Kia hiwa rā! Kia hiwa rā! Kia hiwa rā i tēnei tuku!
Kia hiwa rā i tērā tuku! Kia hiwa rā! Kia hiwa rā!
E wehi ana ki te Atua
Te timatanga me te otinga o ngā mea katoa
Tēnei tonu te tangi apakura ki ngā mate
Haere i te ara takimano
Haere i te ara ka rere kore ki muri
E moe e! Haere atu ra!
Nau mai piki mai kia koutou te hunga ora
Nau mai hara mai ki Te Pou taketake e karanga nei
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!
‘Vital Update – Tauranga’ is a research project that focuses on the geographic communities in Tauranga: who makes them up, and what their needs, wants and aspirations are for their neighbourhoods and the wider city.
Knowing our community to inform our future
Acorn Foundation, TECT, BayTrust and Tauranga City Council undertook this research so that together we can create a better future for our residents. By identifying which areas and communities need the most help and for what reasons, we can provide the support and resources required to make a difference.
What did we find out?
The findings have reiterated some things that we already know – that people want to protect our beautiful environment and that traffic is an issue – but it has also helped us gain a deeper understanding of our demographic and geographic communities.
We now have insightful data from our harder to reach residents, including our rangatahi (youth) as well as our kaumātua (ageing population). We’ve heard from disabled people and their carers, and people experiencing homelessness. We also have a better understanding of the needs of Māori and the different ethnic communities that call Tauranga home.
The findings are presented as a main report (executive summary), 12 suburb reports and six priority group reports, giving us the ability to use the data in different ways and commit resources to make a positive change in our city.
‘Vital Update – Tauranga’ is not a one off or a ‘make and forget’. All the partner organisations are planning on actively using the results of the research and have a desire to continue with this type of research every few years.
Thank you for sharing your voice
Thank you to the Tauranga community for taking the time to give us your feedback, for your honesty about your experiences, as well as your aspirations for the future of our city.
We heard from all walks of life
Our focus was to hear from people with different backgrounds and experiences. This included a focus on those who are vulnerable, who deserve a voice. We received 5222 responses in total, with 4835 responses from Tauranga residents.
Vital Update - reports and digital dashboards
When research data is presented in printed material such as reports, it lacks the ability for community members to compare data, analyse the data on deeper levels, and use the graphics. The Vital Update - Tauranga dashboards enable you to analyse the data across the parameters that you need, and then download the images for your use to support your work in the community. In short, the dashboards enable you to get the information you want, easily, and within your own time.
If you would still like to read the reports, scroll down to the various pdf links below.
Main report and digital dashboard
We found out what our residents love about living in Tauranga, what things they would change, and what they want to protect. We learned about our residents' housing and standards of living. We gained greater insight into our residents' social wellbeing and the feeling of connectiveness. We have a better understanding their accessibility of services and facilities, technology and transport. We learned about our residents' perception of safety and how important it is for people to live without fear.
Main digital dashboard Main report (7.7mb pdf)
Priority group reports
As well as surveying the general population, we focused on gathering information from six priority groups. We specifically targeted these groups - because we often don’t hear the views of these community members. Without this feedback we cannot plan for a future that reflects the needs and aspirations of our whole community.
Rangatahi - Youth digital dashboard Rangatahi - Youth (2.7mb pdf)
Māori digital dashboard Māori (2.4mb pdf)
Kaumātua – Ageing population digital dashboard Kaumātua – Ageing population (1.7mb pdf)
Ngā hunga hauā – Disabled people digital dashboard Ngā hunga hauā – Carers of disabled people digital dashboard Ngā hunga hauā – Disabled people (including carers) (1.5mb pdf)
Ngā hapori mātāwaka waetapu – Ethnic communities and newcomers digital dashboard Ngā hapori mātāwaka waetapu – Ethnic communities and newcomers (2.7mb pdf)
Ngā tāngata noho kāinga kōrero – People experiencing homelessness digital dashboard Ngā tāngata noho kāinga kōrero – People experiencing homelessness (1.4mb pdf)
Suburb reports
Arataki (Bayfair), Matapihi digital dashboard Arataki (Bayfair), Matapihi (750kb pdf)
Bellevue, Ōtūmoetai, Matua digital dashboard Bellevue, Ōtūmoetai, Matua (810kb pdf)
Bethlehem digital dashboard Bethlehem (868kb pdf)
Brookfield, Judea (Huria) digital dashboard Brookfield, Judea (Huria) (733kb pdf)
Gate Pā (Pukehinahina), Merivale (Parkvale) digital dashboard Gate Pā (Pukehinahina), Merivale (Parkvale) (1mb pdf)
Kairua, Pāpāmoa Hills (Waitao) digital dashboard Kairua, Pāpāmoa Hills (Waitao) (710kb pdf)
Mount Maunganui, Omanu digital dashboard Mount Maunganui, Omanu (740kb pdf)
Pāpāmoa Beach, Wairākei (Pāpāmoa East), Te Tumu digital dashboard Pāpāmoa Beach, Wairākei (Pāpāmoa East), Te Tumu (785kb pdf)
Poike, Oropi, Greerton, Ohauiti digital dashboard Poike, Oropi, Greerton, Ohauiti (955kb pdf)
Pyes Pā, Omanawa, Tauriko, The Lakes digital dashboard Pyes Pā, Omanawa, Tauriko, The Lakes (735kb pdf)
Tauranga South, City Centre, Avenues, Sulphur Point digital dashboard Tauranga South, City Centre, Avenues, Sulphur Point (740kb pdf)
Welcome Bay, Hairini, Maungatapu digital dashboard Welcome Bay, Hairini, Maungatapu (752kb pdf)
Frequently asked questions
‘Vital Update – Tauranga’ is related to the ‘Vital Signs’ research project, which is run by the Acorn Foundation. Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted by foundations around the world that measures the vitality of our communities and identifies significant trends in a range of areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs is coordinated internationally by Community Foundations of Canada. Following on from Acorn’s first Vital Signs report in 2015, the 2018 project was expanded to cover the wider Bay of Plenty region, with separate reports prepared for all the regions.
Vital Update – Tauranga is focussed on the city of Tauranga instead of the whole region, to allow us to dive deeper into understanding the needs of our city’s community.
These four organisations have huge stakes in the area. Serving the community is at the heart of what we do, and our actions and decisions have an impact on all the people of Tauranga. We are all committed to improving the wellbeing of our community, so it makes sense to team up.
Working together allowed our survey to reach more people and encouraged a variety of different conversations. It enabled us to draw on each organisation’s expertise in driving community research.
Having shared data to work from will help us increase our impact as we’ll all be singing from the same song sheet. This will be a strong basis for a more coordinated approach across our organisations to formulate and deliver great community outcomes.
Independent local company Key Research conducted the survey and analysed the data. They prepared the reports above that will be used by the partner organisations to guide decision-making around projects and grants.
Want to discuss this further?
Please reach out, we are happy to help:
Email the Acorn Foundation
Email Tauranga City Council (Community Development team)
Email Key Research NZ Ltd