone. I needed to consciously recharge.”
That recharge is under way. Manktelow now holds a senior role with Domain, where she’s using her skills to empower real estate agents across the central North Island, helping them connect more meaningfully with their own communities.
Julia Manktelow with the ‘Best Overall Float’ trophy in 2024. Photo/Supplied.
But don’t count her out of the community space just yet.
“This is a pause, not a full stop,” she said. “Community is in my DNA. That fire will never go out.”
Thank you
Manktelow’s farewell comes with a heartfelt thank you to all who supported her journey – from iwi partners and local sponsors to the Pāpāmoa Senior Rugby Club, who she called “a true reflection of what club culture should be”.
“Most of all, thank you to the community of Pāpāmoa,” she said.
“You were the magic behind it all. “You made this place home for me and my daughter, and for that, I am forever grateful.”
She encourages the community to “dream big”.
“Lead with a heart of service. And know I’ll be cheering you on.”