Opening of Elizabeth St centre in February 2003.
The Prime Minister with trustees and staff at the Tauranga Environment Centre in 2007.
Tauranga Environment Centre Charitable Trust
was formed in 2001. It began life as as a small community based centre providing independent resource management and environmental information, education, and advice.
The stirrings which later blossomed into the Tauranga Environment Centre began earlier that year, when the government announced it would make funds available to establish new environment centres throughout New Zealand. There had been considerable talk about starting a centre to service the the Western Bay of Plenty, and this potential funding overcame the biggest barrier.
In September 2001 the Tauranga Environment Centre Charitable Trust was incorporated, with Kate Barry-Piceno, Basil Graeme, Karen Summerhays, Richard Coles, and Suzanne Williams being founding trustees. The Trust successfully applied to the Ministry for the Environment fund to establish an environment centre with the purpose of delivering a Resource Management Advisory service.
The Tauranga Environment Centre opened in April 2002, situated at the Historic Village. The new centre employed two part-time staff and had two core functions:
- a community service
- a resource management advisory service
A few months later, the centre relocated to Elizabeth St in the CBD, and the official opening was held in February 2003. Over the years, the number of staff expanded, with up to 3 fulltime employees at one stage: Centre coordinator, RMA advisor, and Urban Greenspace Project coordinator.
In late 2010, the rent being paid for our downtown location became prohibitive, so centre again moved - back to our original location at the Historic Village on 17th Avenue! We currently operate from a 115 years-old building and employ 3 part-time staff. We are looking to establish a solid financial foundation upon we we can expand our future activities and support of environmental groups in the Bay of Plenty region.