Empowering and Growing the Bay of Plenty

by Fiona McTavish – Chief Executive, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council

A healthy environment is the basis for a healthy economy. And regional councils, including Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, have a vital role to play.  

For us, the starting point is collaboration.  

Like many regions, the Bay of Plenty is facing multiple environmental headwinds from rising sea levels and warmer temperatures to heightened pest risks threatening our biodiversity and economic growth.  

The climate change impacts we are facing are not a huge surprise. We’re seeing these impacts around New Zealand and across the Tasman already. Nature is sending us a clear signal that she is not as resilient as she once was, and work is needed to restore her, and adapt to her changes.  

While our council can develop and implement regional plans, we also need others to actively participate in the restoration and protection of our environment if we’re to be truly resilient. 

We need a comprehensive response and by informing, enabling, and facilitating community voices, we’re making good progress.  

The Maketū Climate Change Adaptation Plan exemplifies this success, winning a Commonwealth Association of Planners Award in 2023 for enhancing resilience through natural solutions as well as two prestigious NZ Planning Institute awards. 

Maketū, a small coastal town in the Bay of Plenty with a rich cultural history, is at risk of flooding and erosion. With our support the community came together to address this and develop an adaptation plan. The resulting iwi-led initiative focused on protecting homes, cultural heritage, food supplies, livelihoods, and the environment, putting Maketū in a much more resilient position than before. 

The Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services adaptation plan demonstrates how Regional Councils can assist communities in navigating climate change. Using a Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways approach, the club and community stakeholders explored future options and responses and they now have a plan to navigate change. 

Projects like this underscore the power of collaboration and local empowerment. And citizen science initiatives, such as monitoring coastal changes at WaIhī Beach by way of technology, engages communities in determining the best solutions for them with our support. 

Additionally, we need to lead by example. When a dairy farmer wanted to retire unproductive land near an important salt marsh in our region, we facilitated its sale to protect the marsh and enhance freshwater and biodiversity. This collaborative effort highlights our commitment to sustainable growth and environmental stewardship and that remains our focus going forward as we embrace not only the risks but opportunities our changing environment offers. 

Watch this short video on the adaptation planning journey Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services have taken: Collective Resilience: Collaborative Climate Adaptation at Waihī Beach https://youtu.be/iJVbDpbPGFw