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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. 

​​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 
heritage Did you know there are 6675 recorded archaeological sites across the Western Bay of Plenty rohe, few of which are known to locals, schools or visitors?

The Western Bay of Plenty's heritage goes back as far as the first waka arriving in the 13th century: Te Arawa, Mātaatua and Takitimu

Many do not know the tāngata whenua settlements within the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City: Tauranga Moana (Waihi Beach to Papamoa) and Te Arawa Coastal (Te Puke - Maketū - Otamarakau).  Nor is their wide understanding of the rich, varied and wonderful stories each mana whenua bring to our region, or how these stories have shaped our lives today and will continue to do so into the future.

Heritage experiences Tauranga Western Bays are often excellent in nature but offered in isolation. 

Our Tauranga Western Bay Strategy 'Orokohanga Poutama'  addresses this significant issue.

Our Trust is currently working with Heritage New Zealand Pohuere Taonga, local heritage organisations, hapū/iwi towards two key things:

1. Actioning Orokohanga Poutama  which means: 'weaving a stairway from creation towards heritage unity, recognition and excellence'. A strategy focused on connecting the heritage we have crossing a number of platforms and introducing new ones.

​2. Historic Tauranga | Footprints on Te Papa
72 heritage sites between 5th Avenue and Sulphur Point Te pari Taha. 
Western Bay is also home to New Zealand's kiwifruit and avocado industries;  our country's most successful Port and a plethora of other exciting and lucrative businesses - many based in Māori traditions. 

The Western Bay is a favourite tourist destination for locals and off shore visitors alike.  If in some small way we can facilitate heritage connections across or rohe area - a start will have been made.

Bruce Farthing
Chair
Taonga Tū | Heritage Bay of Plenty ​
Actions expected out of Orokohanga Poutama - a Tauranga Western Bay Heritage Strategy 
  • Bringing our heritage stories together in ways that create vibrancy and connectedness across our region
  • External support in each community for the new Aotearoa New Zealand history curriculum.
  • Highlight commercial heritage in ways that will inspire locals, visitors and those wishing to relocate here.
  • Building cross-cultural  relationships and partnerships across the Bay of Plenty heritage sector.
  • Recognise and connect significant heritage places for viewing or gathering, welcome and orientation.
  • Connect fun, informative experiences for locals and visitors.
  • Promote heritage education experiences for all cultures and age groups.
  • Weaving isolated cultural tours into wider more connected heritage experiences.  
  • Provide a forum for innovative heritage ideas about our future.
  • Expand the Footprint series to cover the Western Bay rohe
  • facilitate an inaugural  biennial Heritage Festival
  • Support the Bay of Plenty Historical Review Heritage Journal
  • encourage speaker events and other initiatives all designed to stimulate and create interest the heritage that is all around us.

​To know your heritage is to create thriving heritage connected communities 
Acknowledgement: Header image: Kaituna River  Image Credit: MICHAEL SCHWAB ​