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Storytime strengthens family connections and children's development

Storytime is a fond memory for many when thinking of their childhood. Having parents, older siblings, and wider family members bringing stories to life with funny voices and extravagant expressions provides more than a bonding experience for children.Research shows a wide range of benefits of reading to babies and young children, especially throughout the first 1,000 days of their life. Children read to frequently are more likely to do better at school in reading, language, numeracy, and compreh...

Brain Tumour Support NZ helps make a tough time that little bit easier

When it comes to a negative health diagnosis, most people will know where to turn to for additional assistance and support if they’re one of the unlucky people to suffer from a stroke, heart attack, or breast or prostate cancer. That’s because these conditions are widely spoken about. What still isn’t widely spoken about are brain tumours.When Mandy Bathan was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2019, she looked for additional support and information and realised there was nothing outside of ...

Sonic Cinema swiftly becoming the heart of the disability community

Above: Sonic Cinema session at the Village Community Cinema...

Tertiary Campus Proves a Popular Choice

Despite the significant impact of COVID-19 on the tertiary sector in the past three years, the University of Waikato’s Tauranga CBD Campus has continued to operate as a major tertiary destination for students while the surrounding campus and Knowledge Precinct have also continued to grow.In the University's 2022 Tauranga Campus Annual Report, recently presented to the Tauranga Tertiary Campus Charitable Trust (who funded the initial build) showed the campus was progressing well on the key meas...

Te Manawataki o Te Papa Funding

TECT has confirmed its largest-ever funding investment towards a project of regional significance, approving a $21 million grant for Tauranga city centre’s new civic precinct. The future civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa, will include a library and community hub, civic whare (public meeting house), museum and exhibition gallery. TECT’s funding is specifically allocated to support the development of the museum and exhibition gallery, adding significant cultural, educational an...

Community gives TECT's plans green light

Following strong community support, TECT’s trustees have signed off on the Trust’s key plans to create better outcomes for current and future generations in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty....

Te Aranui Youth Trust

For children and teenagers, life should seem full of possibilities. Unfortunately, without positive influences in their lives, not all young people are aware of their true potential.Te Aranui Youth Trust is a charity working to support young people to live a life they value – with a bright future ahead.Founded over 20 years ago from a desire to provide disadvantaged youth with the tools for a positive future, Te Aranui Youth Trust surrounds youth with role models who help to inspire constructi...

Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund bigger than ever

Tauranga and Western Bay community event organisers now have access to more funding than ever before, thanks to a $200,000 boost to the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund....

Mums4Mums

Mums4Mums, founded by CJ Dafoe (front, centre), is working to address the maternal mental health crisis by providing practical, emotional and social support to new mums and babies....

Tauranga Art Gallery

Tauranga Art Gallery is continuing to engage the community in a range of diverse art experiences through their rich and inspiring public art programmes.Developed for a variety of cultural and age groups, Tauranga Art Gallery’s art programmes cater to our community’s unique identity.With art studios, family fun days, professional development workshops for school teachers, artist talks, and creative workshops, there’s plenty on offer for people wanting to explore their inner Picasso.The scho...

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust are enabling iwi-hapū-led conservation work to restore the health of the Kaimai Mamaku ranges. Pictured above: representatives from the Ōtawa Waitahi a Hei project led by Te Kapu o Waitaha....

Grow On Katikati

Giant mushroom growing workshop with Sharn Steadman of Manaaki Mushrooms....

Western Bay of Plenty Principals Association

Surfer chicks at the WBOP Primary Schools Surfing Competition at Waihi Beach in May 2023....

Inspiration at Western Bay Community Awards 2023

Heart of the Community Award winners, Poutiri Wellness Centre...

University of Waikato Tauranga campus scholarships awarded

From left to right: Kelly Berentson, Ben Jones, Erin Murphy, Jasmine Campbell, Rique Campus, Meila Kamo...

Victim Support

When New Zealanders face crisis, Victim Support is there.A free, nationwide service, Victim Support helps people who have been affected by crime, trauma, and suicide by providing them with emotional support, practical information, financial assistance, and advocacy.Victim Support offers a 24/7 contact service which connects victims with a support worker in their area who can provide support where and when the victim needs it. This could be in their home, at the police station, at the scene of an...

Tauranga Community Foodbank

The Tauranga Community Foodbank has been supporting families and individuals in the Tauranga area with emergency food assistance for 31 years.Carefully considered grocery parcels provide four days’ worth of meals, with dietary requirements and other relevant needs catered to.The local charity collaborates with social service organisations across the region to ensure wrap-around support is provided to people in need of wider assistance.“Our goal is to be in every corner,” says Tauranga Comm...

Bowentown Boating and Sport Fishing Club

Bowentown Boating and Sport Fishing Club recently celebrated the opening of their long-awaited, upgraded deck.A significantly bigger and better facility, the project has been completed just in time for summer.Wrapping around the front and western sides of the building and offering unrivalled views of the inner harbour, the deck is described as a “game-changer” by the club’s recently retired ex-Vice Commodore, John Fagan, who saw the project through from beginning to end.The club’s previo...

Aongatete Forest Project

Aongatete Forest Project is celebrating the opening of a bigger and better education facility.Supporters of Aongatete Forest Project gathered on Wednesday, November 30, to celebrate the official opening of their newly expanded kōhanga.The wet weather perfectly showcased how invaluable the covered, sheltered space will be for the organisation’s future educational aspirations.The building project started in 2021 when it became clear that the increasing number of volunteers, educational sessions...

2023 Western Bay Community Awards finalists revealed

The awards will be held at Baycourt on Thursday 16 March 2023....

Life Education

The Western Bay of Plenty Life Education mobile classroom at Pyes Pā School...

Twenty-six events across Tauranga and Western Bay backed by collaborative fund

Above: A Night Before Christmas community event...

Nominations now open for Western Bay Community Awards 2023

The awards that recognise the dedication of Western Bay of Plenty’s philanthropic community are back for 2023. Previously known as the TECT Community Awards, the awards return with a new name, the Western Bay Community Awards. The Bay’s funders Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council, and Western Bay of Plenty District Council have joined forces to deliver the awards and celebrate the community groups and volunteers who make our region such a special place to live, further r...

Welcome Bay Community Centre

The ping-pong of table tennis balls bouncing back and forth is one of the many welcoming sounds people are greeted with upon entering the Welcome Bay Community Centre (WBCC). Situated at 242 Welcome Bay Road, the community hub is in the centre of the village and well-utilised by locals. But WBCC is at the heart of Welcome Bay in more ways than one. From social table tennis groups, to youth music production workshops, to counselling services, it is a valuable resource that enriches its community....

Te Puna School

Break times have become even more exciting for students at Te Puna School with the recent construction of a pump track. Tamariki can be seen biking, roller skating, skateboarding, and riding scooters around the undulating asphalt track, which links up to other paths around the school. Te Puna School Sports Coordinator, Alexia Skipper, says the aim of the Te Puna School and Community Bike and Scooter Project, which led to the conception of the pump track, is for all students to be equipped with e...