Ngā kaupapa o Toi Moana e panga ana ki te iwi Māori
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Hanuere | January 2026
Ka tanuku koa te tihi o Mauao, ka tanuku.
Kua horo te papa o te whenua, ki Te Rae o Pāpāmoa,
ki Ngāpeke, ki Waikorire, ki te awa o Waioweka
hoki atu ki Tauranga moana,
ko ngā tini mate kua riro ki te pō, haere, haere, haere atū rā.
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha o te motu, ngā whakaaro rangatira ki a koutou i tēnei wahanga o te tau. Ko ngā tini aitua kei waenganui i a tātou, haere, haere, whakangaro atu rā. Hoki anō ki a tatou te hunga ora
Tihei mauri ora
Ko ngā mātāwaka o te Waiariki, o Te Moana nui a Toi,
Tēnā tātou katoa,
Ko Dr Iwi Te Whau tōkū ingoa, nō Te Arawa, Tainui, Mataatua, Horouta ahau. Ko au te heamana hou o Komiti Māori me te mangai mō te rohe kaunihera o Ōkūrei. Ka nui rawa te mihi ki a koutou katoa.
I am humbled to represent our elected councillors as the Chair of Te Komiti Māori. A position that I am thrilled to share with my other fellow Māori councillors, Deputy Chair of Komiti Māori, Dr Mawera Karetai and our regional council Chair Matemoana McDonald. Although we are still a relatively new council, we have been working hard to achieve great things for Toi Moana, even while navigating the challenges of today’s government environment.
One of the strongest messages we heard from you was the importance of being better informed about the kaupapa that affect our whānau, marae, and iwi. We are committed to improving how we share information and how we stay connected with you all.
We know there is always room to do better. Guided by Chair McDonald, we’re focused on strengthening our relationships and continually lifting our mahi. This commitment sits with all 14 of our councillors—not just our three Māori ward representatives.
Our first hui of 2026 is nearly here, and we have a strong line-up of speakers ready to share updates on what’s happening across all levels of government.
Tēnā, nau mai, haere mai! We look forward to seeing you there.
Dr Iwi Te Whau Jr, JP, PhD
Heamana, Komiti Māori
Nau mai ki Komiti Māori
This hui will now be held on Wednesday 11 February 2026. The venue has also been confirmed as Taheke Marae - 119 Okere Road, Okere Falls 3074.
The hui will commence at 9.00am with a whakatau.
Presenters:
- Hau Kainga Presentation – Hakopa Paul
- Sam Miles (Dept. Internal Affairs) and Ben White (MfE) - Local Govt Reform Proposals
- Tina Porou (Poipoia Ltd) – Key Implications /Opportunities for Tangata Whenua - RMA Reforms
- Elva Conroy (Conroy & Asocs) – Iwi RMA Training Initiative
- Gordon Acres and Paul Keefe (Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology) - School Sustainability and Resilience Fund 2025 Recipient.
School Sustainability and Resilience Fund now open
The School Sustainability and Resilience Fund (SSRF) helps schools, kura kaupapa Māori, kōhanga reo, early childhood centres, and tertiary education providers to establish projects that support sustainable practices and build climate or natural hazard resilience. The fund supports environmental projects ranging from composting and wetland restoration to weather monitoring and walking school buses. We want the next generation to understand our changing climate, why action matters, and the practical steps they can take to make a difference.
Your application is between $1,000 and $5,000 (excluding GST) for sustainability related projects, or between $1,000 and $10,000 (excluding GST) for climate change resilience or natural hazard projects.
The 2026 SSRF Funding Round opened for applications on Monday 19 January 2026. To find out more about the SSRF and how you can make an application, check out this link: School Sustainability and Resilience Fund 2025 | Participate BOPRC or email: ssrfund@boprc.govt.nz
Long Term Plan Amendment and Annual Plan Consultation open March 2026
This year, we will be seeking your feedback on both a Long Term Plan Amendment and the Annual Plan 2026/27.
Normally in Year 3 of our Long Term Plan 2024 - 2034, we would only be consulting on the Annual Plan. However, because we’re proposing significant changes to the way we manage our investments, we’ll also be consulting on an amendment to the Long Term Plan, alongside the Annual Plan 2026/27.
Our Council is currently shaping what these options could look like, but your voice will play an important part in shaping future decisions. We look forward to sharing more with you soon.
Kaitiaki Grant available
The Kaitiaki Grant is available to support initiatives and small projects that build capacity and capability within iwi, hapū or Māori land trusts. Applications opened 1 July 2025 and can be submitted throughout the financial year. Projects can apply for up to $5000 and is open to iwi, hapū and Māori land trusts.
Examples of activities:
- Contribution to wānanga that support hapū/iwi engagement in Council kaupapa
- Seed funding to scope a project / strategy
- Support with taiao training initiatives
- Reconnection back to the Taiao through site visits
- Support existing Taiao projects that achieves the Fund’s purpose
- Supports rangatahi in the taiao
For more information, please contact He Ara Taituarā Fund coordinator, Margaret Courtney
Exclusion zone and rāhui in place
Over the past week several rāhui have been placed near Mauao, in Waioweka as well as an exclusion zone near Mauao.
Due to the risk of landslip and the associated maritime safety risks around Mauao (Mount Maunganui), a 30 metre exclusion zone has been put in place by the Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster.
The exclusion zone applies to all vessels and people (this includes swimmers) and is 30 metres from the base/shore of Mauao.
Regional Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters asks all vessels to keep clear of the zone until further notice, unless they are required to carry out police or civil defence operations, or have the approval of the Harbourmaster.
Ngāti Ira also placed a rāhui on Waioweka from Ōpōnae up to Pākihikura from Saturday, 24 January 2026 until further notice.
The Mauao Trust has placed a Rāhui over parts of Waikorire (Pilot Bay) and Hīnekite (Mount Main Beach).
The Rāhui applies to the cordoned area: Waikorire side: From Leinster Avenue to Mauao, and Hīnekite side: From Commons Avenue to Mauao
Update your contact details with us
It’s important we stay connected with Iwi, Hapū, Marae, Māori organisations and Land Trusts. You can now update your contact details directly through our Council website.
This must be done by an authorised person, who may be contacted to confirm the changes.
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