Taonga Tauranga – About Us

February 26, 2018

1984

Photograph of children in a museum looking at a display of brightly coloured gears — It will never be cheaper than now to provide our community with an interactive science and history resource like a museum, for visitors, local schools and for our kids.

Taonga Tauranga is a group of local residents who are committed to promoting widespread and informed community discussion about the potential of the proposed Tauranga Museum.

This includes how development of the Museum could help shape future social and economic outcomes for the city and the Western Bay sub- region. Our group is growing in membership as we look for people who can represent different interests and areas of the city.

At the moment we have on the team:

Bruce R Farthing

Bruce R Farthing – Deputy Principal of Otumoetai College for over 20 years – has taught secondary school History for many years and has much experience at the national level in establishing curriculum as well as examining, assessing to standards, writing and speaking to the topic.

A member of the Tauranga City Council Museum Committee 1999-2007, Bruce, and Jinty Rorke (QSM) (1942-2014) invested much time in writing the ‘themes’ for presentation by the then proposed museum. He passionately believes that the city of Tauranga needs a museum to tell ‘our stories’.

Puhirake Ihaka

Puhirake is the Chair of the Tauranga Moana Tangata Whenua Collective and Chair a number of Iwi, Hapu and Community boards and Committees including the Ngati Tapu Hapu Trust, Te Matahauariki o Tauranga Moana and the Otamataha Trust.

Puhirake is also sits on the Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Settlement Trust and Te Runanga Trust and is a Director on Ngai Te Rangi Fisheries Co. Ltd and the Iwi Collective Partnership.

Lynne Lane

Former Mental Health Commissioner at the Health and Disability Commission, Dr Lynne Lane has held a number of senior positions within the public sector, including Chair Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission, Director of Public Health at the Ministry of

Dr Lane is currently a Management Consultant to ACC, and holds several directorships, including Board Member of the CHT Charitable Trust, Managing Director of Affordable Healthcare and Zygal International Limited, and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Turanga for Research into Tobacco Control, University of Auckland.

Peter McKinlay

Peter has nearly 30 years’ experience as a researcher and adviser on local governance and local government. He is a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, Executive Director of McKinlay Douglas Ltd and Director of the Local Government Think Tank.

He is a strong believer in the importance of ‘bottom up’ governance – people sharing in decisions about shaping the place where they live.

Diana Marriott

Diana is a highly experienced communications professional with a wide range of public and voluntary sector experience. For the past seven years she has been communications manager for the Bay of Plenty DHB. She has a passion for Tauranga and a strong commitment to using her skills to help improve the city’s quality of life.

Antoon Moonen

Recently returned to New Zealand following a lengthy stay in Europe, Antoon continues a life-long enthusiasm for community-led development projects including founding the up-and-coming Bay Waka community magazine. He brings with him 30 years IT experience coupled with a sound business approach. Antoon believes that it will never be cheaper than now to provide our community with an interactive science and history resource like a museum, for visitors, local schools and for our kids.

Rosemary Protheroe

Rosemary has recently returned to New Zealand after working primarily in Health and ITC sectors in the UK and Europe.

Skilled in transformational business and organisational change, governance and compliance, Rosemary’s interests are in contributing to the arts and other community interests.

Ciska Vogelzang

Resident of Tauranga for 18 years and keen to see the art and culture side of this city develop! I am the Chair of the Incubator Trust Board, Chair of the Friends of the Tauranga Art Gallery, Board member of Age Concern Tauranga and run my own business in Executive and Career Coaching and Training.

I am a member of Taonga Tauranga as I strongly believe a museum on Cliff Road will enhance our city and connect residents and tourists alike.

Mark Wassung

I am passionate about CBD and waterfront renewal, inner city living and intensification, infrastructure provision, limiting suburban sprawl and creating a quality, integrated, multi modal transportation network of train/bus/ferry/cycle. Working in my profession over 20 years has given me experience with different cultures, contexts and ages. Tauranga needs Bold and Visionary thinking as well as Anticipatory Planning 10 to 50 years into the Future.