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New Western Bay of Plenty heritage navigation tool in development

A new resource to be released during the first half of 2025 is currently in development towards discovering the many historical heritage sites across the Western Bay of Plenty which connect them to their communities.Taonga Tū Heritage Bay of Plenty, working with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT), local hapū and iwi, Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Community Archives and history groups across the rohe, are developing a second Footprints Series to cover the Western Bay of Pl...

SeniorNet bridging the digital divide

Tauranga SeniorNet Club is a dedicated community organisation that was launched in 1996. The club was created to bridge the digital divide for seniors through a team of passionate volunteers who provide a learning space and personalised coaching to help seniors master technology in their everyday lives.SeniorNet recognises the increasing importance of digital literacy in today’s world and has developed programmes to empower seniors with the skills needed to stay connected with family, friends,...

Stand Tall unlocks young entrepreneur’s potential

Stand Tall is a registered charity based in Tauranga, dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial and digital capabilities among young people aged 15-24. Now in its third year, Stand Tall delivers an integrated programme of work that equips young people with the skills needed to thrive in today’s fast-evolving economy.Stand Tall initiatives are designed to address the unique challenges young people face in the Bay of Plenty, focusing on creativity, self-discovery, and innovation. They provide acces...

Youth Voices Action empowers Bay of Plenty rangatahi

Youth Voices Action (YVA) is on a mission to empower young people across the Bay of Plenty by creating safe, inclusive spaces where rangatahi can be themselves, share their ideas, and make a real impact in their communities. Focused on youth-led initiatives, YVA ensures that every project and event reflects the true needs of the young people they meet.At the heart of YVA’s work is a commitment to fostering leadership and providing opportunities for youth to take charge of their future. Through...

BOP Classic Aircraft Trust has it all

Classic Flyers NZ, the Tauranga-based Aircraft Museum, is a testament to the power of community and shared passion. It's more than just a museum; it's a tribute to the local aviation enthusiasts who came together to preserve a large 1940s hangar at Tauranga Airfield. This collective effort led to creating the Bay of Plenty Classic Aircraft Trust.The BOP Classic Aircraft Trust represents passionate individuals dedicated to preserving New Zealand aviation's rich history. Since its establishment in...

Big Buddy volunteers show up and come back

Building confidence and resilience can be difficult for young boys who grow up without their fathers. Big Buddy Mentoring Trust alleviates that by finding willing volunteers who are local good guys from the community to support boys aged between seven and fourteen.A Big Buddy acts as a role model, offering the boys the opportunity to have one-on-one time with a trusted male adult they can admire and trust.A Big Buddy relationship doesn’t just provide a man to do ‘blokey things’ with, it of...

Waipuna Hospice sustained by community support

Waipuna Hospice is often misconceived as a place for your final days, where in reality it is there to support terminally ill individuals and their families, ensuring they get the care they need, when they need it. This vital service’s existence is only possible through the support of the wider community. Without the generous support from individuals, local businesses and funders, Waipuna Hospice would not be here today.Each year, Waipuna Hospice cares for up to 1,000 patients and supports...

Parafed Bay of Plenty leaving no one on the sidelines

For people born with physical disabilities and for those who develop one later in life through illness or injury, opportunities for many day-to-day tasks or activities are often limited. Since 2010, locals throughout Tauranga, Western Bay, and the wider Bay of Plenty region with physical disabilities have been given the opportunity to be physically active through the support and hard work of Parafed Bay of Plenty.Parafed BOP stands out by considering physical activity as a fundamental ...

Instep Programme connects youth to careers

A major reason young people often struggle to secure their first job is a lack of experience or qualifications. Limited awareness of available job opportunities also restricts their prospects, as they are often only exposed to what is immediately around them or what is presented to them through family, friends and school career advisors.Priority One’s Instep Programme is tailored for secondary school students in the Western Bay of Plenty. It's all about fostering relationships, collaboration, ...

Music therapy - legacy of accidental activist

Famously known for singing the New Zealand national anthem at Twickenham Stadium in Te Reo Māori, Dame Hinewehi Mohi calls herself an accidental activist. Despite changing the course of our national anthem to now include Te Reo Māori and English versions, her time in the United Kingdom also exposed how music could lead to intentional change in her daughter's life.Hineraukatauri has cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture. Hineraukatauri attended the Nordoff Ro...

Local organisation helps families get their happily ever after

Unfortunately not all relationships or families get the happily ever after they want and some families need guidance along the way to reach their own version of it, even when that involves separations.Kidz Need Dadz is the helping hand offering support to families in the Bay of Plenty to help them strengthen their relationships with their children and get the best happily ever after ending possible for them.Founded in 2000, Kidz Need Dadz works mainly through strengthening the relationship betwe...

Community support for House of Science is vital

The success of House of Science is a testament to the power of community support. Sponsors' and volunteers' time and resources have helped this charitable trust grow from its Western Bay of Plenty roots and spread its impact throughout the country.  House of Science was born out of a need to address the alarming trend of students entering secondary school with little to no exposure to science. House of Science NZ is led by Chris Duggan and her dedicated local team, provide science...

Whānau cooking for whānau

Generous local community members are giving up their time, money, and resources to cook nutritious family meals to keep freezers well-stocked around Tauranga and Western Bay through the charity Kura Kai. Kura Kai was established in 2020 after Founder Makaia Carr was asked to put the ‘call out’ for volunteers to cook for her local school’s compassion freezer. Inspired by this idea, Carr decided this concept had value across the motu and created Kura Kai.  Based on quality, no...

Local MenzShed benefits local men and wider community

To onlookers, it is a simple shed. To local men of Katikati, it is a common space to gather with others with similar interests to create, build, learn, meet new people and chat.The key benefit of the Shed is having a purposeful space to gather. Although all ages are welcome, MenzShed’s main purpose is to give older, retired men a place to share skills, experiences, stories, laugh and offer support to each other in various and meaningful ways.The Katikati MenzShed also benefits the wider commun...

TECT supports Summer Lifeguarding across the Western Bay

Lined with beautiful coastlines and endless beaches and bays, the Western Bay of Plenty attracts thousands of beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers.With beautiful coastal areas comes the need for surf lifeguard patrols to ensure everyone using the beach and water makes it home safely.Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) has been saving lives for over a century, with 4,500 volunteer surf lifeguards patrolling over 90 beaches annually. Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty are home to six Surf L...