'Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamura'
'When you understand the past, you know your future'
'When you understand the past, you know your future'
Our brand story
Taonga Tū| Heritage Bay of Plenty Charitable Trust
Our Vision
Heritage Together - Kotahitanga | Orokohanga Pounama
Uniting the heritage sector across Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga towards the establishment of a standalone regional Heritage Centre, managed by an independent trust - located in CBD Tauranga, our region's leading city. Currently the heritage sector is fragmented and operating in isolation or in silos from each other. The Bay of Plenty is one of the few regions in Aotearoa New Zealand without a standalone heritage strategy or central museum or Heritage Centre. (Taonga Tū | Heritage Bay of Plenty is currently undertaking a regional Heritage Strategy)
Our background
Taonga Tū│Heritage Bay of Plenty started in 2017 as a group of heritage-interested citizens to raise collective heritage awareness in our region and to embark along the journey of developing a Heritage Centre | Museum for our rohe (subregion) backed by a Heritage strategy.
Community heritage voice
We are Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga's recognised independent voice for raising widespread community awareness and understanding about the value of a united approach to connecting the history and heritage of our subregion (Waihi Beach to Otamarakau with Tauranga City and its port at its centre). The ultimate aim is working in partnership with hapū, and other heritage partners towards creating heritage unity, increasing heritage awareness and encouraging the establishment of a central museum connecting to a number of heritage experiences throughout the subregion and beyond.
2018's TCC Museum Referendum Recent
All recent attempts at gaining a regional heritage centre or museum have been unsuccessful to-date. Records from Tauranga City Council’s non-binding referendum in May 2018 show that a high proportion of Tauranga residents who voted wanted a museum with the mood growing in strength for a museum since COVID-19
Western Bay of Plenty was not included
The referendum took no account of the 'Museum or Heritage Voice' of Western Bay of Plenty residents who consider themselves an integral part of Tauranga City. Some of these residents were left disappointed over the Tauranga City Council museum decision, yet their voice is pivotal in the success of any heritage initiative.
A regional museum for Tauranga - the back story
1873 First recorded museum collection on display at Mechanics Institute,
Harington Street
1881 Disaster strikes - the Institute and collection are destroyed by fire
1882 Museum exhibition opens, including 100 Taonga from Captain Gilbert Mair
1906 Mechanics Institute becomes a public library
1938 Collection on display in Town Hall, Willow Street
1941 Collection goes into hiding during WWII
1969 New museum opens on the corner of Durham and Hamilton Streets
1975 Collection expands at Tauranga Historic Village and District Museum
1998 Collection goes into storage - where it remains to this day under TCC management
1998 – 2007 TCC initiative for a Museum on the Waterfront – abandoned after 2007 local body election
2010 – 2019 TCC settled the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust for the purpose of establishing a building in Tauranga. TCC said ‘No’
2018 - present Taonga Tauranga | Heritage Bay of Plenty: taking it forward with the
endorsement of TCC for an independent Regional Heritage Intent (framework) for the
Bay of Plenty under the title: Heritage Together – Kotahitanga | Orokohanga Poutama
When creating our brand we considered the following:
Taonga Tū| Heritage Bay of Plenty
Our Purpose
Our logo
Our Colour
Our Strap-line: our people – our place – our stories
Our Values
Our Vision
Heritage Together - Kotahitanga | Orokohanga Pounama
Uniting the heritage sector across Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga towards the establishment of a standalone regional Heritage Centre, managed by an independent trust - located in CBD Tauranga, our region's leading city. Currently the heritage sector is fragmented and operating in isolation or in silos from each other. The Bay of Plenty is one of the few regions in Aotearoa New Zealand without a standalone heritage strategy or central museum or Heritage Centre. (Taonga Tū | Heritage Bay of Plenty is currently undertaking a regional Heritage Strategy)
Our background
Taonga Tū│Heritage Bay of Plenty started in 2017 as a group of heritage-interested citizens to raise collective heritage awareness in our region and to embark along the journey of developing a Heritage Centre | Museum for our rohe (subregion) backed by a Heritage strategy.
Community heritage voice
We are Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga's recognised independent voice for raising widespread community awareness and understanding about the value of a united approach to connecting the history and heritage of our subregion (Waihi Beach to Otamarakau with Tauranga City and its port at its centre). The ultimate aim is working in partnership with hapū, and other heritage partners towards creating heritage unity, increasing heritage awareness and encouraging the establishment of a central museum connecting to a number of heritage experiences throughout the subregion and beyond.
2018's TCC Museum Referendum Recent
All recent attempts at gaining a regional heritage centre or museum have been unsuccessful to-date. Records from Tauranga City Council’s non-binding referendum in May 2018 show that a high proportion of Tauranga residents who voted wanted a museum with the mood growing in strength for a museum since COVID-19
Western Bay of Plenty was not included
The referendum took no account of the 'Museum or Heritage Voice' of Western Bay of Plenty residents who consider themselves an integral part of Tauranga City. Some of these residents were left disappointed over the Tauranga City Council museum decision, yet their voice is pivotal in the success of any heritage initiative.
A regional museum for Tauranga - the back story
1873 First recorded museum collection on display at Mechanics Institute,
Harington Street
1881 Disaster strikes - the Institute and collection are destroyed by fire
1882 Museum exhibition opens, including 100 Taonga from Captain Gilbert Mair
1906 Mechanics Institute becomes a public library
1938 Collection on display in Town Hall, Willow Street
1941 Collection goes into hiding during WWII
1969 New museum opens on the corner of Durham and Hamilton Streets
1975 Collection expands at Tauranga Historic Village and District Museum
1998 Collection goes into storage - where it remains to this day under TCC management
1998 – 2007 TCC initiative for a Museum on the Waterfront – abandoned after 2007 local body election
2010 – 2019 TCC settled the Tauranga Moana Museum Trust for the purpose of establishing a building in Tauranga. TCC said ‘No’
2018 - present Taonga Tauranga | Heritage Bay of Plenty: taking it forward with the
endorsement of TCC for an independent Regional Heritage Intent (framework) for the
Bay of Plenty under the title: Heritage Together – Kotahitanga | Orokohanga Poutama
When creating our brand we considered the following:
- When it comes to heritage decisions that affect both Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City voters, our research has shown that up until now there has been little or no formal liaison or dialogue between the different associated councils on heritage matters.
- The strong belief is that by creating heritage awareness and ultimately a heritage strategy and heritage centres the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City will be united through their shared stories and taonga. Our hapū, the early European settlers and the new cultures who are enriching our city and region today make us who we are and all these stories which also connect to our landscape, need to be told from the very beginning - the 13th century
- Stronger access to all aspects of our shared heritage will build a growing sense of identity, connectedness, pride and achievement throughout Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga
- Our ultimate aim being, after connecting the heritage of Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga is to seamlessly connect with the heritage of the wider Bay of Plenty
Taonga Tū| Heritage Bay of Plenty
- 'Taonga' covers anything from our landscape to an artefact, to a natural resource or food source and beyond. Our sweeping coastline for example is considered a ‘taonga’ – an abundant natural resource that can sustain us - just so our rivers and our mountains.
- 'Tauranga' means safe harbour and is the commercial hub for the Bay of Plenty.
- 'Heritage Bay of Plenty' seamlessly connects us to our Bay of Plenty heritage and history from Waihi Beach right up to Cape Runaway.
Our Purpose
- Our purpose is to foster heritage unity across Western Bay of Plenty | Tauranga and to increase heritage awareness and understanding of locals and visitors to the region. The ultimate aim being to work in partnership with hapū and other heritage partners towards raising heritage awareness and ultimately be influential in the establishment and operation of a central museum or heritage centre connecting to a number of heritage experiences throughout the subregion and beyond.
Our logo
- Needed to be neutral and equally recognisable as a strong symbol connecting all people living and working not only in our subregion but throughout the Bay of Plenty
- Needed to be contemporary and simple in that it connects, at a glance, the full sweep of the Bay of Plenty from Waihi Beach through to Cape Runaway along with showing Mauao as an integral part of the Bay of Plenty coastline. Translated, Mauao means 'Caught by the Dawn' and can be seen from Waihi Beach all the way down to Otamarakau and beyond into Eastern Bay of Plenty. Our region has amazing ranges and rivers within it, such as the Kaimai range, the Wairoa and Kaituna Rivers, but the one aspect that connects it all is the abundant and stunning turquoise blue coastal sweep.
- Needed to be relevant, modern, and welcoming to all ethnicities as representing 'our place'.
- Needed to be neutral and equally recognisable as a strong symbol connecting all people living and working within our subregion
Our Colour
- Turquoise blue. The colour that connects us as one people from Waihi Beach through to Cape Runaway
Our Strap-line: our people – our place – our stories
- Refers to the stories and heritage of the peoples of Tauranga Moana, Western Bay of Plenty, Te Arawa Coastal, Regional Bay of Plenty and beyond, from the first arrivals to those arriving to live here today, all ages and ethnicities.
Our Values
- Vision, Connectedness, Integrity
