Local attractions, major roading projects, creative opportunities, more entertainment, connection between neighbours, more investment in the CBD and support for the homeless are among the items on the wish list for Western Bay residents and leaders in 2019. Reporter Kiri Gillespie asked people what they would like to happen in
Tauranga city leaders and residents reveal their New Year wish lists
By Kiri Gillespie
Assistant News Director and Multimedia Journalist·Bay of Plenty Times·
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The Incubator Creative Hub director Simone Anderson. Photo / File
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Tauranga MP and National Party leader Simon Bridges
"My wish list for the city next year is for the Tauranga Northern Link. National committed to building a Tauranga to Katikati Expressway, a four-lane highway with grade-separated intersections and a centre barrier to separate traffic.
"These are vital safety improvements for one of the most dangerous and deadly roads in the country and the Government needs to continue this project."
Labour list MP in Tauranga Jan Tinetti
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"My wish is for Tauranga to continue to show kindness to each other including to our most vulnerable residents. I want our children to have a strong sense of identity and be carefree and safe.
"I hope we all will continue to work together to ensure this region is the best place in New Zealand to live and thrive."
Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless
"To work with Government to make Tauranga easier to move around by improving roads and transport. Only if this is achieved [we can] open more areas of land for housing to meet demands of growth and allow families to purchase their own homes. I want to encourage good neighbourliness and a philosophy that allows us to enjoy ourselves and not get besieged by social media-driven meddling, outrage and negativity."
Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber
"Top of my list will be to work on what our council and I need to do to get NZTA and the Minister of Transport to complete the process to get the Tauranga Northern Link, the Ōmokoroa Interchange and the Katikati Bypass approved and funded, so we can make real inroads into reducing the major injuries and fatalities that occur on state highways in our district."
Te Tuinga Whanau director Tommy Wilson
"For Tauranga Moana to strive toward becoming the 'Kindness Capital of Aotearoa'. We are well on the way if we can get passed the sympathy factor of feeling sorry for the homeless, the have-nots and the addicted and get to a place of affective empathy (strategic kindness). For Māori, the three iwi working closer together is a personal dream; United as iwi we stand strong – divided as hapū we fall."
The Incubator director Simone Anderson
"A year of positive connectedness and collaboration where organisations and people work together to deliver creative opportunities and inclusive access to arts and culture (and) for the arts to be recognised and supported as a way to enhance societal wellbeing. For our city to grow up and shuck off its reputation as a cultural wasteland. Tauranga: a creative destination not just a beach."
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On the street - What is your wish for Tauranga city in 2019?
Red Charles, Te Puke
"I think smoother transport would be good. I don't know how they can do it, but we really need better public transport. Buses are the answer, but how it's going to work? I don't know."
Anton Watene, Mount Maunganui
"I think we need more barbecue areas at the Mount, to create more family orientated places for people to bring their families. Areas like the [Tauranga] waterfront at the Mount."
Myles McHugh, Ōtumoetai
"It would be good to see more entertainment activities in the winter. It gets a bit quiet then, and I'd like to see more things for the kids to do. A water park would be cool, and more thinks like a museum to offer culture to tourists."
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Leonie Emery, Ōropi
"I love the way it is already. The park areas, the restaurants. I wouldn't change anything."
Jason Ellis, Ōtumoetai
"Roading. I'd like to see the highways fixed up. Katikati to Tauranga, Tauriko to The Lakes roundabout, and Cameron Rd is pathetic. Welcome Bay Rd needs attention, too. Pretty much all of them. We have the biggest port in New Zealand so the Government should treat it as that. They should be doing something about it."
Iain Race, Ōtumoetai
"We live in Ōtumoetai, and there are about six rubbish collectors that come down the street. It's a mess. Tauranga's a lovely place to live but I do think the rubbish collection is a bit of a shambles."
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Anna Harvey, Greerton
"More investment in the CBD and free parking. I think that's what puts people off coming into the CBD because they have to pay for parking."
Pat and Cathy Stuart, Welcome Bay
"Tauranga caters well for the cruise ships. There could be more boutique stores set up, and they need to get rid of the [Tauranga waterfront] car park and do more for the young people. We think the council have done really well with the tidal steps [by The Strand], but we'd like to see the area pedestrianised between 10am and 10pm, like they do for the jazz festival."
