A new strategy is being developed to turn the Bay into 'a hub for creativity and innovation, boosting tourism and the economy”.

Cross-pollination between technology industries and creatives, activated spaces in the CBD (year-round) and place-making that honours Maori stories at significant cultural and heritage sites, are all things that could happen in the next three years if a region-wide Arts & Culture Strategy is implemented, but first residents will need to have their say on it.

Bay of Plenty locals have just one month to have their say on the draft Arts & Culture strategy, which aims to turn the region into a hub for creativity and innovation, boosting tourism and the economy.

The draft strategy has been developed by a group of local creative, business, economic development and iwi representatives.

The steering group has spent two months talking with the sector to create a draft strategy which provides 34 action points for arts and culture-related activities for the next three years.

Steering Group chairperson Sonya Korohina says the draft strategy has six goals, highlighted by ‘the six Vs' - Visionary, Vocalising, Vibrancy, Valuing, Viability and Vitality.

'Those six Vs are just a snappy way of summarising our overall vision for the region - which is for a vibrant Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty region, where our shared history with tangata whenua is celebrated, our creative industries thrive and prosper, and our diverse community is enriched by arts and cultural experiences – every day, for everyone,” Sonya says.

'This is a living strategy that will enable our region, and creative economy, to grow and thrive.

'It's vast and covers a wide range of action points. We believe that arts and cultural experiences are a vital part of the fabric of life in the Bay so we are determined to see this sector grow exponentially, as well as contribute to and take advantage of tourism and resident population increases.”