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Community organisations supporting recovery efforts across the Western Bay of Plenty have received close to $280,000 in funding following January’s severe weather events.
The Western Bay Emergency Response Fund (WBERF), established after widespread storm damage across the region, raised $293,000 through contributions from businesses, organisations and the wider community.
The fund was jointly led by Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Community recovery support
Major contributors included Zespri, Port of Tauranga, Craigs Investment Partners and One NZ Foundation.
Funding was distributed to organisations involved in emergency response and longer-term community recovery efforts.
Recipients included the Rapid Relief Team, Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club, Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust and Salvation Army.
Mauao restoration funding
The fund has also ring-fenced $110,000 toward restoration work at Mauao following extensive storm damage earlier this year.
The funding will go to the Mauao Trust as work begins on summit track remediation and wider restoration efforts.
A blessing held this week alongside Tauranga City Council and Ngā Poutiriao o Mauao marked the formal beginning of recovery work on the maunga.
Tourism and community recovery
The reopening of Mauao is expected to be a significant milestone for both the local community and the wider visitor economy, with the landmark remaining one of the Bay of Plenty’s most recognisable tourism attractions.
Western Bay Emergency Response Fund team lead Matty Nicholson says the funding has helped support organisations carrying much of the recovery effort.
“The WBERF was proud to be the vehicle for that goodwill — connecting donors with the charitable organisations doing the work that other funding couldn’t reach.”
Matty says the region’s recovery will continue over the coming months as restoration work progresses.
