Back to Blog

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...

Whakamarama Community Incorporated

It's no small feat to write a history book. But for a small group of Whakamarama locals, after 13 years of research, writing, editing and production, that's exactly what they've done. Officially released on Sunday 31st October at the re-opening of the Whakamarama Community Centre, the publication incorporates three key areas: Pirirakau - tangata whenua, the timber milling period, and land development for pastural farming through to land subdivision. The publication was produced by Whakamarama Co...

Ōmokoroa Golf Club

Key supporters of the Ōmokoroa Golf Club foreshore protection and community walkway project gathered in October 2021 to celebrate the grand opening after three years in the making. The ceremony saw Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber speak of the history of the project and TECT Trustee Peter Blackwell mention TECT’s support, with the local trust contributing $200,000. The project started in 2019 with the Ōmokoroa Golf Club wishing to undertake foreshore protection works and Western Bay ...

Bay Conservation Alliance and member groups

Eight environmental conservation groups in the Western Bay of Plenty are celebrating after approval of a TECT grant which will provide funding for two years of operating costs. The funding application was approved in September, granting $341,880. Facilitated by Bay Conservation Alliance (BCA), the application pulled together the various needs of BCA and seven of its member groups into one collective submission. The joint funding application was the second of its kind to be received by TECT, wit...

Katikati Festival of Arts

If you haven't been out to Katikati this month, now is your chance to explore and enjoy a fascinating array of art and entertainment as part of the Katikati Festival of Arts. With events on until the end of the month and available to view at www.katikatifestivalofarts.org.nz, the ultimate arts festival has already received lots of positive feedback, says Katch Katikati Promotions Manager Jacqui Knight. "Feedback has been really positive from the activities and displays we have been able to host ...

Nominations closing soon for TECT Community Awards

Nominations for the TECT Community Awards will close soon on Friday 29 October 2021 and can be made at www.tect.org.nz/community-awards-2022. TECT Marketing and Communications Manager Laura Thomson-Bache says she is seeing many great nominations come through and encourages those whose lives have been touched by a community group or volunteer's work to put a nomination in. "The TECT Community Awards are the community event of the year. It's a time where we can thank those people and groups who ar...

TECT appoints new investment advisor

As TECT’s invested funds have grown to the $1billion mark, the TECT Board has acted to enhance the governance structure over the portfolio by creating a formal Investment Committee and appointing an institutional investment adviser. As part of the Trust’s portfolio governance initiatives, Dr Ed Schuck, Principal of Fidato Advisory, has been appointed as Chair of the TECT Investment Committee. Dr Schuck has previously worked in an advisory capacity with TECT over recent years and the Board wo...

Regional collaboration secures $700,000 of funding for Coastal Bay of Plenty events

Tāpoi Te Moananui ā Toi | Tourism Bay of Plenty (TBOP) has confirmed funding for at least 15 events over the next two years thanks to the Regional Events Fund and a new contestable funding collaboration with other regional funding partners.   $500,000 in the contestable fund originated from the Regional Events Fund (REF), part of the Government’s Tourism Recovery Package intended to support the visitor sector by stimulating domestic travel and replacing the loss of international vi...

Nominations for TECT Community Awards 2022 open

The TECT Community Awards are back for 2022, with nominations open until Friday 29 October 2021. The 2022 Awards will be held in March at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, following an online showcase of finalists in the six weeks prior on the TECT website, Facebook and Instagram. TECT Chairperson Bill Holland says the awards will recognise and celebrate the community groups and volunteers who keep our region thriving, showcasing their work online to thousands of people and with a special awa...

Whakamarama Community Centre

The Whakamarama Community Centre, also known as Whakamarama Hall, will open its doors to the community on 31 October after six months of closure due to renovations. The recent renovations include an upgrade to the toilets, including an increase in toilet numbers and new showers installed, a new kitchen, replacement of the windows, a new storage room, a sewer upgrade and major structural upgrades to the hall, including insulation. These renovations follow upgrades completed in Stage 1 of the proj...

P.E.T Charitable Trust

For the thousands of patients that come through Tauranga Hospital’s doors each year, there’s a story that usually involves accidents, illness, and a whole lot of care from dedicated doctors and nurses. But care is also found in the form of a small but devoted charity that works to make sure every patient can be comfortable during their stay – a stay that is typically unforeseen and can last longer than expected. Run by the P.E.T Charitable Trust, Care Packs for Patients sees Chris Bishell ...

Otumoetai Te Puna Pony Club

Times have been tough on the Otumoetai Te Puna Pony Club in recent years. In 2018 the club suffered a devastating flood when the Wairoa River burst its banks, causing their grounds to be destroyed, much of their equipment to be damaged and eight horses fighting for their lives.   More recently, the siting of the new Tauranga to Otumoetai cycleway adjacent to the club has made their grounds easier to see and access, leading to many acts of theft, vandalism and break-ins.   Sarah Rice is...

Sport Bay of Plenty - Healthy Active Learning

Ten Western Bay of Plenty primary and intermediate schools are soon to experience a boost to their healthy active learning thanks to a $365k investment from TECT over three years. Healthy Active Learning is a joint government initiative between Sport New Zealand and the Ministries of Health and Education to improve the wellbeing of tamariki through quality physical activity and healthy eating and drinking. The TECT investment will support Sport Bay of Plenty’s expansion of the initiative in...

Homes of Hope

For some children, coming to Homes of Hope is the first time in their short lives they have felt enough safety to begin to play freely. They come from backgrounds of trauma, suffering from abuse and neglect. This abuse and neglect can have a serious impact on their development and can lead to mental health problems, learning problems, youth suicide, behavioural problems, alcohol and drug use, and homelessness. But Homes of Hope provides a place for these children to recover from their trauma.&nb...

Ōtūmoetai Primary School

Ōtūmoetai Primary School held the official opening of its new playground, featuring basket swings and a flying fox, on Friday afternoon. Student leaders, the kapa haka, and the school's senior management team were all in attendance, alongside TECT Trustee Peter Blackwell who spoke of TECT's contribution to the project and cut the opening ribbon. After formalities were over, children quickly jumped onto the new playground equipment to give it its first playtime. And there was plenty of play to ...

SPELD New Zealand

From the moment Ali Fullick's son Callum started school, she saw his thirst for life and his outgoing personality diminish. "I would pick him up from school, and his face would be like thunder. He would come home angry, frustrated and would not share the reason why with me," says Ali. "As a mother, I would let him have downtime, something to eat and then I would ask him to join me at the table to do his home learning before dinner. Well, that was when the battle started at home. He would sit the...

Sailability Tauranga

For 43-year-old Dennis Young, living with Left Hemiparesis can have its challenges. “I am paralysed down the left-hand side of my body; it affects my walk, I can’t run as fast, I can’t stretch my left arm out, and I haven’t got as good a grip on that side either.” But that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his passion for sailing and giving back to other sailors with disabilities by volunteering at Sailability Tauranga. Dennis joined Sailability Tauranga when it was first establishe...

Te Puna Quarry Park

Volunteers at Te Puna Quarry Park are feeling a great sense of relief and reassurance now a new security system has been installed following a series of thefts. The volunteer-run park, which is open year-round and is free for the public to visit, sees thousands of visitors come to explore its many gardens with special planting areas, outdoor art, walking tracks and bush area. But a major theft in 2018 left the park committee and volunteers shaken, when $40,000 of equipment was stolen from their ...

Te Haka a Toi - Kapahaka Regionals

The Te Haka a Toi - Mataatua me Tākitimu ki Tauranga Secondary School Regional Kapahaka was held last Friday, seeing thousands flock to the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre to connect and be inspired by powerful performances. 12 school teams from across the Bay of Plenty took the stage to perform to see who would qualify to compete at the National Secondary Schools Kapahaka, which will be held in 2022 at Auckland’s Spark Arena. The qualifying teams that will represent Mataatua me Tākitimu ki Ta...

Indian Ink

It was a weekend filled with laughs, wonder and intrigue at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, with over 800 people gathering to watch Indian Ink’s powerful play ‘Paradise or the Impermanence Ice Cream’. As audiences settled into their seats and hushed darkness took over the theatre, Kutisar (Jacob Rajan) is lit up on stage as he wakes in purgatory. Baffled by his surroundings, he is soon confronted by a vulture looking for its next meal, and is transported back to his 20s to learn why he...

Storytime Foundation

Storytime was a treasured time in many of our childhoods. Memories spent with family exploring new worlds and discovering different words not only opened our minds to the wonders of reading, but was a precious bonding experience. Research shows that there are a myriad of positive effects and long-lasting benefits of reading to babies and young children. The more often children are read to, the more likely they are to do better at school, not just in reading, but in language, numeracy, and compr...

Tahatai Coast School

A new school playground at Tahatai Coast School has been a big hit with students and the wider Papamoa community, thanks to significant student input and funding from TECT. The playground, which was completed in December 2020, features slides, poles, balance ropes, surfboard spring rockers, rock walls, nets, basket swings and more. Matt Skilton, Tahatai Coast School Principal, says the project started with initial designs which were then discussed with student councillors. “The student counc...

COLAB

A new housing solution service in Te Puke is helping facilitate housing options and support sustainable tenancies in the area. The Te Puke Housing Solutions Service provides a linkage, brokerage, and advocacy service, including general advice on any housing and tenancy matters. A clinic is held twice a week for people to call or drop by for assistance. Specific services include assisting with tenancy applications, support to access the Accommodation Supplement, support to establish or maintain ...

Kidz Need Dadz

It's an exciting time in life becoming a new dad. But it can also be a daunting one, with the family dynamic changing forever. But what is well known is that from early pregnancy through to the first parenting months, an involved father can support many practical and emotional needs of both mother and child. Kidz Need Dadz is a charity working to strengthen families by supporting and educating dads on the importance of being involved in their children's lives.  A new focus for the charity...

TECT comment on Trustpower Retail Business sale

Trustpower has today announced the conditional sale of its gas, telecommunications, and retail electricity supply business to Mercury NZ Limited for $441 million. This follows Trustpower’s announcement in January that it was undertaking a strategic review, including a possible sale of its retail business. As a result, it was necessary for TECT to update its structure, in order to protect the status of its existing beneficiaries in the event of a sale. TECT Chairman Bill Holland says the conf...