Agenda of Community Committee Meeting - Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

25 June 2025

9.2 School Sustainability and Resilience Fund Outcomes and Future

File Number: A6782107

Author: Liesel Carnie, Community Outcomes Advisor

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

1. This report is to seek a decision on the continuation of the direction of a portion of the Environmental Community Matching Fund budget to the joint Bay of Plenty Regional Council School Sustainability and Resilience Fund.

Recommendation

1. That the Community Outcomes Advisor’s report dated 25 June 2025 titled ‘School Sustainability and Resilience Fund Outcomes and Future’ be received.

2. That the report relates to an issue that is considered to be of low significance in terms of Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy.

3. That the Community Committee agrees to discontinue the redirection of a portion of the Community Matching Fund – Environmental Fund budget to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Schools Sustainability and Resilience Fund.

4. That the Community Committee agrees to continue contributing to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Schools Sustainability and Resilience Fund in the 2025/26 financial year.

Background

2. Council’s Community Matching Fund (CMF) has two components to it – the $100,000 ‘general’ fund which is available to support community projects and programmes, and the $60,000 Environmental Fund which is available to support projects associated with the natural environment.

3. For last year’s CMF, Council agreed to set aside $20,000 of the CMF Environmental Fund, to contribute to a joint fund (ie. a fund with multiple funding partners) to support environmental projects. The rationale was a) to see if partnering in a joint fund would lead to more funding overall being leveraged into environmental projects in the Western Bay district, and b) to see if schools projects that would ordinarily come to the CMF could receive funding through a different avenue, and more funding could be provided to more schools.

4. The joint fund that all funders are contributing to, is the School Sustainability and Resilience Fund (SSRF), administered by Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC). For the 2025 funding round (held in March / April) Council contributed $20,000 to the SSRF, as a ‘redirect’ of funding from the Community Matching Fund. Tauranga City Council, TECT, Rotorua Trust, Trust Horizon, and BayTrust have also redirected some of their small grant funds to “top up” the overall amount to be distributed. The total available in the 2025 funding round was $165,000.

5. The SSRF provides small grants ($1,000-$10,000) to schools to realise their environmental and sustainability projects.

6. To engage the community, this fund uses a participatory budgeting model to allocate $115,000 of the available funds. Schools submit their projects to BOPRC. Participants then register to vote for those projects. They are given a designated amount of ‘money’ to vote with, which has to be allocated across the projects. Participants must vote for more than one school to ensure equity. Following this, the school projects which did not make it through the participatory voting round, are moved into a second round where a Youth Panel votes on the remaining school projects to allocate the final $50,000 of the available funds.

Results of the 2025 SSRF for Western bay of plenty schools

Upon completion of the fund for 2025, Council has undertaken an analysis of the resulting benefits to the environment and our community, based on the redirection of $20,000 of the environmental portion of the Community Match Fund to the SSRF.

Comparison of projects funded in 2024 (no contribution from Council) and 2025 ($20,000 contribution from Council)

2024 successful projects:

School name	Type of school	Area	Project name	Amount awarded
Grow On Katikati Seedlings Club	Unknown	Katikati	Seedlings Club Educational Signage	$1,000
Pyes Pā Playcentre	Early Childhood	Pye Pā	Weather Station	$1,000
Te Puke High School	High School	Te Puke	Rainwater harvesting for sustainable irrigation system	$3,200
Te Puna School	Primary School	Te Puna	Mara Kai	$2,000
Whakamārama School	Primary School	Whakamārama	Uru Huarakau - Whakamārama School Orchard	$1,760
5 schools				$9,960

Council did not contribute to the fund in 2024. $9,960 was spent in our district without our contribution.

The successful schools in 2025

School	Votes	Amount	Project name	Description
Omokoroa No. 1 School	284	$2,137	Nutrient Networks	Worm farms to educate about the lifecycle of food. Worm juice to be used to grow fruit trees.
Waihi Beach School	279	$2,548	Rainwater Collection and Irrigation System for Mara Kai	Install a rainwater collection tank to support the growing of fruit and vegetables within our māra kai.
Te Puna Kindergarten	253	$4,687.50	Greenhouse and Back Vegetable Garden Rejuvenation	Purchase a building a green house for their existing maara kai (vege garden).
Pyes Pā School	248	$4,395	Pyes Pā School - Growing Together: Edible Garden	Cultivate a self-sustaining edible garden that benefits both the school community and the wider Pyes Pā community.
Te Puke Primary School	218	$10,000	Solar Panel Installation	Installation of solar panels that have been gifted to the school by PowerCo.
5 Schools		$23,767.50

No schools were successful through the Youth Panel voting round.

Council has contributed $20,000 in 2025. The ‘leverage’ is $3,767.50.

Across the region, 25 schools in total in the region have been successful through the public participatory budget voting round ($115,000) and 25 schools will go through to the youth panel.

Analysis of the successful applications

There is a strong preference for Maara kai (edible gardens) or associated equipment throughout all projects (successful or not). There are little to no biodiversity projects. Two projects were for energy efficiency.

The purpose of the CMF – Environmental Fund is to support projects associated with the natural environment. Typically, school projects such as community edible gardens and energy saving projects would be funded through the CMF General Fund rather than the Environmental Fund.

Regional to district analysis

Analysis

2024

2025*

Percentage of total funds allocated to Western Bay

(total fund was $85,000 in 2024 and $165,000 in 2025).

12%

14%

Percentage of total schools funded from main fund (25 in total from main fund)

33%

20%

Community Engagement

Voters in the participatory budget round

Based on the below graph, it appears we have a good voter turn out for the Western Bay area and looks to be representative of the population compared to the other districts.

The data is not completely reliable as voters did not have to state where they resided. Of the 1,511 voters, 167 voters indicated where they resided. Of those 167 voters, 43 indicated they were from the Western Bay (26%).

A graph with blue lines

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

A map with blue circles

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Youth Panel

The youth panel was selected by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. It consisted of 15 members with the goal of achieving a breadth of diversity based on age, gender, ethnicity and geographic location.

As outlined on the below graphs, there was a strong presence of Tauranga residents. One of the panel members is a resident of the Western Bay of Plenty.

Recommendation

Based on the above outcomes, we do not recommend contributing to Bay of Plenty Regional Council School Sustainability Fund again in 2026, for the following reasons:

· We did not see our funding leveraged significantly as we have only leveraged $3767.50, In 2024, $9,960 was invested into Western Bay based projects, without investment from Council. We believe we would see higher rates of leveraging through the CMF (50%). Considering the amount available for each project went from $5,000 in 2024 to $10,000 in 2025, we had expected to see much more leveraged with our support (including communications support from Council in 2025).

· We did not see a good representation of youth panel members. It is acknowledged that there may not have been many nominations for the youth panel from Western Bay residents. However, this potentially could form an unfair bias for Western Bay schools in the second round.

· With the adoption of the Pest Free Parks strategy and our current economic operating environment, we feel it is important that this budget is spent on ecological outcomes as much as possible. We do not think that the projects achieved these results, nor are edible gardens in school a funding priority for WBOPDC, as they can receive support through other programmes. Most schools in the district do have some level of access to edible gardens already (the edible garden projects submitted were mostly for additional equipment and resources, not the establishment of gardens).

· Largely, we did not feel the schools which were successful, were schools with the highest needs in the district.

Conclusion

We acknowledge that there are many attributes of the fund that we felt were unique and addressed ongoing engagement and community concerns, particularly through the participatory voting model and the youth panel.

However, many of the results and benefits that were hoped to be achieved through redirecting funding to the SSRF were not realised. The CMF – Environmental Fund is considered to achieve better impact and aligns to Council’s goals set out in the Long Term Plan 2024-24 Natural Environment and Sustainable Living Activity Plan.

Significance and Engagement

7. The Local Government Act 2002 requires a formal assessment of the significance of matters and decision in this report against Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy. In making this formal assessment there is no intention to assess the importance of this item to individuals, groups, or agencies within the community and it is acknowledged that all reports have a high degree of importance to those affected by Council decisions.

8. The Policy requires Council and its communities to identify the degree of significance attached to particular issues, proposals, assets, decisions, and activities.

9. In terms of the Significance and Engagement Policy this decision is considered to be of low significance because there is no significant impact to Councils current levels of service and there is no significant division in communities view on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council Community Match Fund or the Bay of Plenty Regional Councils School Sustainability and Resilience Fund.

Engagement, Consultation and Communication

10. Council will communicate the decision to the affected parties, including Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Environmental Funders Group.

Issues and Options Assessment

11. Recommended option is in bold

12. The extent to which the following comparisons of options are completed depends on the significance and complexity of the decision as assessed above.

Option A Council agrees to discontinue redirecting a portion of the environmental Community Match Fund
Assessment of advantages and disadvantages including impact on each of the four well-beings · Economic · Social · Cultural · Environmental	Advantages · Council has higher oversight of how the funds are spent · Our budget may be leveraged more through the Community Match Fund (at least 50%). · The budget will be spent on ecological community outcomes, as it is intended to be. Disadvantages · Cannot utilise the participatory budget model and youth panel of the School Sustainability Fund which yields high engagement
Costs (including present and future costs, direct, indirect and contingent costs).	No additional costs
Assumptions that relate to this option	That confirmed funding for the School Sustainability and Resilience Fund will remain the same.
Option B Council continues to fund Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s School Sustainability and Resilience Fund
Assessment of advantages and disadvantages including impact on each of the four well-beings · Economic · Social · Cultural · Environmental	Advantages · Utilises the participatory budget model and youth panel of the School Sustainability Fund which yields high engagement. Disadvantages · Council has no higher oversight of how the funds are spent · Our budget may not be leveraged more than the 50% match we achieve through the Community Match Fund. · The budget may not be spent entirely on ecological community outcomes, as it is intended to be.
Costs (including present and future costs, direct, indirect and contingent costs).	No additional costs
Assumptions that relate to this option	That confirmed funding for the School Sustainability and Resilience Fund will remain the same.

Statutory Compliance

13. The recommendations in this report align with Councils’ obligations under the Local Government Act 2002.

Funding/Budget Implications

14. There are no additional budget implications to deliver this work.

Budget Funding Information

Relevant Detail

$20,000

Community Match Fund – Environmental Fund.

Within operational budgets

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

25 June 2025

9.3 Sea Cleaners Application

File Number: A6782039

Author: Liesel Carnie, Community Outcomes Advisor

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

1. The purpose of this report is to recommend that Council provides funding support to Sea Cleaners Trust for one year. The funding will be provided from existing operational budgets.

Recommendation

1. That the Community Outcomes Advisor’s report dated 25 June 2025 titled ‘Sea Cleaners Application’ be received.

2. That the report relates to an issue that is considered to be of low significance in terms of Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy.

3. That the Community Committee agrees to fund Sea Cleaners Trust $25,000 for one year to deliver a coastal, harbour and estuary litter clean up programme, with $5000 provided from the existing Waste Levy budget and $20,000 provided from the multi-agency environmental programmes budget.

Background

2. Sea Cleaners Trust is a full time coastal, harbour and estuary litter clean up programme that has been running successfully in Auckland for two decades.

3. In 2023, Sea Cleaners Trust presented to the Mayoral Forum and was encouraged to apply to all councils through their Long-Term Plan processes.

4. Sea Cleaners sought $25,000 per year from WBOPDC through the Long-Term Plan process. Council declined the funding request, but stated “Council will explore future opportunities to determine where support can be provided in the future for a Sea Cleaners Trust launch in our District.”

5. The Council decision was based on the following considerations:

· The proposal was for additional budget - not within current operational budgets.

· It was a significant funding request ($75,000 over 3 years).

· The project had not yet launched in the Bay of Plenty Region.

6. Since the LTP was adopted, Sea Cleaners have received significant funding support from councils and philanthropic trusts, and have now launched in the Bay of Plenty with two new boats. The funding includes:

· Bay of Plenty Regional Council - $50,000 – Bay of Plenty operations

· Tauranga City Council - $25,000 – Tauranga operations

· Philanthropic and corporate sponsorship: $170,000

7. Currently, there are no long term or sustained efforts by Council to clean up the coastlines in the Western Bay district and it is reliant on community-led efforts. Sea Cleaners provide a service over a sustained time and enable and support any existing community effort to clean up the coastlines.

8. Maketu and Waihī Beach, due to the sea currents, are heavily impacted by micro plastics. The community has been working hard, in partnership with Council staff and other agencies, to clean up their local beaches but the problem is too large for their current resourcing. Much of the Western Bay of Plenty District coastline has a low population surrounding it and therefore low levels of community service to clean up the litter.

9. It is noted that Sea Cleaners is currently running some community clean ups in the Western Bay, utilising the funding they are receiving from BOPRC and philanthropic trusts. If approved, the additional funding from Council will contribute to personnel costs for new, skilled Bay of Plenty staff, equipment maintenance, fuel, promotional activities, and initial operational expenses as Sea Cleaners establishes its physical presence in the Bay of Plenty region. This funding would be solely dedicated to Sea Cleaners' operations in the Western Bay of Plenty district, and funding will be supplemented by existing organisational resources and efforts to secure local sponsorships and partnerships. Given the large geographical area covered by the Western Bay of Plenty it is expected that approximately 30% of the boats time and activities will be spent focused in the Western Bay of Plenty coastline.

1. The deliverables for this application will be:

Project	Measures - Evidence	Timeline
Waste Minimisation
1. Western Bay coastlines and river margins have reduced amounts of waste	· 100,000 litres of waste removed from Western Bay beaches, harbours, estuaries or rivers. · Maintain a long term clean up programme in the district	June 2026
2. Strategically manage and prioritise plastic pollution levels	· Conduct comprehensive data mapping to inform targeted clean ups	June 2026
Partnerships with Māori
3. Iwi/Hapū Collaboration	· Establish informal partnerships with 3 iwi/hapū groups. · Work with Iwi/Hapu groups to identify areas of significance to them that they would like you to prioritise. · At least 1x Clean up delivered in partnership with a Western Bay Iwi/Hapu.	June 2026
4. Te Ao Māori Integration	· All educational workshops/materials to integrate mātauranga Māori perspectives	June 2026
Community Participation
5. Volunteers involved	· 200 volunteers participate in clean ups in the Western Bay area · 1,200 volunteer hours in Year One	June 2026
6. Community Outreach	· Ten Western Bay based schools/kura/groups participate in beach clean ups located in the Western Bay facilitated by Sea Cleaners · Collaborate and engage with 2 other organisations on public beach clean up opportunities in the Western Bay	June 2026
Educational workshops	· Deliver 5 workshops, presentations, or partnerships with local Western Bay of Plenty communities, schools, businesses, and iwi groups to raise awareness about plastic pollution, and inspire behaviour change around plastic use and waste disposal.	June 2026

2. It is a district council responsibility to clean up litter and illegal dumping above the high tide mark, and Regional Council is responsible for litter or illegal dumping below the low tide mark.

3. Council’s Solid Waste team is supportive of the Sea Cleaners Trust and will support as they are able to.

Significance and Engagement

4. The Local Government Act 2002 requires a formal assessment of the significance of matters and decision in this report against Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy. In making this formal assessment there is no intention to assess the importance of this item to individuals, groups, or agencies within the community and it is acknowledged that all reports have a high degree of importance to those affected by Council decisions.

5. The Policy requires Council and its communities to identify the degree of significance attached to particular issues, proposals, assets, decisions, and activities.

6. In terms of the Significance and Engagement Policy this decision is considered to be of low significance because there is no significant division in the community about supporting litter clean ups, cleaning up litter is an activity of Council and its is a small funding request that can be met within existing budgets.

Engagement, Consultation and Communication

7. Council will communicate the decision to affected parties, including Sea Cleaners Trust.

Issues and Options Assessment

Option A Funds Sea Cleaners Trust $25,000 for one year to deliver a coastal, harbour and estuary litter clean up programme.
Assessment of advantages and disadvantages including impact on each of the four well-beings · Economic · Social · Cultural · Environmental	Economic Advantage · No increase in spend · One off contribution financially Social Advantage · That Council is seen to protect the natural environment · Opportunities to volunteer may improve social outcomes for our communities through physical and mental health, social cohesion, connection and increased localised involvement in conservation outcomes. Cultural Advantage · Opportunity for Iwi/hapu to protect and preserve sites of significance to them. Environmental Advantage · A sustained and comprehensive effort to provide clean green and valued coastlines and harbour margins. · Threats that indigenous biodiversity (particularly marine) may face from litter will be reduced in the district There may be wider participation and engagement from communities cleaning up litter
Costs (including present and future costs, direct, indirect and contingent costs).	The strategy uses existing budgets so there are no additional costs. One off contribution for one year. $5,000 Waste Levy $20,000 Environmental Multi Agency Fund
Assumptions that relate to this option	That confirmed funding for Sea Cleaners will remain the same.
Option B Council declines to fund Sea Cleaners Trust at this time, and undertakes to explore future opportunities to see where support may be provided at a later time.
Assessment of advantages and disadvantages including impact on each of the four well-beings · Economic · Social · Cultural · Environmental	Economic Advantage · Allows more evidence to be provided to determine the value of Council’s support for the programme. Social Disadvantage · That Council is not seen to protect the natural environment Environmental Disadvantages · No sustained and comprehensive effort to provide clean green and valued coastlines and harbour margins. · Indigenous biodiversity, particularly marine, may be threatened by litter pollution.
Costs (including present and future costs, direct, indirect and contingent costs).	None
Assumptions that relate to this option	That confirmed funding for Sea Cleaners will remain the same beyond Year One of the Bay of Plenty programme.

Statutory Compliance

8. The recommendation of this report assists council to meet the objectives of the Waste Minimisation and Management Plan as set out below:

Objective 3: To investigate and where appropriate develop partnerships, joint working and co-operation across the private and community sectors as well as territorial and regional councils, including shared services.

Objective 5: To engage with iwi/hapū and the community and provide information, education and resources to support community actions.

Objective 7: To work with local businesses and organisations to achieve waste reduction at a local level.

Funding/Budget Implications

9. There are no additional budget implications to deliver this work.

Budget Funding Information	Relevant Detail
$5,000 Waste Levy	Within current financial year budget – one off contribution
$20,000 Environmental Multi Agency Fund	Within current financial year budget – one off contribution

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

25 June 2025

9.4 Community Forums Expo Outcomes 2025

File Number: A6807072

Author: Ella Logan, Governance Advisor

Authoriser: Robyn Garrett, Governance Manager

Executive Summary

1. Council’s Community Forums were established in 2023 to facilitate informal engagement between residents and their ward councillors. In 2024, an expo-style format was trialled in Te Puke, allowing attendees to explore various project hubs. The approach was well received, generating valuable community feedback, and was subsequently implanted district wide. This report provides a summary of the outcomes of these Community Forum Expos.

Recommendation

1. That the Governance Advisor’s report dated 25 June 2025 titled ‘Community Forum Expo Outcomes 2025’ be received.

background

Council originally established Community Forums to provide residents in areas not covered by a Community Board with a direct platform to engage with their ward councillors. These forums offered an open and informal setting for discussing local matters and fostering connections with elected members.

In 2025, Council introduced a revised format for Community Forums, following the success of the Maketu – Te Puke Community Forum held in late 2024. This event trialled an expo-style approach, allowing attendees to interact with councillors and explore Council initiatives through dedicated project hubs. The model was designed to enhance public engagement and facilitate direct dialogue between residents and Council teams, providing a clearer understanding of key functions, initiatives, and projects.

The 2025 Representation Review resulted in nearly all areas of the District being covered by a Community Board, with the exception of Matakana Island, which is represented through the Te Kāhui Mana Whenua Tauranga Moana Forum. As a result of this district-wide Community Board coverage, the rationale behind Community Forums is no longer as relevant, and their future will be determined by the incoming Council following the 2025 Local Elections.

Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward

The first Community Forum Expo of 2025 was held in the Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward on Wednesday 9 April 2025 at the Centre – Pātuki Manawa Digital Hub. The expo focused on the following topics.

Key Projects	Consultation Items	Other
Athenree Jetty	Local Water Done Well	Service Request and General Enquiries
Heron Crescent Elder Housing	Ahi Pātiki – Athenree Crossing	Emergency Management, featuring VR natural hazard simulation experience
Dave Hume Pool Upgrades		Elections 2025
Katikati Wastewater Disposal Future Directions		Kerbside Education
Waihī Beach Stormwater Projects		Funding and Grants
Te Ara Mātauranga – Waihī Beach Library		Roading Projects and Education
		Predator Free Bay of Plenty
Estimated Attendance: 40 residents

A total of 6 Service Requests were lodged by Council staff on behalf of residents at the Katikati-Waihī Beach Community Forum Expo. A breakdown of all service requests is provided in the table below:

Topic/Theme	Number of Service Requests Logged
Local Roads – General Query	1
Freedom Camping - Reserves	2
Mowing – Local Roads	1
Footpaths – Local Roads (replacement / maintenance)	1
Reserves – General Query	1

Kaimai Ward

The second Community Forum Expo of 2025 was held in the Kaimai Ward on Wednesday 7 May at the Te Puna School. The expo focused on the following topics:

Topics/Projects	Consultation Items	Other
State Highway 2 Ōmokoroa Road Intersection Upgrade	Kaimai Reserve Management Plan	Service Requests and General Enquiries
Ōmokoroa Urbanisation Projects		Emergency Management, featuring VR natural hazard simulation experience
Waitui Reserve Timber Sea Wall Replacement Project		Kerbside Education
Minden Lookout Replacement Project		Funding and Grants
Te Puna Station Road/Clarke Road Intersection Improvement (Roading Updates)		Elections 2025
Te Puna/Lochhead/Pitua/Tangitu Roundabout		Pest Free Parks
Estimated Attendance: 60-70 residents

No service requests were lodged at the Kaimai Ward Community Forum Expo.

At the expo, Council conducted a survey to understand the community’s preferred methods of communication and information-sharing with Council. Participants were allowed to select multiple options and provide additional comments and suggestions, with one respondent proposing the inclusion of a feature enabling residents to directly reply to Council’s newsletter.

The survey results are outlined in the table below:

Communication method	Number of Responses
Facebook	15
Antenno	19
Your Place Tō wāhi	5
Council’s Website	9
Local Newspaper	1
Radio	4
Council’s E-newsletter	11
Flyer in letterbox	7
Posters at Library	2
In-person	7
Instagram	2
Tiktok	2

Maketu- Te Puke Ward

The final Community Forum Expo for 2025 was held on Wednesday 21 May at Paengaroa Community Hall, with a particular focus on engaging with the ward’s rural communities.

The evening was divided into two segments. The first hour followed a forum-style format, introducing the newly established Te Puke-Eastern Community Board area. This expanded Community Board area will extend further east than the current Community Board boundaries, merging Te Puke, Paengaroa, Pukehina, and Pongakawa into a singular Board, effective after the October 2025 Local Elections.

Community updates were shared by the following organisations and schools:

· Paengaroa Community Association

· Pukehina Ratepayers and Residents Association

· Pongakawa School

· Ōtamarākau School

The second half of the evening transitioned into an expo-style format, with the focus being on the following topics:

· Local Roading Projects

· The Conway Road Reserve Playground

· Community Grants

· Emergency Management, featuring VR natural hazard simulation experience

· Elections

Estimated Attendance: 30-40 residents

No service requests were raised at the Maketu-Te Puke Community Forum Expo.

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

25 June 2025

10 Information for Receipt

10.1 Housing Action Plan 2024: Progress Report

File Number: A6802785

Author: Simone Cuers, Strategic Housing Programme Lead

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

1. Council established Enabling Housing as one of five strategic priorities and a key focus of the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan and other work we do. The following goals and roles were determined for council to progress Enabling Housing as a strategic priority.

(a) What we want to achieve: Housing that is affordable, accessible, habitable with security of tenure, and appropriate to our life stages and differing needs.

(b) What we see our role being:

(i) Leader - The lead agency for facilitating local housing strategies and action plans to deliver local housing outcomes.

(ii) Enabler - Providing opportunities for housing through land use zoning, infrastructure to support housing development, accessing Central Government funding, and streamlining the consent process.

(iii) Provider - Specific housing projects delivered that align with community needs identified in local housing plans and making use of opportunities Council can provide with its elder housing portfolio.

2. This strategic priority has laid the foundation for setting the continued direction and priorities in council’s housing work. In June 2024, the Strategy and Policy Committee adopted Housing Action Plan 2024.

3. The purpose of this report is to provide the second progress report to the Community Committee on implementation of Housing Action Plan 2024.

Background

4. In 2018 we set out the Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) Housing Action Plan, which described the actions Council could take where we have an influence on improving the housing situation. The 2018 Plan outlined the strategies and how we need to work together with other stakeholders involved in housing delivery to achieve the vision.

5. In June 2022, the Policy Committee confirmed Council’s role as the lead agency for facilitating local housing strategies and action plans to deliver on local housing outcomes to improve community wellbeing.

6. Council established Enabling Housing as one of five strategic priorities which laid the foundation for setting the direction and priorities in council’s housing work. In June 2024, the Strategy and Policy Committee adopted the Housing Action Plan 2024.

7. This report provides the second progress report to the Community Committee on implementation of each of the twenty-nine actions in Housing Action Plan 2024 since its adoption in June 2024.

Housing action plan 2024/2025 progress

Actions that support outcomes across the entire housing continuum

1. Facilitate local housing networks to develop and implement place-based housing strategies, including providing a strong evidence base for strategies by completing local housing needs assessments

Aims for the Te Puke and Katikati Housing Networks are to build cross sector connections, along with galvanising action and partnerships for delivery. The early development of a clear shared picture of their local housing systems, via evidence-based housing needs reports, has supported the drafting of housing systems plans providing an agreed direction for both networks. We work in collaboration with iwi, local businesses, developers, social housing providers, social and health service providers, community groups, and central government to implement the local housing plans.

Key outcomes for Katikati Housing Network since the last progress report December 2024:

¾ Briefing network members on building regulation reforms, including but not limited to minor dwellings.

¾ Discussing options for Middlebrook Drive site should Kāinga Ora decide to divest the land, thereby positioning ourselves in readiness to respond.

¾ Meeting with developer and landowner in the network discussing ways their interest in partnering with a community housing provider or the like to deliver accessible and affordable housing could be achieved. Making introductions to entities to this end.

¾ Growing the awareness of the range of elder housing options in Katikati and how to access these. This is helpful for entities who see and refer people requiring housing such as Katikati Community Centre, Rereatukahia marae, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tamawhariua Health and Social Services, Grey Power and Tuapiro marae (all network members). We have seen benefit in better understanding the varied cohorts within the seniors age group seeking housing. Abbeyfield is securing tenants for their house, council has been doing the same for Heron Crescent and RSA’s Homewood Trust have reported a change in tenancies in a number of their 36 units with 5 people leaving, (into care, passing away, moving to another town) and offering tenancies to people on their waitlist which has reduced as a result.

The Te Puke Housing Network has been operating for three years now. A key factor in delivering housing in Te Puke is the policy settings that are now in place. The housing providers and developers that are part of the Te Puke Housing Network report that the introduction of the MDRS (Medium Density Residential Standards) along with council’s financial contributions reduction policy for papakāinga and community housing has enabled housing developments to proceed at pace. Since 2022 the town has seen a significant increase in social housing, with Kāinga Ora, Accessible Properties, Tauranga Community Housing Trust, and Te Puke Baptist Church all undertaking developments. Some highlights are:

¾ Te Puke Baptist Church, Evergreen House – Whare Katoa, 6 units for older people

¾ Accessible Properties, 13 one-bedroom units for older people on Seddon Street.

¾ Tauranga Community Housing Trust, 15 units on corner of Jocelyn Street and Station Road

¾ Kāinga Ora, 30 new dwellings provided in total since 2022

Other developments are also under way.

Te Puke has also seen an increase in tenure types and affordable builds. This includes shared ownership offerings, the development of ‘build to rent’ homes, and working relationships formed with Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund to support delivery of affordable housing.

Opportunities to develop Papakāinga are also progressing, with the completion of eight feasibility studies for development on Māori land. Council’s policy settings will also assist with enabling these builds.

The next step for the Te Puke Housing Network is to continue to build relationships with government departments in particular Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, to ensure input into and alignment with government housing initiatives and investment plans and highlighting the housing needs in Te Puke and the wider Western Bay.

2. Spatial planning in accordance with requirements of Future Development Strategy

Work is progressing on the Te Puke Spatial Plan looking at the urban areas of Te Puke, with consideration for the connections to and from Waitangi and Manoeka. The spatial plan provides a blueprint for growth and development within identified areas for the next 30 to 50 years. An issues and options paper is being prepared to inform the draft spatial plan. This report captures the feedback from the community and other reports and considers issues such as the management of stormwater, determining if there is enough residentially zoned land, traffic congestion through the town centre and a preferred location for a pool. It is anticipated consultation will be undertaken on the draft spatial plan in March 2026.

Spatial Plans are being prepared for Te Puna / Minden, Katikati, Waihī Beach / Bowentown / Athenree over the next two years to align with the future requirements of a sub-regional or regional spatial plan as signalled in the latest government announcements on replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA). Spatial planning plays a key role in setting the direction for a range of Council work programmes including the Long Term Plan.

The spatial plans will be based on the scope signalled in the RMA Blueprint for reform. This includes housing, infrastructure, social infrastructure, environmental constraints, potential future zoning and tangata whenua aspirations. We are proposing to complete spatial plans in partnership with mana whenua and with a large amount of community input through meaningful community engagement events. Important conversations with our communities will help us reaffirm our planning approach in the lead up to a new planning system.

We are at the beginning of the planning process, writing baseline reports and confirming our communications and engagement approach. We are aiming to have each of the Spatial Plans completed by mid 2027.

3. Knowledge sharing and engagement e.g. via council’s website, housing networks, and other specific forums.

Information is available on council’s website on a wide range of housing topics along with links to further information. This ranges from ways to get assistance with housing, details of council’s housing work programme, council’s support for development of affordable housing via FINCO reductions, our contribution to funding the Healthy Housing Programme, housing on whenua Māori, getting into home ownership via shared home ownership programmes, where to find help if struggling to meet housing costs and more.

We are briefing the two housing networks, in Katikati and Te Puke, on the government housing reforms, most recently on the building reforms.

We disseminate information from housing seminars or conferences to the housing networks and council staff, the most recent example being NZ Property Council’s BOP Market Outlook.

4. Internal council process improvement, including timeframes for consenting

A Resource Consent Business Improvement plan was developed in late 2024 focusing on the following key themes: improved relationships with key developers, a more cohesive Council supportive approach to development in the district, and ensuring staff are well supported. Implementation is 90% complete with up to 25 actions undertaken. As a result, statutory timeframes are being met 90-95% of the time. Council remains committed to regularly reviewing its systems and processes and engaging with key stakeholders to ensure an effective and efficient resource consent system.

In the Building Consents service area Council is currently sitting at 98-100% compliance with the 20 day timeframe and the average number of days for a building consent application currently sits at 12 days. Significant software improvements have been made to increase efficiency and provide clarity of the process to applicants. Council’s refusal process has also been tightened up to ensure that fundamentally deficient applications are refused. (This refusal is a requirement of the Building Act 2004). The refined refusal process has freed up resource to ensure quality applications are prioritised. The tighter refusal process has been key to ensure building consents are completed within the required 20-day timeframe.

5. Monitoring and sharing data and indicators of local housing situations

Housing research reports on housing affordability and housing stress are being used to ensure we have current data to inform our work. The research covers both WBOPDC and TCC areas and provides up-to-date data on housing needs as well as details on sizing the different cohorts in each part of the housing continuum. This means up-to-date data will be available for housing planning and delivery going forward, this includes using the data to inform our spatial planning work as well as disseminating the reports to the housing networks. Action 20. Monitor MSD’s’ Accommodation Supplement uptake as an indication of affordability has also been informed by this work.

The work has shown the challenge to address housing gaps remains a critical issue facing the district and the vision outlined in the Housing Action Plan 2024 “Housing that is affordable, accessible, habitable with security of tenure, and appropriate to our life stages and differing needs” continues to be a highly relevant vision.

6. Support provision of habitable housing: warm, dry healthy homes

a. Continue to partner with the Twenty Degrees Programme for improving housing quality in high needs communities.

Council’s commitment to improving access to adequate housing is clear and is published in the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034. Below is a direct quote from an individual Twenty Degrees worked with which illustrates the outcomes that can be leveraged from Twenty Degrees educating people on actions they can do to attain a warm, dry, healthy home. This individual obtained a healthy home bank loan himself for heating, in addition to Twenty Degrees help in draught proofing his home.

“Great catch up with J. He has finished painting and is so very grateful for all our help. He is noticing the draughtproofing - such a little thing but makes such a big difference. He said he is a typical bloke who never opened curtains etc but not anymore. He is airing the house out, opening curtains in the mornings and is far more conscious of how to run a healthy home. I gave a quick refresher on blast ventilation, and he remembered me talking about it. He got a healthy home/sustainability bank loan from Westpac to get second heat pump into bedroom and is paying this off, so I gave education on how best to use heat pumps. He said he is hoping to get a skip bin for the stuff he has accumulated out the back. He really appreciates all we have done to help. I said the skip bin is out of our scope but to try WINZ. I. is much happier now and loving having her own room. She will be 5 years old in November so will be off to school”.

Twenty Degrees delivers a wide range of activities to ensure housing is healthy, warm, and dry. Education is an important part of their work, via workshops and home visits as this supports individuals and families to do their own repairs and maintenance where they have the capacity to do so. This is a snapshot of activities Twenty Degrees delivered year to date since July 1^st, 2024:

¾ 11 community workshops, 347 referrals, 61 visits (includes family education)

¾ 49 new R&M referrals

¾ 28 insulation jobs

¾ 14 heat pumps installed

¾ 10 broken windows repaired

¾ 30 draughty homes fixed

¾ 61 windows with latches repaired (significant draught proofing action)

¾ 42 homes with curtains installed

¾ 445 curtains hung in homes (and more ordered)

¾ 22 roof repairs

¾ 17 other repairs and maintenance activities

b. Provide information about the range of healthy homes programmes to our communities, (including low interest/no interest loans).

Details about the Twenty Degrees Programme are on council’s website under Homes for Our Communities. (https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/council/strategic-priorities/homes-for-our-communities). Twenty Degrees recently commenced a collaboration with Live Well Waihī Beach to conduct a winter blanket/curtain/heater run, and to run workshops on warm dry healthy homes. This is part of their commitment to extending program reach.

Information about no interest/low interest loans for healthy homes upgrades have been published on council’s website.

c. Provide information about energy efficient homes, including cleaner heating options.

We provide information about government’s Warmer Kiwi Homes program, energy efficient homes and cleaner heating options on council’s website.

7. Support provision of accessible housing

Information about accessible housing is available on council’s website under Homes for Our Communities, incorporating information about Lifemark design guidance.

8. Explore the District Plan and other tools to incentivise design and construction for access and mobility

Information about accessible housing guidance is available on council’s website under Homes for Our Communities. Providing private market homes which are accessible is an incentive to development industry as accessible homes are suitable for a wide population now, and into the future.

Specific Actions on Housing Delivery: project delivery in the short term

9. Redevelop Council’s Elder Housing in Katikati

The 26 new elder housing units on Heron Cresent in Katikati are near complete with the official opening on 3 July. The tenant application and selection process has shown council is providing the housing to a cohort of seniors in housing need, some in significant housing need, coming from highly unsuitable and from very tenuous living situations.

10. Support current housing project initiatives on whenua Māori across the District:

a. Facilitate feasibility studies and progress next steps for whenua Māori housing development with Te Arawa ki Tai

Council has supported the completion of comprehensive development feasibility on eight land blocks in the Te Arawa ki Tai area to determine how many homes could be developed on each block. The next stage is to develop a strategy to identify funding opportunities and progress towards housing build.

b. Facilitate feasibility studies and next steps for whenua Māori housing development at Tuapiro marae

Council supported development feasibility at Tuapiro Marae. Resource consent application has been granted for 10 papakāinga and the FINCO reduction has been applied. A blessing was recently held to mark the start of the construction project.

c. Support whenua Māori housing development at Tawhitinui marae

Council continues to work with Tawhitinui marae on progressing their housing aspirations for 22 dwellings. Whānau are continuing to progress the papakāinga build despite funding challenges.

d. Progress changes to the District Plan to support Papakāinga developments

The process for making changes to the District Plan to support Papakāinga developments was commenced via Plan Change 96 – Papakāinga last year. The purpose of the Plan Change is to revise District Plan rules to better support papakāinga development, for homes and community facilities on certain Māori land. Papakāinga development offers a culturally significant solution to a lack of housing by providing homes and community facilities on whenua Māori, allowing whānau to live according to Te Ao Māori and strengthening their connection to the land.

The current District Plan includes rules intended to enable papakāinga development, but these rules have not fully supported the aspirations of Māori for developing papakāinga as intended. The changes aim to provide a greater opportunity for the development of papakāinga on ancestral land, while also managing the adverse effects development has on the environment. Council carried out pre-engagement with tangata whenua and early engagement with the wider community and key stakeholders to help shape the Plan Change last year. This is before receiving confirmation from Te Puni Kōkiri, (government's principal policy advisor on Māori wellbeing and development), earlier this year that national direction for papakāinga will be developed as part of the Resource Management Reform and a National Environmental Standard is proposed. Most recently, on 29 May, Government opened consultation on changes to national direction to the RMA including a National Environmental Standard for Papakāinga. The submission and feedback period runs through to 27 July 2025. The outcome of this proposed National Environmental Standard will help determine how we proceed with the Plan Change.

11. Explore options to utilise Council-owned land in Kotahi Lane, Katikati, to leverage housing outcomes that meet identified gaps in the housing continuum.

An in-house site analysis was completed incorporating constraints and opportunities of the site regarding developing housing. Feedback from private developers has been constraints of the site mean the ability to develop affordable housing is significantly limited.

Options to utilise Council-owned land to leverage housing outcomes that meet identified gaps in the housing continuum will continue to be considered where opportunities arise.

Further Actions based on income quintiles across the housing continuum

Income Quintile 1. Emergency Housing, Social and Community Housing

12. Council staff ensure homeless people have access to information about where to obtain support to access housing.

Council provides our communities access to our brochure ‘Need a hand to get a roof over your head? Help is at hand’ which lists information about ways to help people into housing as well as a range of other support services. Council staff which connect with people who are homeless, offer them the information and council libraries have them on display. It is updated annually.

Staff across council groups work in collaboration to address complex homeless situations including making referrals to external support agencies.

13. Remain an active member of Kāinga Tupu Homelessness Taskforce and contribute to implementation of the Kāinga Tupu WBOP Homelessness Strategy 2023 – 2028.

Council actively participates in Taskforce meetings and has implemented many actions in the Homeless Strategy, including but not limited to:

¾ Recognise and reflect the housing needs of homeless people and those in housing stress, when planning housing supply.

¾ Develop evidence-based Housing Action Plans.

¾ Use resources to leverage housing outcomes and co-investment that meet identified gaps in the housing continuum, particularly for tenures such as assisted rental and assisted ownership housing, (e.g. Council’s Elder Housing units).

¾ Enable social and community housing provision, (see Action 16 for outcomes achieved).

¾ Support development of housing on whenua Māori, (see Action 10 and Action 23 for initiatives delivered)

14. Support social housing developments in Te Puke, in partnership with other potential providers See details in Te Puke Housing Network Update in Action 1, Page 3.

15. Support social housing development in Katikati, in partnership with Kāinga Ora

We understand since the change of government in 2023, an independent review of Kāinga Ora was commissioned which incorporated a review of Kāinga Ora’s program delivery. This has led to uncertainty regarding the status of Kāinga Ora’s future projects, including the project at 24 Middlebrook Drive. Kāinga Ora has advised council the project is under review by the agency while they work through decisions about their future social housing pipeline in the Bay of Plenty and across the country.

16. Continued provision of Council incentives to enable social and community housing via council’s Finco reductions

FINCO reductions continue to support the financial viability of projects which are increasing much needed social housing supply. Tauranga Community Housing Trust recently accessed a Finco reduction in their 13 unit development on MacLoughlin Drive in Te Puke as they are providing social housing.

Income Quintile 2. Affordable/Assisted Rental and Assisted Ownership

17. Advocate for assisted ownership programs and communicate these to WBOPDC communities

Details about current assisted home ownership programs are available on council’s website. Anecdotal evidence indicates communicating this information to our communities is worthwhile; a member of Katikati Housing Network recently indicated several families in his community have purchased homes as a direct result of his learnings about assisted ownership from network meetings.

18. Monitor implementation of inclusionary zoning in other jurisdictions, and potentially explore inclusionary zoning in the district

The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) continues to be the only TLA which applies inclusionary zoning. They do this via a voluntary arrangement where new residential subdivisions and developments provide an affordable housing financial contribution, either via land or cash. This funds affordable housing for low to moderate-income residents.

19. Identify and support new project opportunities as they emerge

We continue to identify projects through the housing networks, and through our consents and environmental planning teams who have regular meetings with local developers.

20. Monitor MSD’s’ Accommodation Supplement uptake as an indication of affordability

The Accommodation Supplement uptake has increased in the subregion showing the extent of housing unaffordability continues to grow. The Accommodation Supplement accounted for 17% of all MSD benefits paid in Greater Tauranga totalling $64.8 million in 2019. This increased to $77.8 million in 2023, an increase of 20%.

In 2023 $11.2M was paid to owner occupiers and $66.5M was paid to renters.

[Note: Greater Tauranga refers to WBOPDC and TCC areas. The data cannot be provided to a lower level].

21. Explore and enable Build-to-Rent (BTR) opportunities, at below market rent rates.

“Build to Rent is a transformational way of living. Offering high-quality purpose-built rental homes where you can put down roots and stay as long as you like” (quote from Property Council NZ build to rent website).

Bureta Park Build-to-Rent is the first BTR project in the sub region. Construction of the total 89 homes in Tauranga is planned to start at the end of 2025 with a mix of two and three-bedroom homes. The development will provide homes for sale and to rent; 50% of each. Purpose Capital has partnered with Mike Greer Homes to deliver this project. While this project is not in our district, it is significant, as it is the first of its kind to be delivered locally, and hopefully the first of more.

22. Use Council-owned land to develop joint initiatives for housing developments that contribute assisted rental and assisted ownership models to the market

By the end of June, Council will have achieved delivery of an additional 22 units of Elder Housing in Katikati. This includes the 7 Elder Housing units in Beach Road and the 26 Elder Housing units opening on 3 July in Heron Crescent via a joint initiative with MHUD at no cost to the ratepayer. (The latter replaced 11 old units, so the net gain is 15 units in Heron Crescent). This brings the total number of council elder housing units from 59 units to 85 units.

23. Continued provision of council incentives to enable assisted rental and assisted home ownership by Māori and community housing providers, via Council’s Finco reductions

FINCO reductions continue to support the financial viability of projects enabling much needed assisted home ownership and assisted rental homes in the district.

Community Housing Provider New Zealand Housing Foundation is currently going through the process of preparing paperwork for Finco reductions for assisted home ownership homes in Kaylene Place in Ōmokoroa.

Resource consenting is currently underway for a 17 dwelling Papakāinga development on Welcome Bay Road, which will be eligible for Finco reductions.

Income Quintile 3 to 5. Private market including affordable housing

24. Review the rural and residential zone provisions for minor dwellings in the District Plan, including consideration of Tiny Homes

Last year the Government released a consultation document on making it easier to build small, self-contained, and detached houses, commonly known as ‘granny flats’ on property with an existing home on it. The aim being to enable granny flats up to 70 square metres in size, to be built without needing a building or resource consent, so long as they meet certain criteria. (The proposed changes however will not include Tiny Homes, buildings on wheels, or any sort of mobile structures). The changes are expected by the end of this year.

25. Seasonal Worker Accommodation - update accommodation assessment, last completed in 2017, in partnership with kiwifruit sector and determine what future actions may be needed

This work is underway working in collaboration with New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Association. There are a wide range of factors to consider:

¾ The allocation of RSA worker caps was raised in New Zealand by 1,250 in 2024/25.

¾ Changes in workforce requirements or not: Packhouse automation is being implemented to reduce labour requirements during peak periods. Efforts to increase the number of people in permanent employment in the kiwifruit industry are also underway. However, gold, and red kiwifruit plantings are increasing, with an extra 10-15 million trays of production coming online each year. Both varieties are more labour-intensive to grow than green, and there is limited opportunity for automation on-orchard.

¾ Zespri is forecasting an increase in total supply from 195 million trays in the 2024 harvest season to 228 million trays in 2029.

The focus of the review is to assess accommodation needs for kiwifruit workforce in the district and determine approaches council could take within our scope of influence to address identified issues.

26. Explore and enable Build-to-Rent (BTR) opportunities, at market rent rates

See details listed on Bureta Park Build-to-Rent in Action 21, on Page 11. Whilst this project is not in our district, it is significant as it is the first of its kind to be delivered locally, and hopefully the first of more.

27. Explore and enable affordable to purchase opportunities, (e.g. affordable License to Occupy, Secure Homes Programs)

There is interest from the development sector to develop affordable License to Occupy housing in the district. The time from early conversations about development ideas and/or proposals to actual projects can be long, however. The benefit of having this incorporated in council housing plans and local housing network plans is the need for alternative tenures is clear, backed up by data driven evidence base.

28. Monitor Medium Density Residential Standards delivery in Te Puke and Ōmokoroa

Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) delivery is less evident in Ōmokoroa than Te Puke, as mostly greenfield 3-4 bedroom standalone dwellings are being built this year, as in previous years. Development for year to date 1 July 2024-30 April 2025 on MDRS zoned land in Ōmokoroa:

¾ 77 dwellings on greenfield land and 4 replacement/infill dwellings

Greenfield dwellings are mainly 3-4 bedrooms, Ōmokoroa Country Club are mostly 2 bedrooms. In addition, current Resource Consents being processed on MDRS zoned land in Ōmokoroa (as at 11 June 2025):

¾ 127 Ōmokoroa Road – 41 Lots (infill)

¾ 149 Prole Road – 73 Lots (greenfield)

Te Puke shows quite a different picture, with evidence of MDRS being used to increase dwelling numbers on existing sites, via a mixture of typologies. Development for year to date 1 July 2024-30 April 2025 on MDRS zoned land in Te Puke:

¾ 15 infill dwellings are being built on subdividable sites alongside the original home

¾ 35 dwellings are being built in place of 6 being demolished, making use of intensification on large sections

¾ Only 4 greenfield dwellings are being built this year to date, (being 30 April 2025).

¾ Seeing a mixture of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms of various typologies.

In addition, current Resource Consents being processed on MDRS zoned land in Te Puke (as of 11 June 2025):

¾ New resource consent for 24 MacLoughlin Drive (a replacement consent from pre-Plan Change 92) - 256 Lots (this is greenfield development but higher density than original resource consent)

¾ 81A Dunlop Road – 13 lots (greenfield)

¾ 24 Glen Terrace – 6 dwellings (infill)

¾ 269 Boucher Ave – 6 lots (infill)

29. Ensure Council planning tools enable and encourage delivery of a mix of housing typology and price points – this includes a review of the residential zone provisions in the District Plan to explore ways to deliver a range of housing typologies

The MDRS and the spatial plans enable and encourage delivery of a mix of housing typology and price points.

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

25 June 2025

10.2 Facilities in the Community Fund 2024/25 Decisions

File Number: A6764749

Author: Jason Crummer, Senior Recreation Planner

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

1. This report informs the Community Committee of the decisions made by the Facilities in the Community Fund Working Party to award the fund to seven successful applicants.

Background

2. Council’s ‘Facilities in the Community Fund’ (FITC) is a contestable fund of $100,000 let every two years.

3. The Fund is enabled through the collection of Financial Contributions (FINCOs) for Reserves, which are calculated at 2% per annum. There is a strict eligibility criteria relating to the spending of this funding, to ensure it meets the intended purpose of the collected FINCOs.

4. Eligibility for funding is reliant on strict requirements, as outlined below:

(a) The proposed recreational facility must be available to the public;

(b) If there is any limit to public access, such as during school hours, this must be agreed by Council and clearly stated on any signs;

(d) The facility must not duplicate existing or proposed facilities on Council land in the locality;

(e) The facility does not replace an existing facility within the local community;

(f) The facility is vital to the recreational activity;

(g) The facility will be identified by Western Bay of Plenty District Council signage that is easily visible from the road;

(h) For a facility development worth more than $100,000, a Feasibility Study will be required to demonstrate the viability of the proposal.

5. The fund was open from 17 April until 21 May 2024 with 17 applications received.

6. The Facilities in the Community Fund Working Party met on 25 June 2024 to consider applications submitted. The working party made decisions under delegated authority, as per the Community Committee’s resolution CM24-1.4.

7. Funding decisions

8. After evaluating each application against the funding criteria, the Working Party approved seven applications, as outlined below:

1.	Katikati Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc Repairs to the A&P hall	$11,532
2.	Katikati Community Toy Library Facility carpet replacement	$13,945
3.	Summerhill Charitable Trust Building costs toward a new community hub	$15,000
4.	Te Puke Pony Club Clubroom window & cladding replacement	$15,000
5.	Te Ranga School Swimming pool electrical and paint work	$14,523
6.	Te Paamu Sports Club Building costs toward field irrigation install	$15,000
7.	Whakamārama School New outdoor musical equipment	$15,000

9. The following applications were declined due to not meeting the funding criteria and were referred to the Community Match Fund (CMF) application process:

(a) Katikati Community Centre;

(b) Katikati Rugby and Sports Club;

(d) Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society;

(e) Maketu Surf Lifesaving Club;

(f) Matakana Island Recreation and Community Club;

(g) Pets Aid Therapy Bay of Plenty;

(h) Te Puke Club Inc;

(i) Te Puna School PTA;

(j) Youth Encounter Ministries Trust.

10. All applicants were advised of the outcome of their application in writing on 9 July 2024 with successful applicants receiving a ‘Deed of Agreement’ from Council enabling them to draw on their respective funds.

11. Funding Delivery and Community Outcomes

Katikati Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc

12. The repairs to the A & P hall are understood to be complete; however, their funding has not yet been claimed. Council is currently awaiting receipt of photos, the final invoice, and supporting documentation to process the funding payment.

Katikati Community Toy Library

13. After a liquidated supplier lost their $7,000 deposit in October 2024, the community rallied through ‘Givealittle’ and direct donations, raising the shortfall within weeks. Thanks to support from Council, community members, local businesses, and organisations, the carpet was laid in December 2024. The refreshed space has elevated the toy library’s appeal and functionality, with growing membership, positive feedback from families and enabled the launch of a new weekly preschool activity, ‘Minikidi’.

Summerhill Charitable Trust

14. Summerhill Charitable Trust has opened its new 100 m² community base at their 126 ha farm in Pāpāmoa Hills. Designed by a University of Auckland student and built using local supplies, the facility replaces an outdated woolshed and offers a modern, accessible space for schools, youth groups, recreation organisations, and corporate groups. The facility is already in use for events such as story time sessions, with the build made possible through support from a range of funding partners. The new base enhances Summerhill’s capacity to support environmental education, predator control, trail maintenance, mountain biking events, running groups, and learning programmes for the wider community.

Te Puke Pony Club

15. A deposit was paid on 26 February 2025 to initiate works. The back wall of the club rooms has been painted, and new windows was scheduled for installation in early May. Once the new door is installed, the project will be complete.

Te Ranga School

16. The project for swimming pool electrical and paint work has been completed. Works included the installation of a new heating and chlorinating unit, along with new handrails installed on both sides of the inside of the pool. These improvements have enhanced both safety and functionality, further supporting the school’s participation in regional water safety and learn-to-swim programmes common across Western Bay of Plenty schools.

Te Paamu Sports Club

17. Extensive earthworks have been completed, with grass seeding scheduled for completion once weather conditions cooled. The club has expressed gratitude to Council for the funding support. Once operational, the new fields are expected to reduce demand on Te Puke sports fields and may be available ahead of next year’s rugby season.

Whakamārama School

18. We were advised that delivery of new outdoor musical equipment was expected in early May. Installation of the equipment is a priority once it arrives, with the school aiming to complete installation and claim the funding before the end of the financial year. As at the time of this report, we are still awaiting confirmation.

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

25 June 2025

10.3 Community Events Update

File Number: A6796335

Author: Vicki Lambert, Event Specialist

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

1. This report provides an update on the facilitation of events on Council owned land across the district, and the funding outcomes of the Western Bay Community Events Fund. The range and scale of events highlights the Council Events Team’s commitment to empowering local initiatives and fostering cultural, social, and economic development within our community through collaborative efforts and strategic funding.

2. Role and Responsibilities of the Events Team

The Events Team at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council plays a key role in supporting a wide range of events across the district. Facilitating events that highlight our region’s cultural diversity, natural beauty, and community spirit, we collaborate closely with local organisations, community groups, and stakeholders to ensure events are safe, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. Events in our District range from large-scale festivals and cultural celebrations to sports competitions and community gatherings, fostering social cohesion and contribution to our economy. To enable these events, we work with other funding partners to manage the allocation of the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund.

3. Purpose and Establishment of the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund

The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund (TWBCEF) was established to address the challenges faced by community groups in the area. Previously, organisers had to navigate multiple funding applications, which was time-consuming, created funding uncertainties, and often resulted in duplicated information submission. The fund aims to streamline the application process for community events, enriching communities through active participation and inclusion. It allows event organisers to apply for significant funding from a single source, rather than multiple applications, making the process more efficient and accessible.

Events facilitated on council owned land

4. Events Facilitation Role

The Events Team at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) acts as a pivotal central point within the council, enhancing the facilitation of community events by coordinating necessary services and support. Our team works across the relevant departments to ensure external event organisers comply with all aspects relating to their event. We support events to champion sustainability through robust waste management practices, encouraging efficient recycling and waste reduction efforts at every event. Our commitment to safety is reflected in our comprehensive risk management guidance, helping organisers to identify and mitigate potential hazards. We also assist events organisers to understand the regulations that might apply to their event and help to streamline the process to gain permits and meet regulations where their events require it. To empower local event organisers, we provide funding assistance, enabling communities to secure the financial resources they need to bring their visions to life. The overall outcome of this facilitation role is that events across the district are well-supported, compliant, and environmentally conscious.

We empower local groups to deliver events that foster diverse participation and inclusive access within the community. By providing resources, guidance, and support, we enable these organisations to create engaging experiences that reflect and address the community's evolving needs and interests.

The success of our event initiatives is deeply rooted in strong partnerships and collaboration, both within the council and with external stakeholders. By working closely with local businesses, community organisations, and regional partners, we ensure a coordinated effort that enhances the impact and reach of each event. This collaborative approach allow us to pool resources, share expertise, and create synergies that elevate participants' experiences. Through ongoing dialogue and joint initiatives, we strive to build lasting relationships that foster community spirit and contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of the Western Bay of Plenty.

5. Outcomes of events facilitation for the 2024 year

In the 2024 calendar year, the events team facilitated over 70 event applications, resulting in more than 130 individual events that engaged over 100,000 participants throughout the Western Bay of Plenty District.

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Tauranga Western bay community event fund

6. Impact and Growth

The fund has witnessed a positive impact, with a notable increase of 72% more events being funded compared to the previous year. There is a focus on supporting new organisers and events, promoting a diverse range of community-driven projects.

7. Funding Structure

The fund operates with a total pool of $900,000, distributed across 5-6 bi-monthly funding rounds. Grants are capped at $50,000 for events in Tauranga and $15,000 for those in the Western Bay of Plenty. WBOPDC contributes $60,000 annually to the fund. In the 2024/25 funding year, a total of $966,461 was disbursed, with grant sizes ranging from $1,600 to $35,000. The average grant amount was approximately $9,762, showcasing strong community volunteering efforts which help keep event costs manageable.

8. Benefits to Community Organisers

The fund opens up new opportunities for event organisers, including those who could not previously access certain sources of funding due to not having not-for-profit status. This inclusive approach ensures a broader participation and promotes community-driven projects that aim to enrich the Tauranga and Western Bay areas.

9. Funding Outcomes for 2024

The TWBCEF, along with the events team’s facilitation role, plays an instrumental part in supporting community events that foster active participation and inclusion, streamlining the process for organisers, and providing significant financial backing to further enrich community event projects in Tauranga and the Western Bay areas.

The TWBCEF has supported 31 events in the Western Bay and 68 in Tauranga, offering various community-focused opportunities throughout the region. Below is the complete list of events funded across the Tauranga and Western Bay areas.

Event name Event date Funding Granted

Tauranga Sikh Parade (Nagar Kirtan)	14-Jan	$15,000
Volleyball NZ Beach Series	16 January - 18 February	$24,000
STEM Wana Robotic / AI Festival	19-Jan	$4,000
Mount Festival of Multisport	20-Jan	$20,000
Eastern Region Championships and Oceans	26 January - 25 February	$25,000
The Great Waihi Beach Scavenger Hunt	27 - 28 January	$2,000
Ultimate Beach Run	3-Feb	$7,000
Katikati A&P Show	3 - 4 February	$8,000
Frocks on Bikes	4-Feb	$2,000
Waitangi Day Festival	6-Feb	$30,000
Māori Pasifika Water Polo Tournament	9 - 11 February	$4,000
Te Puke 118th A&P Lifestyle Show	10-Feb	$8,000
Tauranga Asian Food Show - Chinese New Year Festival	17 - 18 February	$10,000
140th Anniversary Tauranga A&P Lifestyle Show	17 - 18 February	$10,000
Calley Homes Women’s Triathlon	18-Feb	$7,500
BOP Senior Secondary School Championships	25 February - 10 March	$2,500
Pride Picnic Day	2-Mar	$20,000
Holi Colour Splash	2-Mar	$12,000
Day Break Festival of Innovation	4 - 10 March	$10,600
Third Culture Film Festival	8 - 10 March	$10,000
The Welcome Bay Lions Kids Fun Day	9-Mar	$1,500
New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships	14 - 17 March	$45,000
Vaisakhi Mela	23-Mar	$10,000
Tauranga Multicultural Festival	23-Mar	$15,000
Jazz Street Party	23-Mar	$8,000
La Sportiva National Speed Championship	24-Mar	$2,000
Marra Sprint Triathlon	24-Mar	$7,500
Kabaddi Tournament Papamoa	31-Mar	$7,500
Echo Walking Festival	8 - 21 April	$3,000
Tauranga Shakespeare Festival	19 - 21 April	$7,500
Aramex Kiwi Walk & Run Series	27-Apr	$7,500
Festival of Disability Sport	27 - 28 April	$30,000
Smoke Free Rock Quest & Smokefree Tangata Beats	11 May - 21 June	$8,463
Matthias Balzat: Cello Mastery	24 - 26 May	$8,000
Mai Te Uira	31-May	$4,000
Project Youth Hip Hop Dance Competition	31 May - 2 June	$35,000
Show Quest	10-Jun	$8,500
Cats the Musical	15 - 22 June	$7,500
Te Kete Matariki	28-Jun	$15,000
Katikati Matariki Series	28-Jun	$12,000
Bay of Plenty Symphonia Concert	29-Jun	$5,000
Philippine Independence Basketball Tournament	29 - 30 June	$10,000
Tauranga Junior Tough Guy and Gal Challenge	3-Jul	$10,000
Hume 5km & 10km Fun Run/Walk	6-Jul	$5,000
Whai NBL Home Game	9-Jul	$5,000
Waihi Beach Matariki Dawn Viewing & Breakfast	12-Jul	$4,100
Karohirohi	16 - 26 July	$10,000
North Island School Cyclocross Champs and Summerhill CX	21-Jul	$5,000
Vanuatu Independence Day Celebration	30-Jul	$7,500
Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival	15 - 28 August	$5,000
RSE Sports Festival	22 - 24 August	$5,000
Tauranga Primary Schools Music Festival	26 - 30 August	$10,000
The Mount Pickleball Classic	30 August - 1 September	$4,000
2024 Zespri AIMS Games	7 - 13 September	$11,000
The Chilean Independence Day	14-Sept	$2,500
Youth Philharmonic Tauranga September Concert	14-Sept	$2,800
Climate Action Festival	14 - 20 September	$11,068
Spring Clean and Pizza Party	20-Sept	$4,000
Te Puke Sikh Parade	21-Sept	$15,000
Fiji Language Week and Fiji Independence Sports Day	2 - 12 October	$7,500
Live Well Waihi Beach	4 October - 3 November	$3,400
Whai Tauhini Home Game	5-Oct	$5,000
Whai Tauhini Home Game	11-Oct	$5,000
Carnival of the Animals: Kiwi's Musical Journey	12-Oct	$8,000
Tauranga Kabaddi Cup 2024	12-Oct	$10,000
Toi Kiri World Indigenous Festival	14 - 24 October	$30,000
Escape Festival 2024	18 - 19 October	$15,000
Tauranga Whetu Star Awards	25 - 27 October	$5,000
Nga Hau E Wha National Māori Squash Tournament	25 - 28 October	$6,693
Te Puke Treat Trail	31-Oct	$7,500
Te Puke Diwali Festival	1-Nov	$10,000
Pasifika Festival in the Bay	2-Nov	$23,000
TEDx Omokoroa	2-Nov	$2,500
Whai Tauhini Home Game	7-Nov	$5,000
Annual Migrant Powhiri	9-Nov	$10,000
2024 Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival	14 - 17 November	$10,000
Trans Pride 2024	16-Nov	$3,000
Te Kuia me te Pūngāwerewere	18 - 19 November	$5,000
Te Waka Pererua	22-Nov	$8,000
Nell Gwynn	22 November - 7 December	$4,000
Waihi Beach Summer Kick Off Festival	23-Nov	$10,000
Whai Tauhini Home Game	23-Nov	$5,000
Tauranga Diwali Festival 2024	23-Nov	$22,500
Katikati Christmas Series	23 November - 30 December	$15,000
GENX / Marra Tinman Triathlon	24-Nov	$12,000
Kabaddi Sports Tournament	24-Nov	$7,500
National Secondary School Sevens Tournament	28 November - 1 December	$35,000
Te Puke Christmas Parade	30-Nov	$9,000
NZ Beach 5's Rugby Festival	1-Dec	$15,000
Tauranga Christmas in the Park 2024	7-Dec	$15,000
Omokoroa Carols in the Park	7-Dec	$10,000
Merivale Christmas Festival	8-Dec	$9,175
The Mount Monster	12 - 14 December	$10,000
Katikati Community Christmas Lunch	14-Dec	$3,500
Christmas in The Park	14-Dec	$10,000
A Night Before Christmas	14-Dec	$40,000
Waihi Beach Christmas Festival	20 - 21 December	$7,000
Eves Surf breaker Triathlon	27-Dec	$8,000

2025 Funded events

Event name Event date Funding Granted

Tauranga Sikh Parade	12 January	$15,000
Mount Festival of Multisport	18 January	$20,000
LGBTQIA+ Friendly Winter Ball	18 January	$1,500
Katikati A&P Show	2 February	$10,000
Waitangi Day	6 February	$10,000
Waitangi Day Festival 2025	6 February	$30,000
Romeo + Juliet	6 – 16 February	$3,000
Te Puke 119th A&P Lifestyle Show	8 February	$8,000
2nd Asian Food Festival 2025	15 February	$10,000
Tauranga A&P 141st Lifestyle Show	15 February	$5,000
Calley Homes Women's Triathlon	16 February	$8,000
Central North Island Pipe Band Contest	22 February	$2,000
The Elixir of Love – A One Act Opera	22 February – 2 March	$4,500
Beach Run	1 March	$7,000
Holi Colour Splash	8 March	$15,000
Marra Sprint Triathlon	9 March	$8,000
Whai NBL Home Game	14 March	$5,000
The Welcome Bay Lions Kids Fun Day	15 March	$1,600
26th Tauranga Multicultural Festival	22 March	$35,000
Trio Madeleine, Tauranga Musica	30 March	$2,000
Jazz Street Party in Katikati	12 April	$8,000
Echo Walking Festival	1 – 20 April	$10,000
Katikati Festival of Cultures 2025	5 April	$15,000
Welcome Bay Family Fun Day	16 April	$3,000
Te Puke Easter Trail	19 April	$9,000
Aramex Kiwi Walk and Run Series – McLaren Falls Trail	26 April	$7,000
King & Queen of the Mount	27 April	$5,000
Asia's Harmony Festival	3 May	$7,500
Tauranga Junior Tough Guy and Gal Challenge	9 May	$12,000
Festival of Disability Sport 2025	10 – 11 May	$30,000
Beethoven’s Violin, Bay of Plenty Symphonia	11 May	$6,125
Party Time! A Children's Orchestral Event	18 – 24 May	$8,000
Youth Fest 2025	24 May	$15,000
Smokefree Rock Quest & Tangata Beats – Heats	25 May	$6,000
Smokefree Rock Quest & Tangata Beats – Final	3 June	$6,000
Merivale Matariki	16 – 19 June	$2,000
Matariki ki Katikati	19 June	$15,000
Te Kete Matariki 2025	20 June	$15,000
Philippine Independence Basketball Tournament 2025	22 June	$10,000
Welcome Bay Community Event	22 June	$3,000
Show Quest Tauranga 2025	26 June	$10,000

Community Committee Meeting Agenda

25 June 2025

10.4 Pest Free Parks Update

File Number: A6772877

Author: Liesel Carnie, Community Outcomes Advisor

Authoriser: Rachael Davie, Deputy CEO/General Manager Strategy and Community

Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide a short update to the committee on the progress to date on the Pest Free Parks Project.

Background

Recap

At its meeting on 26 March 2025, the Community Committee adopted the Pest Free Parks strategy and associated action plan. This was in response to the proposal that was developed and scoped through community engagement, agency engagement and internal engagement. Staff presented how a Pest Free Parks initiative may enable better conservation and community outcomes on our Council reserves.

Where are we up to?

Pest Free Parks Map and Prioritisation

We are currently developing a Pest Free Parks Map map for external and internal use. The map primarily will be used to analyse all reserves and their appropriateness for inclusion in Pest Free Parks, how far they are from ‘Pest Free Park’ status and where our investment is best spent. This will be done through a geographical, environmental and community gap analysis.

The map uses existing data layers in Council’s GIS system, with some additional data layers provided by Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC). The layers are:

· Placenames

· Pest control care groups (BOPRC Care Groups – group names and polygons highlighting their project areas)

· Reserve layers

· Road and Rail

· Property data

· Historic wetlands

· Duneland vegetation

· Wetland extent

· Potential ecosystem vegetation

· Priority Biodiversity Sites

· Biodiversity sites

· Protected Lots

· Statutory Acknowledgement Areas

· Consent Notice Covenanted areas

· Ecological areas

· Conservation Covenants

· QE II covenanted sites

· Recommended Protected Lots

· Department of Conservation – Recommended Areas of Protection (DOC RAPs) (not already in the District Plan)

· Reserve Contract Areas

· Land Cover Database layer

· Land Use Classification (LUCs)

· Aerials (drone, current & historic)

We are currently integrating two external systems which are as follows:

· Bay of Plenty Regional Councils “Kete Taiao”

· This system is for all Bay of Plenty Regional Council Care groups to enter data for Trapping, Baiting, Monitoring, volunteer hours, weeds, native planting, hazards and hunting. The purpose is to provide reportable data, enable analysis of the groups efficacy and manage their operations effectively through various tools such as maps, graphs, trackers etc. Bay of Plenty Regional Council have agreed to provide us with the care group information for groups on Council reserves, such as the area they work in, the number and location of traps and bait stations and the pest plant work they have logged. By overlaying this information onto our Pest Free Parks map we are able to understand the current extent of pest control on our reserves by these groups, and subsequently if the Park is potentially pest free (based on best practice) or where there are gaps that the Pest Free Parks strategy can work to address. This layer will be for internal use only.

· Bay Conservation Alliance Ecological Connectivity Strategy

This strategy maps and identifies opportunities to protect, enhance, connect, and extend existing forest and wetland habitats across the Western Bay of Plenty district. The purpose is to enable communities, mana whenua, council, and other agencies to work together effectively to achieve conservation outcomes, with the support of Bay Conservation Alliance.

The Strategy includes an online Story Map with interactive maps, showing the current suitable habitats for the key stone species used, and the current or potential linkages. By overlaying this strategy onto Pest free Parks map, we will be able to identify the critical habitats on reserves so we can prioritise our investment and ensure we are getting the most ecological benefits from our reserve network.

Once the mapping is complete, staff will create a matrix which develops a method of prioritising which reserves council and community are best to focus efforts and investment into. The aim will be to create a short list of about 5-20 “focus” reserves which will be the focus for the short term (1-2 years).

Lastly, we are developing new layers to be integrated in the Pest Free Park map as follows:

· Identifying and logging polygons or data points of pest plants on the top 10- 15 focus reserves (as identified through the initial assessment). This will form a “pest plant” layer in the Pest Free Parks internal map.

· Creating a layer of current Environmental Plan areas with associated detail of pest animal or plant work. This will form an “Environmental Plan” layer in the Pest Free Parks internal map.

Pest Free Parks Communications Plan

We have started developing a brand and associated communications plan and webpage for Pest Free Parks. This is to be developed with the community as we have recognise this is a critical part of the work that needs co-development with community groups and Tangata Whenua.

We have identified 3 key aspects to communications :

· The brand look and feel itself.

· How Council’s existing channels such as To Wahī, social media and newsletters will be used.

· The webpage which will also include a filtered version of the map we develop (outlined above) for external use. This will communicate the current progress on Pest Free Parks at each reserve through a simple traffic light system.

· A launch event at a Reserve that we will be aiming to declare Pest Free in Spring 2025. This will be the official launch of Pest Free Parks to introduce the concept to the wider public. It will include an associated media release and online communications.

Joint Volunteer Agreements

The reserves team have been integrating their reserve volunteer agreements with the Bay of Plenty Regional Councils care group agreements so there is transparency and efficiencies developing for District Council, Regional Council and the care group themselves. These are annual plans that were, until now, developed separately for the groups on our reserves.

Green Waste Dumping Campaign

A green waste illegal dumping behaviour change campaign has been developed and is being delivered by the Solid Waste team, the Facilities and Reserves team and the Reserves Volunteer Groups through signage and distribution of flyers at known sites.

Educational communications with associated examples were sent out through social media and the council newsletter to provide education about why green waste illegal dumping poses an issue to our reserve network, in particular, indigenous biodiversity. This is an ongoing campaign.

Next Steps

The following are priorities for Quarter One 2026 Financial Year:

1. Choose one focus/pilot reserve that we will aim to become a “Pest Free Park” as soon as possible for the launch event. The other “Focus” reserves will have a bespoke plan developed which will outline the work required to achieve Pest Free Parks status by mid 2027.

2. Start the delivery of these bespoke Pest Free Park plans – each reserve will require different inputs such as community engagement, agency involvement, volunteer capacity building, additional temporary contractor work, communications etc.

3. The launch event and official communications to begin implementation in spring. This will include a webpage, communications plan and brand developed with the community.

4. During the map development outlined above, various monitoring techniques and tools will be identified and used to create our baseline of current reserves pest status so we can measure progress annually. Some physical monitoring will need to be done (such as pest animal monitoring) to complete the picture. We intend to do this on “focus” reserves only in the short term.

5. In partnership with SociaLink Volunteering Services and Bay Conservation Alliance, Council staff will work to increase volunteer and community engagement in reserves with little to no community involvement through opportunities such as corporate volunteering and organised working bees.

Chairperson	Cr Margaret Murray-Benge
Deputy Chairperson	Cr Grant Dally
Members	Cr Tracey Coxhead Mayor James Denyer Cr Murray Grainger Cr Anne Henry Cr Rodney Joyce Cr Laura Rae Deputy Mayor John Scrimgeour Cr Allan Sole Cr Don Thwaites Cr Andy Wichers John Clements (Chair - Katikati Community Board) Tippany Hopping (Chair - Maketu Community Board) Chris Dever (Chair - Ōmokoroa Community Board) Kassie Ellis (Chair - Te Puke Community Board) Dani Simpson (Chair – Waihī Beach Community)
Quorum	Nine (9)
Frequency	Quarterly

Budget Funding Information	Relevant Detail
$160,000	$160,000 has been allocated to the 2025 Community Matching Fund. $60,000 of this is available for those applications with an environmental focus, with the balance of $100,000 available to all other projects.