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New Zealand Country Music Star Awards

While country music originated in America’s South and has maintained its popularity across the States since the 1920s, the genre has expanded its global reach in recent years – even making it to the Top 40 Chart. The power of the internet may have played its part in that, but here in New Zealand, a local event has been fostering and promoting country music for all age levels, since 1976. The New Zealand Country Music Star Awards are held annually in Tauranga, comprising of two days of compet...

BOP Sport Climbing Association Speed Wall

Sport climbing is scheduled to make its Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo next year. Since its announcement as an Olympic Sport, interest has skyrocketed, with Bay of Plenty Sport Climbing Association (BOPSCA) seeing a 20% increase in membership each year. The sport features three disciplines: bouldering, lead climbing and speed climbing. While Kiwi athletes have had ample access to bouldering and lead climbing, the closest Olympic sized speed wall was over in New Caledonia. &nb...

Olympic Weightlifting National Championships

While not every event is suited to everybody's interests, most of them provide a ripple effect that not only benefits the region, but our people. And some even surprise us by sparking a new passion.  The Olympic Weightlifting National Championships is one such event that wrapped up earlier this month. Held for the first time in Mount Maunganui this year, over 120 athletes travelled from around New Zealand and locally to take part. With its growth over the years - now boasting over 50% fema...

Life Education Trust Responds to Children's Needs

We know Harold the giraffe well. We remember the excitement as the mobile classroom pulled up. It was a highlight of the school year – a visit from Life Education Trust. The charity's interactive lessons were a memorable part of our childhood, and they continue to educate and inspire children today. Empowering children to make safer and healthier choices, their programme covers topics such as identity and resilience, food and nutrition, human biology, relationships and communities, and substan...

Tauranga Riding for the Disabled

For six-year-old Katie O’Callaghan, riding her ‘unicorns’ Flicka and Blue at Tauranga Riding for the Disabled is the highlight of her week. Whether trotting, playing games on the ponies, or riding up big hills, Katie is rarely seen without a smile on her face. Katie’s mother Rochelle says the past two years riding at RDA and spending time with the horses and instructors has helped Katie with many aspects of her development. “Katie has Global Developmental Delay, and her time riding at ...

Surf Life Saving New Zealand

For those working in the emergency services, saving someone with severe injuries is a task that requires plenty of precaution and careful manoeuvring. For Surf Lifeguards, water adds another element of complexity. Kent Jarman (KJ) knows the scenario well. Volunteering as a Surf Lifeguard since 1966, he has performed several hundred rescues. His work has seen him receive an MNZM for services to Surf Lifesaving, multiple nominations for rescue of the year, and the National Lifeguard of the Year a...

St Peters House see spike in demand for counselling

Local charity St Peters House has seen a significant spike in demand for its counselling services, with a high number of individuals presenting with anxiety from financial pressures, stress, uncertainty due to the pandemic, or relationship issues. Since schools reopened, they have also seen an increase in young people experiencing severe anxiety, self-harming or struggling with thoughts of suicide. St Peters House Manager Cath Page says while demand is always high for their counselling services,...

Pregnancy Choice

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be a scary experience. For those women who are young, alone, or unsure of what to do next, feelings of fear, pressure and confusion can take over. Helping support hundreds of women in our region through these feelings is local charity Pregnancy Choice. The volunteer non-profit organisation equips and supports women facing a crisis or troubled pregnancy. They do this by providing free pregnancy tests, counselling, educational classes, and practical support with ...

Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy

There's nothing quite like being out on the open water, enjoying the freedom and speed of sailing. It not only requires technical skills and expertise, but discipline, self-confidence, and fitness. But it's a sport that can seem out of reach to many in our region, particularly for young people, with equipment, coaching and club costs quickly adding up. These costs, along with the general cost of living and the demands on parents' time, make it difficult for many families to get into sailing. Lo...

Venture Centre

Starting a new business can be a daunting endeavour. Questions of should I, can I, and where do I begin, are often at the forefront of the entrepreneur's mind. For Kat Stephenson, the idea to start a dog obedience service sparked similar questions. The idea came out of her childhood passion for animals and a first love for farm dogs, which led Kat to pursue dog training as a hobby and become a qualified dog trainer through the Australian National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF). With a background...

Tauranga Hockey Association

Tauranga Hockey Association's third turf was officially opened in October 2020, with members of the association, community and key stakeholders in attendance. The opening party included Turi Ngatai from Ngāi Tukairangi/Ngati Kuku, Tauranga Hockey Chair Peter Puchner, Tauranga Hockey President Gill Gemming, Deputy Mayor Tina Salisbury, and TECT Trustee Peter Farmer. The speakers discussed Tauranga Hockey's 100-year history, the value of the facilities for our community, and the years of hard wo...

Aphasia leads to loneliness for local woman

Imagine knowing what you want to say, but being unable to say it. Hearing instructions, but struggling to understand them. For the thousands of people that live with Aphasia in New Zealand, this is their everyday reality – one that can bring with it many challenges and frustration. The communication disorder affects the production and comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. This happens when the language area of the brain is damaged from a head injury, disease of the brain, o...

Funding helps social service provider meet increasing demand

While life feels like it is somewhat back to normal, for many in our community, normal was not a good place to begin with. But Covid-19 and the lockdown has added another layer of complexity, with job losses, an increase in domestic violence, and negative impacts on mental health.   One charity helping to address these issues at the deeper level is Families Achieving Balance (FAB). FAB provides a free social service to vulnerable families in our community dealing with issues such as trauma,...

Healthy Housing Programme Receives $1.5M Through Collaborative Funding Partnership

Local funders and agencies have come together to tackle one of our region’s biggest problems; that our poor housing stock is having a serious impact on our health. The programme, called 20 Degrees, aims to work with over 500 homes in the Bay over the next three years, with a vision for each home to reach 20°C, as recommended by the World Health Organisation for individuals who are vulnerable, unwell and prone to respiratory illnesses. It’s a huge task to take on, but one that can make a tra...

Over $57K donated through TECT rebates

TECT beneficiaries have given back over $57,000 to our community since July 2019 by donating their TECT rebate to the Acorn Foundation Vital Impact Fund. The fund invests donations, and interest earned from this investment is distributed each year to deserving Western Bay community organisations - so donations can keep growing and giving forever. Community groups supported by the fund this year include Sustainability Options, Grief Support Services, KidsCan Charitable Trust and St Peter's House....

Ultimate Fun Fest to celebrate TECT Park’s 10th year

Come and celebrate the tenth birthday at TECT Park in style. Western Bay of Plenty District and Tauranga City councils invite everyone to the TECT Park Ultimate Fun Fest on Saturday, 28 November for an extravaganza of free fun, entertainment, activities and birthday celebrations. Pack a picnic, grab a chair, torch and some cash – and join in on what is a jam-packed event with a day and night session. From 10am until 3pm there’s the annual Mud Dog Run, bouncy castle, pony rides, face painti...

Big Buddy now in Tauranga Helping Change Fatherless Boys' Lives

Boys without dads can miss out on a lot of things in life.  A role model to look up to, a guide towards manhood, and that special father-son bond. The long-term effects of this can be devastating, impacting a boy's development and the man they grow up to be. From social problems and low self-esteem, to poor academic performance and criminal behaviours, these boys can miss out on the opportunity to reach their full potential. It estimated that in Tauranga, there are around 500 to 700 father...

Te Puke Cricket Club

Established in 1886, the Te Puke Cricket Club has a long history in our region. As one of the most highly regarded and well-utilised cricketing venues in the Bay of Plenty, the Club caters for players young and old at all levels of play, with junior teams, a premier team, a senior reserve team and 16 social teams. The Club recently completed refurbishments on their pavilion at Te Puke Domain. The work included rebuilding the deck, adding some tiered grandstand seating, extending the club rooms,...

Omokoroa Pavilion Officially Opens

Community collaboration is being praised as the driving force for Omokoroa’s new $1.6 million sports pavilion turning from a dream into a reality. The purpose-built two-storey facility (1050m2) was officially opened this morning by Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber and Omokoroa Sports and Recreation Society Chair Richard Gerrish at the Western Avenue Recreation Reserve. The pavilion will be home base for the Omokoroa Sport and Recreation Society and it is also the new temporary location for Weste...

Shakti Supports and Empowers Ethnic Women

There have been numerous support systems established and expanded in response to Covid-19 and the lockdown. From wage subsidies and redundancy payments, to counselling and domestic abuse support, our country has responded quickly to ensure we survive the financial and mental toll of a worldwide pandemic. But in this time of crisis, many migrant women have been further marginalised. Women without permanent residency who are in abusive relationships have been one of the most highly impacted group...

Youth Encounter

Quintin White has come a long way since the start of the year. The 15-year-old was on the brink of moving to Alternative Education after struggling in school earlier this year. He knew back then that it wasn’t where he was meant to be and he needed to change. To help him get back on track, Quintin was referred to Youth Encounter – a charity that helps young people reach their full potential through dirt bike therapy, mentoring, camps and leadership courses. When he first joined their eight-w...

TECT Park

Lockdown taught us to appreciate many things; time spent with family, our healthcare workers, and the little things in life that bring us joy. It was also a reminder of just how important the great outdoors is for our wellbeing, and how lucky we are in the Western Bay to be surrounded by beautiful beaches, tracks, and bush to enjoy it. While TECT Park was closed during lockdown, with some restrictions as we moved down the levels, it is now back open – and busier than ever. TECT Park Operation...

Merivale Community Garden

We all know we should eat our fruit and vegetables. But Merivale Community Garden is teaching our community the many benefits of growing them too. Merivale Community Garden was established back in 2012 when an empty section on the corner of Fraser Street and Alverstoke Road was made available by Housing New Zealand. Where there once was nothing but a concrete slab and plenty of flax, now is a thriving garden filled with cabbage, kale, silverbeet, butter beans, celery, rhubarb and more. And it�...

Community Groups Receive $177,600 in Covid-19 Recovery Funding

The WBOP COVID-19 Recovery Fund has paid out an additional $177,600 in funding to local community groups struggling with increased demand or income shortfall due to Covid-19. The successful recipients include Youth Search and Rescue, BOP Classic Aircraft Trust, AphasiaNZ, Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service, Shakti Ethnic Women’s Support Group, The Boys Brigade NZ, Families Achieving Balance, Live for More, and Big Buddy Mentoring. The Recovery Fund aims to support key Western Bay NFPs and NGOs ...

Sport Bay of Plenty - Water Safety Strategy

As an island nation, our beaches, rivers and lakes provide ample opportunity to swim, play and participate in water sports. These are all part of the quintessential Kiwi lifestyle. But with this comes an increased risk of accidents, unpredictable conditions and currently, a lack of skills to navigate these. Drowning is the number one cause of recreational deaths in New Zealand, and the Bay of Plenty has the fourth-highest regional drowning rate in the country. Each one of these deaths is a lif...