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X*AIR

Kiwi and international skateboarding, scooter and BMX athletes will soon be rolling into the Bay to compete in the X AIR Games from the 29-30th of July at Trustpower Arena. The event, which is supported by funding from Tourism Bay of Plenty and TECT, is expected to attract thousands of visitors. X AIR started in Hamilton in 2000 and grew to be Australasia’s largest action sports festival incorporating skate, BMX, FMX, inline, breakdancing and music by 2007. It quickly outgrew its Hamilton venu...

Collaborative fund to celebrate Māori culture reopens

Following the success of its first year, TECT is pleased to commit to the reopening of the Kaupapa Māori Legacy Event Fund, which opens Friday 1 July. The Kaupapa Māori Legacy Event Fund provides support to recurring events that celebrate tangata whenua, promote tikanga Māori, and raise awareness of historical and culturally significant events in Tauranga Moana. The focus of the fund is to support hapū and iwi to elevate and share their beautiful culture, and provide opportunities for the ...

Collaborative partnership fund to simplify community event funding process

A new community event fund for the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty regions has been launched, which will streamline application processes for community events. TECT is proud to partner with Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay Trust, and the Acorn Foundation to facilitate the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund. The idea for a collaborative fund came from successful COVID-19 response funds, and workshops involving funding partners and event industry me...

Detour Theatre

Who doesn’t love a fart joke? Uproarious laughter from the audience during Detour Theatre’s latest show, The Old People Are Revolting, would suggest that no one is too old, or decorous, for the timelessness of flatulence humour. Good thing, too, as the show delivers this in spades. A play on the word ‘revolting’, the production is about much more than undesirable bodily functions. The residents at Sunshine Retirement Village are bored. Every day is the same. The repetitiveness only inten...

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard

Construction will soon be underway on a new, purpose-built rescue vessel for Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard; a vessel that will enhance the ability of everyday volunteers to do extraordinary things – save lives at sea. Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard play an essential role in one of the busiest recreational boating areas in Aotearoa. Volunteers come to the aid of people across 1,700km2 of harbours, coastline, islands and open water, no matter the time of day or conditions. Over the last financia...

The Rock Papamoa Community Gardens

Hidden away in a little pocket of Papamoa suburbia is a rich green gem. ‘The Rock’ is a community garden that focuses on feeding local and at-risk families with sustainably produced fruit and vegetables. Lying on two acres of council drainage reserve nestled behind Hartford Avenue, The Rock is home to a hot house, two beehives, two fruit tree orchards, seven large compost heaps, a well-stocked tool shed, two storage containers, a butterfly grove, and much more. The purpose of the gardens is ...

Flavours of Plenty

Whether you’re a foodie, or are just up for some flavourful fun, there’s something for everyone at the upcoming Flavours of Plenty Festival, taking place from 7 April to 10 April. Celebrating the Bay of Plenty’s plentiful produce, the festival will see a host of events ready to delight with deliciousness; from workshops and demonstrations, to degustations and themed in-house menus. There are 19 events showcasing our region’s produce, including a Mediterranean Escape (in the Western Bay o...

Grief Support Services

Grief is likely to affect every one of us at some point in our lives. From the loss of a loved one to the break-up of a relationship or marriage, grief is a natural response to loss or unwelcome change. But grief can be difficult to go through alone. Overwhelming feelings of sadness, numbness, and emptiness can leave those experiencing grief unsure if they can cope and worried they will never feel better. One local charity is supporting hundreds of people experiencing grief across the Western B...

TECT receives Sealed Orders for proposed restructure

On 23 February 2022, TECT received Sealed Orders for its proposed restructure which signalled the completion of the High Court process. This is an exciting moment that marks the end of a long process and provides TECT with the final green light to establish the new Community Trust. The trust will be operational from 1 April 2022, and has recently received charitable status. The new structure balances protecting the annual rebate for existing beneficiaries, and the purpose TECT was establish...

TECT Marketing and Communications Manager embarks on new role at TCC

TECT Marketing and Communications Manager Laura Thomson-Bache will be leaving TECT at the end of March for a new role at Tauranga City Council as Community Relations Advisor. Laura started at TECT three years ago and in that time has helped share the stories of many community groups and the work of TECT with our wider community. Through the management of TECT’s social media, the production of media releases, the planning of events, and the management of TECT’s website, TECT General Manager ...

Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust

It's a building that's been given a new life. One full of energy, action, and the strengthening of young people – both physically and mentally. The old FitCo Gym on 13th Avenue has been taken over by the Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust (BOPYDT) – a charity that works to develop well-rounded, vibrant, independent and responsible youth who contribute to their communities. The Trust achieves that through a range of programmes, including a boxing and mentoring programme; the IBA pre-employ...

NZ SUP Nationals

New Zealand's best stand-up paddle boarders will be arriving in Mt Maunganui to be crowned the undisputed national stand-up paddle boarding champion from the 4th – 6th March at the EVES NZ SUP Nationals. The event, which is supported by funding from Tourism Bay of Plenty and TECT, is part of the Waterbourne Beach Festival. The Nationals includes three components that will crown the national champions in Sprints, Technical and Distance. The event started in Wellington and has since been held i...

TECT Community Awards moves to online-only event

The TECT Community Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on Thursday 17th March at Baycourt, has been cancelled with the recent move to the red traffic light setting. With a 100-person capacity of the event at this setting, TECT Marketing and Communications Manager Laura Thomson-Bache says the move to an online-only event would ensure the community’s safety. “In light of the government announcement last month regarding Omicron being in our community, the TECT team and trustees have made t...

Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust

For Dawn, finding out she had breast cancer left her feeling overwhelmed, terrified, and sure she was going to die. "It was devastating, as it was totally left field. It's not in my family, I've never been a smoker and maintained a healthy lifestyle with regular mammograms – I just didn't tick all the boxes. I was in total shock. "I found a lump under my arm and went to my GP. Initially, she thought it was a cyst but after an ultrasound, we found out it was cancer and unfortunately, it had got...

ARGOS Gymnastics Club

Jumping, rolling, climbing and leaping. Seven kids were having a blast on a new piece of gym equipment installed at ARGOS Gymnastics Club as part of the Go Ninja class on Wednesday. The class was established to get more boys involved in gymnastics, using a fusion of gymnastics, acrobatics, obstacle course training and freestyle movement. For nine-year-old James, coming to Go Ninja class is a highlight of his week. "It's fun, it's something I look forward to in the afternoon. There's lots of jump...

Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre

Squash players across the region now have access to play on a court generally reserved for professional players, thanks to the recent completion of building extensions at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre. The new all-glass squash court allows viewing from all sides for spectators and superior viewing for streaming and live television. It also provides an important pathway for future squash stars. Alongside the new squash court, the building extensions also allowed for an upgrade to the changi...

Mount Festival of Multisport

The Mount Festival of Multisport is on the horizon, taking place in the new year on January 22nd 2022. Coming back home to hopefully take another title and set a new record at the event is well-known New Zealand triathlete, Hannah Wells. Wells, a Tauranga local, has been travelling across the globe competing at events, and over the last 12 months, has stepped up to the full distance and won IRONMAN NZ on debut in March. Following on from that, she did her second full-distance race in November a...

Polo in the Bay

The inaugural Polo in the Bay will be bringing the ultimate summer vibes to our region with all the food, drinks and polo action one can enjoy on January 22, 2022. The event will feature some of New Zealand’s most talented polo players going to head-to-head in their provincial colours with a fresh polo format that brings you closer to the action with a faster pace, smaller field, and more relaxed rules. While the original event was scheduled to be held in November this year, due to Covid restr...

High Court issues judgment on TECT restructure

TECT Trustees have today welcomed a decision from the High Court confirming that the proposed restructure of TECT is proper and lawful. On 14 May 2021, TECT Trustees filed an application in the High Court seeking orders under the Trusts Act 2019 that it is lawful and proper for the Trustees to implement the proposed changes to TECT.  The restructure will protect the rebate for existing beneficiaries and provide long-term benefit for everyone in Tauranga and the Western Bay. A three-day hear...

StarJam

There was an abundance of smiles, exuberant singing, and energetic dance moves at StarJam’s end of year concert, which took place last month. With 35 jammers taking to the stage to showcase their skills, it was a concert unlike any of those before it, with no audience able to attend due to Covid restrictions. But that didn’t stop the energy beaming off the stage from Jammers, who range in age from 6 to 25, as well as a few ‘alumni’. StarJam is a not-for-profit where young people with di...

Blue Rovers Football Club

It's the beautiful game, and there's good reason for that name. Football is the biggest sport in the world, bringing people from different backgrounds together in a shared passion for the game. Local football club Blue Rovers knows all about that passion and is getting more people involved in the sport through a number of programmes and initiatives over the summer. One-on-one training sessions are available, run by Blue Rovers' director of football. These sessions provide four main benefits; ta...

Finalists announced for TECT Community Awards 2022

The finalists for the 2022 TECT Community Awards have been announced. The awards, which will be held at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre on 17 March, will celebrate the community groups, volunteers and young changemakers who are helping make the Western Bay of Plenty one of the greatest places to live. Finalists will be vying for six main awards: Event Excellence, Sustainable Future, Diversity and Inclusion, Heart of the Community, Youth Spirit and Volunteer of the Year. A Lifetime Service Awa...

PiPS - People, Plants, Schools

It was a special day two weeks ago for children at Tahatai Coast School who had the important task of planting seedlings at their school. But this wasn't any ordinary planting. The children had collected the native seeds themselves from around Mauao six months ago and have been caring for the seedlings while they learnt about the right soil and pest control. Now the big day had arrived to replant them into bigger pots. The seedlings will eventually be replanted back on Mauao on a special site s...

Diabetes NZ Tauranga

For parents John and Sandra Braithwaite, discovering that their nine-month-old son Harry had type 1 diabetes was a shock. "At first, I was relieved for a diagnosis finally but didn't really understand it. I didn't understand what the future would be like," says Sandra. "I then grieved that Harry wouldn't have a life like his older brother but didn't truly understand the relentlessness and constant worry that was to come." "We were in Wellington at the time, and it was missed by many medical prof...

Bay of Plenty Symphonia

Classical music aficionados and all music lovers alike have much to look forward to at Bay of Plenty Symphonia’s upcoming Northern Lights concert, taking place on Sunday 21 November at Baycourt, 2.30pm. The concert will take the audience on a journey across Northern Europe, with musical highlights representing its cool landscape and patriotic composers: Sibelius (Finnish), Shostakovich (Russian), Wagner (German), and Smetana (Czech). The concert, conducted by Justus Rozemond, opens w...