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Severe weather has caused widespread damage across Tauranga Moana and the Western Bay of Plenty, prompting the activation of the Western Bay Emergency Response Fund to support affected communities.
A state of emergency was declared on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, as the region prepared for record-breaking rainfall, with the highest total ever recorded in a 24-hour period.
The extreme weather triggered a major landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, with a number of people reported missing. Another slip in Welcome Bay destroyed a home, resulting in multiple fatalities. Flooding has also affected many communities across the region.
In response, the Western Bay Emergency Response Fund has been activated as a joint initiative between Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
The fund will provide urgent financial support to local organisations, marae and charities working directly with communities affected by the emergency.
“Our region is hurting right now, and we know people want to help their neighbours and communities,” Acorn Foundation chief executive Matty Nicholson says. “This fund ensures that support reaches the groups and organisations who will be working alongside those affected through the difficult days ahead.”
The fund is now accepting public donations, with all contributions remaining in the local area and directed to where support is needed most.
Donations can be made at: www.acornfoundation.org.nz/give/western-bay-emergency-response-fund
