'Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamura' 'When you understand the past, you know your future'
Acknowledgements We thank all the many advisors and navigators who are helping, or who have helped, along this journey. We value the giving of their expertise, time, matauranga knowledge, advice and manaakitanga. We continue to learn each day from everyone we meet along this road where one size does not fit all. We look forward to continuing our friendships and building new friendships and relationships along the way...
Our Kaumatua
Dr Hauata Palmer - KAUMATUA is a kaumatua of Ngai Tuwhiwhia, Ngai Tauaiti and Ngati Tapu hapu of Ngai Te Rangi.
Our Patron
Dean Waddell - PATRON: Dean Waddell is a third-generation grocer who began working in the family supermarket in Tauranga at the age of thirteen. He graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Business Studies before purchasing the family supermarket New World Brookfield in 1992. Dean owned and successfully operated this store for 22 years, creating a leading supermarket experience for shoppers, before purchasing PAK'nSAVE Tauranga in 2013. Dean is currently the Chairman of Foodstuffs North Island a role he commenced in August 2017 and Foodstuffs New Zealand.
Meet our Trustees and some of our Navigators & Advisors
Bruce Farthing - CHAIR: Bruce R Farthing is a former Deputy Principal at Ōtūmoetai College (1998 -2019), an Assistant Governor of Rotary District 9930, and since 2020, a Teaching Fellow for the University of Waikato's Department of Education on the Tauranga campus teaching Social Sciences and History. Bruce has been actively involved in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty heritage groups since 1999 working closely with renowned Western Bay historian Jinty Roke (1943 – 2014) on a number of heritage projects.
In 2023, there are still 6,657 documented, but largely unknown (by schools, locals and visitors), heritage sites across Tauranga Western Bay. Bruce is passionate about encouraging more investment into the independent heritage sector. He believes that investment in heritage in the Western Bay will grow the identity of our Tamariki and Rangatahi and help secure them, over time, as functioning adults in our community. By developing and actioning programmes that tell the stories and interpretations of these sites in-situ for our schools, locals and visitors, it can only serve each of us to grow pride in our region while substantially growing our economy. in 1994, Bruce was awarded the national contract to write the Unit Standards in History. He moved on to initially chair the writing of the Achievement Standards in History for the nation. As part of this work Bruce consulted and wrote the first 'Treaty of Waitangi' standard for the country. He is still currently involved through the University of Waikato with the new Aotearoa New Zealand's 2023 Histories curriculum.
With 50 years teaching experience and close involvement in national and community heritage projects, Bruce is well placed to identify the type of heritage projects and investment required across Tauranga Western Bay of Plenty. Bruce's profile here
Stan Gregec: Treasurer: Stan has lived in Tauranga since 1995 and has been a strong supporter of community initiatives that recognise and celebrate Tauranga Western Bay of Plenty's rich and diverse heritage. Stan has been a leading figure in the business community, and was the previous Chief Executive of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce. Stan brings Business, Budgeting, Strategic Planning and leadership qualities to our Trust along with a Masters Degree in History. Stan's multicultural and world-view perspective coupled with strong community engagement skills adds richness to our Trust's Vision and focus. LinkedIn profile here
Binnie Brown: Secretary: Binnie has family history in Tauranga Western Bay going back to the early 1900s and has lived in Tauranga since the 60s. Binnie is passionate to see the stories of some of the little known, but documented, 6657 in-situ heritage sites around our rohe come to life for schools, locals and visitors. Binnie believes connecting these journeys for heritage explorers is a critical need across the region. Binnie brings 30 years experience as an international marketer for boutique fresh produce lines and as an exporter of boutique organic honey. With a strong marketing, relationship and project management background crossing cultures, and bringing groups together to achieve success, Binnie is skilled in delivering cross cultural projects. Binnie's profile here
Ben Pick: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) ADVISOR & PARTNER: Ben is an archaeologist and is Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Lower Northern area manager based in Tauranga. Ben is responsible for engaging with key stakeholders in the area, liaising with all aspects of heritage. Ben highlights the close synergy that exists between genealogy, our cultural and built heritage and the whenua. Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is a lead partner with Taonga Tū in the development and activation of Orokohanga Poutama - A Western Bay of Plenty Heritage Strategy, the Historic Tauranga Ngā Tapuwae ki Te Papa Footprints on Te Papa Map & Guide, the proposed Historic Western Bay of Plenty Footprints Map & Guide and 2024 Tauranga Western Bay of Plenty Heritage Month.
Buddy Mikaere - ADVISOR. Buddy is a renowned historian. He specialises in Maori consultation and associated activities and in Tauranga represents Ngāi Tamarawaho and Ngāti Pūkenga through their respective hāpu \ iwi organisations and is a Trustee on Otamataha Trust. Buddy is currently advocating for a Cultural Centre at Pukehinahina. Buddy's knowledge, matauranga and manaakitanga is both legendary and an inspiration to all ages and cultures.
Debbie McCauley (Ngāti Kirimā) - Heritage ADVISOR is an award-winning author, historian, indie publisher, researcher, and heritage consultant with a passion for telling our stories. She publishes her books bilingually in Te Reo Māori and English. Debbie believes in telling children stories from Aotearoa that will enrich their lives through a sense of place and belonging. You can learn more about Debbie here Along with the others who have contributed, Debbie's knowledge, matauranga and manaakitanga is an inspiration to all ages and cultures. Debbie is the writer of our Historic Tauranga Nga Tapuwae ki Te Papa Footprints on Te Papa.
Jack Thatcher CNZM - Cultural NAVIGATOR Jack is Chairman and co-founder of Te Puna I Rangiriri Trust (TPIRT). Through TPIRT, he and other staff have taught hundreds of children and young people about waka and other traditional Māori knowledge through programmes in schools, polytechnics and wānanga. He has run events and classes based on traditional Māori activities. He established a traditional navigation school where students can gain NZQA qualifications. He leads educational tours of Mount Maunganui and the Mauao historic reserve during Matariki. Jack's knowledge and matauranga wisdom and manaakitanga is an inspiration to all ages and cultures.
Carlton Bidois ONZM - Environmental NAVIGATOR Carlton specialises in environmental management, with an intimate knowledge of the Kaimai forest range and its conservation concerns and is an iwi representative to the Department of Conservation (DOC). Carlton's knowledge, matauranga and manaakitanga in all things related to our environment and biosecurity is an inspiration to all ages and cultures.
Kathryn Bluett-Atvars - Education NAVIGATOR KATHRYN Bluett-Atvars. Kathryn is a highly experienced teacher, researcher, advisor of special education with a comprehensive history of working with both mainstream and Māori medium schools in the North Island. Kathryn's ability, knowledge, experience and whānaungatanga relationships to collaborate between schools, whānau, hapū and iwi ensuring that powerful relational connections are ongoing towards making a significant difference to learning outcomes. Kathryn's knowledge, matauranga and manaakitanga is an inspiration to all ages and cultures.
Dean Terekaunuku Flavell - Taonga NAVIGATOR Dean has dedicated much of his life to the preservation of Western Bay of Plenty's taonga - whether this be Māuao, the Kaituna awaor the objects collected and preserved over the centuries. Dean's leadership and abiding respect for all peoples and their cultures is legendary. Dean is also a recognised artist and Tohunga Whakairo, or master carver, and has taken charge of the restoration and upkeep of Te Awanui, Tauranga's ceremonial waka that was carved from a 300-year-old kauri tree almost 50 years ago. Alongside others, Dean's knowledge, matauranga and manaakitanga is an inspiration to all ages and cultures.
John Coster - Archaeology NAVIGATOR John has dedicated his life to the archaeology of Aotearoa New Zealand and most particularly to the Bay of Plenty. John has wide-reaching relationships across cultures and has worked closely with many local authorities, hapū / iwi, heritage organisations small and private museums and their collections. John's knowledge, matauranga and manaakitanga is a valued part of our journey.
Paul Cuming - Wildlife NAVIGATOR Paul is a founding trustee of Western Bay Wildlife Trust. The Trust is a community-based conservation group that protects native seabird and shorebird species and their habitats in the Western Bay of Plenty Region. It aims to restore and enhance native populations and ecosystems around the Western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, and to educate through knowledge and involvement. John's knowledge, matauranga and manaakitanga is a valued part of our journey and has provided all of the wild life information on our Footprints on Te Papa Map & Guide and the strategy.
Header image: A sweep from Papamoa Hills Credit Chris Taylor