Bonjour à tous et à toutes !

Bastille Day Celebrations – Advance Notice
Soirée Quiz 2026  le 14 juillet

Date: Tuesday 14^th July 2026  (Actually on Bastille Day this year !)
Venue: Wesley Church, 100 13^th Ave, Tauranga
Quiz Start Time: 7pm
Cost: $20 per person
Bring: Yourself, your friends, your partners, in fact anyone who wants to have fun, stretch their mind in hexagonal directions, and discover what they know about all things French. We will provide supper, some spot prizes and some entertainment.
Format: Tables of 4-6 people (not necessarily pre-arranged). Questions are about France, French things, Francophone countries and Franco-NZ links. Questions are in both French and English, so no French language knowledge and no dictionaries are required. No laptops or other digital devices please.
Lots of multiple-choice questions plus some that require answers. For example:

1: France has which geometric shape ?    a) pentagon    b) hexagon    c) heptagon ?
2: One of the Beatle’s songs begins with the Marseillaise.  Which one ?
a)  Michelle    b) Here comes the Sun King   c) All you need is love
3: Toi Tauranga, what is it ?
Book in : Numbers may be limited this year.  Phone 578 9416 or email shelley@lovefrench.nz

 

Petanque Open Doubles Challenge  – Theme: Bastille Day

Date: Saturday 18^th July 2026
Venue: Mount
Start Time: 10.30am registration for 11.00am start
Cost: $10 per person – pay cash or IB on the day – Hot soup and bun included. Bring cash for $2 raffles.
There will be 4 x 50 minute randomly drawn games.  All ages and abilities welcome.
Single entries welcomed – partner will be arranged. Bring your friends.
Bring your own boules if you have them, but there will be plenty available if you don’t.
Entries to Bruce dbinglis1@gmail.com or 022 309 9143 by Thursday 16^th July would assist with planning.

The Tauranga Tree in Paris

You may already be on that European holiday, or it is fast approaching. So just a reminder (yes, another one) that, if you are passing through/staying in Paris on your travels, do stop and say bonjour to our tree in the Tuileries Gardens. Then send us your pic of ‘the tree and me’. We love to see how it’s growing !
Here’s how to find it :

Starting at the end of the garden with the hexagon (on the left on the map), head up the Grande Allée.  The Tauranga Tree is the fourth tree on the right after the Allée de Cataglione.

Whether you are juilletiste, aoûtien or septembriste , it’s going to be hot.  If current temperatures are anything to go by, you may need to add a new word to your vocabulary. « Une canicule » is a heat wave and « une canicule n’est pas un canular » (A heat wave is no joke). The Red Alert days began in June, with temperatures in the over 30s.  Good luck and be careful, to those on cycling tours. Best wishes for “des vacances fantastiques” to those already abroad, and to those about to depart.
Bon voyage ! Enjoy your travels ! Travel safe.

BUT, NOW for the BIG NEWS  !

July will see the birth of the Association Française Tauranga ! (Maybe on the 14^th, who knows ?)
A group of Francophones and Francophiles, yours truly included, have got together with the aim of establishing an Alliance Française in our city. However, before this can happen, a nonprofit Association must exist and prove its worth.  This process has begun. Some of you may have spotted the association logo at the film festival.  Some of you may even have filled in a survey telling us what French linked activities and events you would like to take part in.  Merci beaucoup. There have been suggestions & requests for regular French films, food & drink events, French classes, pétanque, dancing, books, music, cooking classes, talks in English about French history, art etc plus social events and celebrations in general.  We will do our best. A website is well on its way : aftauranga.nz.
Pop in and have a look and register your interest.  On vous attend.

Already in the starting blocks are two Walk and Talk en francais  groups

Walk & Talk in French
Join us for a relaxed Walk & Talk en français!
Friday 19 June & Friday 3 July 
9:15am
Meet outside Zone Café, Owens Place (near Bayfair)
We’ll enjoy a gentle 20–25 minute walk to explore the Bayfair Reserve Wetland Restoration Project, followed by an optional coffee and morning tea at Zone Café.
If the weather is stormy, we’ll skip the walk and meet straight for coffee instead.
Feel free to let Elodie know – 02102790696.
All levels welcome – come along for fresh air, good conversation, and a touch of French!

Walk & Talk in French
Join us for a relaxed Walk & Talk en français!
1^st Monday of the month – starting July 6th 
9:00am
Meet by Carmichael  reserve toilets
We’ll enjoy a gentle walk for approximately 1 hour around Carmichael reserve. This will be followed by an optional coffee/tea or morning tea at one of the Bethlehem cafés.
In case of rain or storm the walk will be cancelled.
Feel free to contact Françoise – 0274 627 549.

À l’écran …. On the big screen In July

Return of Festival Films
Date: From now…
Venue: Luxe Cinema Tauranga and Papamoa
If you missed the The Richest Woman in the World, you are in luck. It is the first of the French festival films to return and will be showing from next week. There will be others to follow. If we spot a movie to watch, we pop it here. https://www.frenchwithshelley.co.nz/at-the-movies-this-week/

Tauranga Film Society: French Film Joy House (Les félins)
Date: Wednesday 8^th July 2025
Venue: Luxe Cinema Tauranga
Time: 6pm
This stylish ’60s neo-noir psychological thriller stars Alain Delon and Jane Fonda in a tale of a conman hiding out in a Gothic Riviera mansion with two mysterious beauties.
DIRECTOR: René Clément.  In French with English subtitles
Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwLHRW83BqA&t=6s
For full details  https://www.nzfilmsociety.org.nz/tauranga.html0

French Movie at the Arts Junction Katikati
July : Date & Time  to be confirmed
Eiffel (2021), a romantic drama in French with English subtitles  Having just finished his work on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel was at the height of his career. The French government wanted him to create something spectacular for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris, but Eiffel was only interested in the metro project. Everything changed the day he met his childhood sweetheart again. Their forbidden relationship inspired him to change the Paris skyline forever.
Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-gAL0_e2E4&t=6s

Au petit écran – on the Small Screen
DVDs to Lend Out
I have approximately 120 French DVDs that anyone who is still able to view DVDs is most welcome to borrow. There are comedies and dramas, recent and older films, famous actors and less famous. All are subtitled in English. Let me know if you don’t have, but would like, the catalogue and then make your choice.
shelley@lovefrench.nz  or ph 07 578 9416.  No charge.
TVNZ On Demand :
People are talking about the 4 part Voltaire in love, and The Paris Murders , among others, in French with English subtitles :    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/categories
TV5 Monde Plus:
Watch movies, series, documentaries, short films etc – opt into subtitles if you wish.
https://www.tv5mondeplus.com/
BUT they also have a free Langue Française section with videos, articles, games and learning exercises https://langue-francaise.tv5monde.com/
Netflix :  Always lots to choose from.
Library Movie Streaming:
All you need is a Tauranga City library card and the internet and you will be able to access over a thousand films and documentaries via Beamafilm, or classical music, concerts, ballets ,documentaries, artist portraits and education programmes via Medici TV.  All access is free.
For more info: https://library.tauranga.govt.nz/digital-library/streaming
PS: The library also has real books and, in particular, a French novel section.

Ateliers Peinture avec Audrey: Friday Painting Workshops

* French + Art in the Afternoons
Audrey is proposing afternoon workshops for Francophiles. Explore and develop your artistic side and your language skills at the same time. Listen to French, use French, experience French in a practical hands-on situation with a French artist tutor.
When : Fridays  1.30pm – 3.30pm
Cost : $50 per person per session
All materials are included with nibbles and soft drinks. Contact Audrey to book in.
* Monthly Friday Evening Workshops
For an evening of creativity and fun, Audrey Dubois has the following up-coming Friday evening 6pm-9pm workshops. Explore your artistic side and create a beautiful tableau. No prior experience required. All materials are supplied.
Le 17 juillet, Watercolour $70
Le 21 aout, Acrylic $70
Le 18 septembre, Watercolour $70
Le 16 octobre, Acrylic with markers $80
Le 20 novembre, Sketching & watercolour $70
Contact Audrey Audrey.duboisnz@gmail.com or ph 022 502 1671
Website: https://www.week-end-a-la-mer.com/

Bread making Classes
Small group classes. Create your own small group and choose a date. You will be making baguettes, brioche & other breads. Separate class for sourdough baking. Weekday or Saturday groups, usually 9am – 1-1.30pm. Morning tea and lunch provided. Class fees are all donated to Parkinson’s Research.
Fabulous mornings & great bread says everyone who has ever done a class.
NB: You will definitely be making BREAD Baguettes, not chop stick baguettes ,nor a wizard’s wand baguette magique, nor a music conductor’s baguette.
Contact Barbara bbfitz2@icloud.com  or phone 027 548 6961

French Café Meetup Omokoroa
Thursday, 2 July at 11:00 am at the Omokoroa Boat Club.
Join him for a friendly chat in French. It’s a relaxed, informal gathering over a drink — perfect for practising and socialising, no matter your level of French.
Contact Stephane stephanes@mortgagelab.co.nz  or ph 022 477 3809

New Caledonia – Pacific Heart
If you haven’t made other plans, Aircalin are offering  return flights to New Caledonia from $620 per person.  As they say, “You don’t need to go all the way to Europe to experience France. Immerse yourself in local Melanesian and French cultures with incredible cuisine. New Caledonia has something for everyone on land and sea. Visit it’s many beautiful islands and islets, or explore its unique bushlands and forests. Discover this truly unique destination in just under 3 hours from Auckland, on direct flights with Aircalin”.
URGENT Sale ends 19 June !!! :  https://www.aircalin.co.nz/en

New Caledonia French Immersion Trip 16^th– 25^th October 2026
Alliance Française Auckland is organising this trip which promises
“10 days of French language, culture and unforgettable experiences !”
Enrolment deadline for the trip is 24^th July 2026
All the details are here : https://www.alliance-francaise.co.nz/immersion-trips/new-caledonia-trip/
There is also an ONLINE Information Meeting on Thursday June 25^th 6pm-7pm
Go speak it for real !

Les Bonnes Adresses autour de chez nous !
Francophones are everywhere…
There are 299 in our area !
Grab a café, or something more consistent, in one of our visibly French-linked establishments on Tuesday 14^th July Fête Nationale. Other Francophones offer other services.  You’ll find them all at  https://www.frenchwithshelley.co.nz/category/links/    If you know of anyone missing, let me know.
A new francophone to add :

Le français et la coiffure / French and Hairdressing
Christine, French-South-African – Highly Commended Stylist of the Year – is passionate about hair… and her French heritage. You will find her at Rodney Wayne Bethlehem.
Phone ; 07 579 1117 Email : bethlehem@rodneywayne.co.nz

 Celebrate à la française & Les journées internationales
These pop up on the website https://www.frenchwithshelley.co.nz/category/days/ as the weeks pass by. You may have seen the film “The Divine Sarah Bernhardt”.  Have a look in July to see what Sarah did to scandalise Paris – well, at least read one of the scandalous things she did.
Tous les jours : Every day is Wordle Day – not yet officially a World Day but getting close.
You can try it in French on https://wordlegame.org/fr

La Fête de la Musique le 21 juin
Music gives rhythm to life.  June 21^st is the longest day of the year in France.  People are invited to sing, to dance, to juggle rock and folk, songs and sets while strolling in a park or on the street. The wide community of professionals, amateurs, enthusiasts, young and old, choirs, ensembles, bands (brass as well), music lovers plus the simply curious celebrate together throughout France.

So, this Sunday, find a gig, burst into song, close your eyes, let yourself be transported, discover new sounds and, as your shoulders and feet begin to move instinctively, rediscover those old dances.  Vive la musique !
And, if none of this works, just blow your own trumpet !

NB: Alliance Francaise Auckland’s happening place is 269 Parnell Road on Saturday 20^th 5pm-10pm. Free entry.

Le tube du jour
Speaking of music, have you ever wondered what song was “le numéro 1” when you were born ?  The site playback.fm will give you the international hit, but why not have a look at what was hot in France !
PlayBack propose le même service avec des titres made in France !

   And lastly
If you are looking to widen your range of learning activities, check out the www.letslearn.co.nz site and have a great life of learning.