Community Environmental Projects

There are 39 environmental care groups in the Western Bay of Plenty. Several of these have more than 100 active members while others have less than 12 striving to make their local area a better place. These groups provide care in various ways.

The range of activities

• Translocating Kiwi and Kokako back into the district
• Controlling weed populations
• Planting native trees
• Keeping small reserves pest-free so birds can breed
• Registering and protecting significant trees
• Restoring estuaries by managing margins properly
• Removing mangroves
• Making submissions to various agency plans.

Environmental care groups see the best people in communities coming forward to make a difference. Willing to give their time and energy to projects, we recognise those volunteers as great assets in our communities.

Community based environmental group examples - Websites

• Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust
• Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Group
• Aongatete Forest

Friends of Puketoki, About Puketoki Reserve

This Whakamarama reserve was donated to the Tauranga County by Mr H.H. Sharplin in 1926. A small group of dedicated volunteers now manage the pest animals in this reserve to enable the successful breeding of the remaining bird populations.

It is one bush reserve where you are allowed to take your dogs - but don't forget the lead.

Uretara Estuary Managers

Uretara Estuary Managers was formed in 2004 as a group of Tauranga Harbour residents concerned with the state of the Uretara Estuary and bird life. The group is also involved in catchment works to limit the source of sediment entering the estuary and to protect water quality.

Map of care groups in our District

If you wish to view areas where care groups work within our district please click here (PDF, 1.06MB)

Coast Care Bay of Plenty

Coast Care Bay of Plenty is a community partnership programme using local knowledge and enthusiasm to restore the form and function of the dunes in the Bay of Plenty.

There are 25 community groups of Coast Care volunteers throughout the Bay of Plenty. They are made up of community members who care about their coastal environment and want to be involved in protecting and managing it.

The groups advise Council which work they regard as a priority and get together to plant and protect the dunes at their beach.

All four coastal district and city councils (Western Bay of Plenty, Tauranga, Opotiki, Whakatane) and the Department of Conservation are in partnership with Bay of Plenty Regional Council to run the Coast Care Bay of Plenty programme.

Fencing subsidy

Council is delegated under the Resource Management Act 1991(S31(1) b iii) with the maintenance of indigenous biodiversity.

One of the ways in which Council fulfils this role is through the offering of financial support to landowners formally protecting biodiversity on their own land through Regional Council Environmental Plans.

This support is most commonly up to 25% of fencing costs and occasionally plant costs and other associated costs, such as stock crossings and alternative reticulation systems. The areas fenced off are mostly bush clad gullies, forest remnants and degraded wetlands.