Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamura' 
'When you understand the past, you know your future'

HERITAGE TOGETHER - KOTAHITANGA  
Tauranga & Western Bay of Plenty

Taonga Tauranga | Heritage Bay of Plenty is an independent registered charitable trust working with hapu, iwi, heritage organisations and relevant councils, towards developing a subregional heritage strategy that unites the history & heritage sector crossing the subregion of Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty. Currently this sector is fragmented, disconnected and working in operational isolation from each other.

Tauranga & Western Bay of Plenty are one of the few regions within Aotearoa New Zealand that does not have a standalone regional heritage strategy. Many still confuse the history & heritage sector with the creative sector (arts & culture) when in fact at ministry level history and heritage comes under Heritage New Zealand while the Creative Sector comes under Creative New Zealand.  The Creative sector does not have a heritage mandate.   

There is strong levels of community support and goodwill locally, regionally and nationally towards developing the heritage sector into a strong united sector in his own right. 

The social and economic advantages of a united heritage sector are tenfold and more. Therefore,  
'Heritage Together - Kotahitanga' is a significant step forward for history and heritage in Tauranga, the Western Bay of Plenty and beyond to encompass the wider region.  

Acknowledgement: Photographs: Chris Taylor; Tauranga City Libraries, Tauranga Heritage Collection, CR Brown,