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'Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamura' 
'When you understand the past, you know your future'
In the words of King Tawhiao: "Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati, ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati. (Nā Kīngi Tāwhiao tēnei tongi). 
​If there is but one toetoe stem it will break, but if they are together in a bundle they will never break.
Message from Bruce Farthing, ​Chair of Taonga Tū Heritage BoP 
The Western Bay of Plenty's heritage goes back as far as the first waka arriving in the 13th century with the arrival of the first waka: Tainui, Takitimu, Te Arawa, Mataatua, Nukutere. Many do not know how our tangata whenua settlements work throughout the Western Bay and Tauranga - nor that Tauranga Moana is considered a separate  area within the Western Bay of Plenty.  Nor do we know the rich, varied and wonderful stories each tribe or iwi bring to our region, or how these stories shape how we do things today so that our future is rich, secure and all encompassing. 

Our Trust is currently working towards two key things:
1. A standalone Heritage Centre / Museum to be run by an independent trust and located in the heart of our regions leading city, Tauranga's CBD.
2. Developing our region's inaugural Heritage Strategy called Heritage Together - Kotahitanga | Orokohanga Poutama  which is a journey of discovery looking at the best ways of linking our heritage.

​The Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga is also home to New Zealand's kiwifruit and avocado industries, and our country's most successful Port.  We are also a favourite tourist destination for New Zealander's and off shore visitors alike.  For this reason, Tauranga is known as 'The Gateway to the Bay of Plenty.  

There is strong levels of community support and goodwill locally, regionally and nationally towards both initiating a standalone Heritage Centre, and the heritage strategy.  Strategy which is likely to create an entirely new industry for our region around heritage.  This strategy will have significant social and economic advantages for hapū, local tangata whenua who call Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga home, the people of our rohe (area) individual heritage organisations, the business community and the region as a whole.  
It is expected that the Heritage Strategy will: 
  • Bring environmental, social and cultural heritage together in ways that create outstanding economic and employment opportunities by creating a new and vibrant industry around heritage in Western Bay | Tauranga, that in turn will link into heritage initiatives in the wider Bay of Plenty.
  • Support the new Aotearoa | New Zealand history curriculum with integrated and seamless Bay of Plenty heritage stories and environmental experiences.
  • Connect commercial heritage to our environmental, cultural and social heritage in ways that will inspire locals, visitors and those wishing to relocate here.
  • Develop strong relationships and partnerships across the heritage sector
  • identify - and connect - significant heritage places for viewing or gathering, welcome and orientation
  • telling the individual histories and stories of our people within our region
  • sharing integrated knowledge of our taonga (treasures)
  • provide contemporary, fun, informative experiences for both locals and visitors
  • provide stimulating heritage education experiences for all cultures and age groups
  • provide a forum for innovative ideas about our future
  • provide a heritage showcase 
  • showcase external awareness programmes such as; speaker events, exhibitions and symposiums that will stimulate and educate
Above all it will create a strong sense of connected identity, self-worth and deep wellbeing, will have positive and stimulating outcomes for our region and the economy as a whole.  

Header image: The Strand - an iconic gathering place