The Mount to Arataki area is steeped in history and has been cherished by generations of residents, from the original inhabitants to people from around the globe.  

 Tauranga City Council Commission Chair Anne Tolley says this area is a popular spot to live and visit and it's growing quickly, but with growth comes inevitable challenges and change. 

'We need the community's help to create a plan for this much-loved area that will set the direction for the next 30 years.” She explains. 'We're looking to the future, but we also need to learn from the past.”

For some, bygone days in the Mount will evoke memories of watching the dolphin show at Marine Land, zooming down a waterslide at Leisure Island, enjoying a few drinks at the Oceanside Hotel or catching a band at the Soundshell.  

 Others will recall celebrating the opening of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge in 1988 and much quicker trips to the city centre – or conversely the sense of panic as you approached the bridge and realised you didn't have any change on hand to pay the toll! The bridge opening was a huge boost for Mount Maunganui, but 35 years later, that route is now a state highway intersecting a major commercial and industrial area.  

 'Travel around, to and through the Mount to Arataki area needs to be more reliable, but we simply don't have the space to be building more roads to cater for growth,” Anne continues. 'Instead, we need to work with our partners to create more options for people and goods to move more effectively along the transport routes we already have. That means providing alternatives to cars, such as better public transport, cycling, walking and other modes of travel.”  

Image: Work on Tauranga Harbour Bridge, 1987, copyright NZME (New Zealand Media and Entertainment). Used under creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode

Before the first traffic lights, roundabouts, and even the introduction of helmet laws, the Mount to Arataki area was a fairly stress-free place to ride a bike or even cross the road, with generations of kids tearing around the largely empty streets on their BMXs. But times have changed, and now we need more cycle lanes, shared paths and safer crossings so our tamariki can continue to travel safely and independently – whether they're heading to school, to sports practice, or to the dairy.  

'As well as telling us what you think about transport and road safety, we want to hear your ideas for enhancing our natural environment, improving parks and community facilities, keeping our community healthy active and safe, improving our shopping entertainment and business districts, and more,” Anne says. 

'Tell us what you love about this area, what needs to change, and what matters most to you and your whānau by taking our online survey or coming for a chat at one of our community events.”  

Image supplied by Tauranga City Council.

Feedback from the survey, as well as engagement workshops and other conversations with tangata whenua, key community and business groups, clubs, schools and organisations will help the Council to form a draft plan and overall vision for where the Mount to Arataki area is heading. Later in the year, community members will have a chance to provide their thoughts about the draft plan, and the areas of focus and priorities proposed before it goes to council for approval.  

  Your ideas, your community, your chance! Get involved at www.tauranga.govt.nz/mounttoarataki.