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

Taonga Tauranga | Heritage Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust

We are an independent community voice working with hapū, iwi and other
heritage partners, including councils, towards developing a united heritage
framework. Our immediate focus is on bringing the region's heritage together from Waihi Beach to Otamarakau, including Tauranga City, at its centre. In turn this will link into the thriving heritage sector of the Lakes Region, Eastern Bay of Plenty and nationally 

Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty's heritage and history goes back as far as the first waka arriving - and likely before that! Many have no idea what these settlements looked like, how they were put together, the many stories they have to tell, nor how they shaped where we are today.

Our Trust is currently working towards developing our region's inaugural Heritage Strategy in concert with its partners.  The ultimate aim being to work towards a centralised regional museum connecting to heritage education centres such as those identified; adjacent to The Elms Te Papa, another at Pukehinahina (Gate Pā), extensions for the Western Bay Museum at Katikati and other heritage initiatives around Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa Hills, Western Bay of Plenty West and Western Bay of Plenty East.  There is also significant interest in environmental and wildlife heritage across the region.

Our trust is now enjoying strong levels of community support and partnership from within the regional historic/heritage sector, ie: hapū and iwi, heritage organisations, the business sector interested in supporting heritage, relevant councils crossing the subregion, and most importantly, at local and national government level ​

Tauranga City is the major city of the Bay of Plenty Region and is also home to its successful economic port and tourist destination port.  For this reason, Tauranga is called 'The Gateway to Regional Bay of Plenty'.  Establishing a collective heritage portal to connect our regional stories makes perfect sense. 

Heritage portals in all their forms open up many exciting opportunities, including:

• mapping and connecting all the regional heritage centres / museums for visitors, locals and tourists, to encourage herigage visits to other centres
• being places of cultural significance for viewing or gathering, welcome and orientation
• telling the shared history and stories of our people and our region
• providing a contemporary, fun, informative experience for both locals and visitors
• providing stimulating education experiences for all cultures and age groups
• sharing knowledge of our taonga (treasures)
• providing a forum for innovative ideas about our future
• providing a heritage showcase for local creative industries

 
We are currently planning a range of heritage experiences, including mini-exhibitions all of which are helping to grow community awareness for the need heritage focused amenities.  
 
From 2020 we will be opening opportunities to welcome as many interested persons as is possible to become 'Heritage Friends' with us under the banner of Taonga Tauranga | Heritage Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust with the view to having our 'Friends and Supporters' working collectively and collaboratively with towards establishing the much needed heritage profile.
 
 
Bruce Farthing (Chair) & The Trustees
Taonga Tauranga | Heritage Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust