Achieving local solutions for local problems has been key to Western Bay and Tauranga continuing to retain and advance their Safe Community status.

Tauranga City Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council have gained their second joint re-accreditation by the Safe Communities Foundation NZ, confirming their international Safe Community reputation.

Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber and Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell attended the signing ceremony with the accreditation agency and members of the Tauranga Western Bay Safer Communities (TWBSC) Strategic Group.

Webber says the success of the group lies in finding local solutions to local problems.

'We have endeavoured to promote positive change and sustainability for strong, healthy and safe communities through research, engagement and community collaboration.”

He says obtaining accreditation reinforces all the hard work collectively completed by the Safer Communities governance group, councils, key stakeholders and community.

'This has led to excellent outcomes for the western Bay of Plenty sub-region relating to injury prevention, crime prevention, violence prevention, community wellbeing and addiction-related harm.”

Powell says the group's track record over the 12 years since the first accreditation in 2008 can be attributed to the ongoing redevelopment and modernisation of the foundation programmes, documents and relationships.

'We have evolved to meet the needs of today's community and it's great to see key opportunities centered on community wellbeing, resilience and inclusive communities.”

SCFNZ Director and Lead Reviewer, Tania Peters, says Tauranga Western Bay Safer Communities has developed a well-established regional network that supports wellbeing, place making, resilience and injury/violence prevention initiatives.

'The review team was impressed with the application and you have made an outstanding model for communities to follow. You continue to maintain a high level of engagement with a range of organisations and individuals.

"Tauranga Western Bay Safer Communities works well together in a collaborative working approach, adapting to emerging issues and trends.”

In 2008, Tauranga City received formal designation as an International Safe Community, administered by the Safe Communities Foundation NZ.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council joined the programme in 2014, through a joint application. Re-accreditation occurs every five-to-seven years.

The latest application was assessed against the criteria, using individual reviewer assessments, collated reviewer feedback on strengths and weaknesses and a reviewer teleconference. The certifying review team included three national and one international reviewer.

The aim of Safer Communities is to make Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty a safe place to live, work and play.

More information can be found at www.safecommunities.org.nz