2026/2027
About Us
TECT Community Trust (TECT) is a community funder providing support for local initiatives, facilities and events that bring vibrancy, connectedness, growth and economic benefits to our region.
Our purpose is to make a significant impact on shaping the quality of life and wellbeing of current and future generations in the Western Bay of Plenty.
We envision a thriving, caring and connected community where we responsibly manage our investments and effectively distribute funds for the long-term benefit of our community.
Our funding approach is inclusive of all communities, and we prioritise support for those experiencing the highest need, as well as enabling future transformational projects which benefit everyone in our community.
In the 2025/2026 financial year, we granted $26.3M to 220 community groups and initiatives.
TECT Trustees are elected by the community, and each serve a four year term. Every two years, three trustees retire and an election is held. The next election will be held in 2026.
Our work is guided by our Strategic Plan which includes five focus areas and five funds that allow us to empower our communities to shape a better today, and tomorrow.
TECT Community Trust and TECT Consumer Trust are separate trusts. In 2022, the original trust was renamed TECT Consumer Trust, and a new trust, TECT Community Trust, was established to deliver benefits to the wider community. This annual distribution plan is specific to the TECT Community Trust.
Our Strategic Focus Areas
Housing Kāinga Āhuru
We believe everyone in our region should have access to warm, healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate housing.
To support this, we are focused on investing in initiatives that are community-led, and increase access to warm, healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate housing for communities experiencing the greatest barriers to secure housing.
Priority Communities Ngā Hāpori Mātua
We will provide support to the communities in our region experiencing highest needs.
Our focus is on achieving outcomes for Māori, diverse ethnic communities, children and young people, and older people experiencing disadvantage.
We will fund initiatives that increase access to opportunities for priority communities, support priority communities to lead their own solutions, are strengthsbased and enable community ambitions; and incorporate cultural knowledge or other practices relevant to priority communities.
Natural Environment
Toitū Te Taiao
We will invest in the protection and regeneration of our region’s natural environment and biodiversity, and support initiatives that address the implications of climate change.
We will prioritise initiatives that achieve large scale transformational impact, bringing diverse stakeholders together and blending contemporary science with local knowledge, including mātauranga Māori, and are community-led and help to build community care of and connection with our environment.
Built Environment Whaitua Hononga
We will invest in local and regional amenities and facilities that support community connectedness, increase access to opportunities to participate in community activities and enhance the wellbeing and vibrancy of our communities.
We will actively work with Councils in our region to support the development of amenities and facilities, as well as funding communityled projects.
Community Wellbeing & Vibrancy
Te Mauri me te Orangatanga
We want Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty to be vibrant places where people, families and communities thrive.
To support this, we will fund initiatives that promote social connection, inclusion and belonging, support whānau and community resilience, safety and wellbeing, enable participation in community activities, arts, culture, sports, recreation, build skills and provide opportunities for learning, and strengthen the impact and sustainability of community organisations.
Our Funds
Community Facilities Fund
The Community Facilities Fund supports the development of facilities in the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty region that provide benefits for current and future generations.
Funding will generally be directed towards the build of a permanent new facility or a significant upgrade of an existing facility. It may also include the purchase of an existing facility.
Community Development Fund
The Community Development Fund supports projects and initiatives that contribute to Tauranga and Western Bay to be a vibrant region where people, families and communities thrive.
To support this, we will fund organisations that make a positive impact on our local communities across a range of sectors including arts, culture and heritage, education, environment, health and social services, youth development, iwi and marae, and sport and recreation.
Community Events Fund
The Community Events Fund aims to support community events held in the Tauranga or Western Bay of Plenty region that provide social and economic benefits to the community.
TECT wishes to support a wide and varied portfolio of events and encourage event organisers to achieve and maintain events of exceptional quality.
Catalyst for Change Fund
The intention of the Catalyst for Change Fund is to create significant positive change through support of innovative projects and practices.
The need in the community will be identified through community consultation and research (e.g. Vital Signs).
A key aspect of this Fund is that TECT will be committed to continually building relationships with other key stakeholders(including other funders).
Facilities of Regional Significance Fund
TECT is interested in being a pro-active, collaborator in funding significant projects which will create a direct positive impact on the economic and social wellbeing of Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty region.
Projects may be significant in size/nature and will likely have intergenerational benefit, wide impact through improving social cohesion, enhancing community participation or are regionally significant.
Responsive Funds Strategic Funds (Invite Only)
Funding Framework
Our funding framework includes the percentage of the grants budget allocated to each of the five funds. The percentage allocations are shown below.
Annual Distribution Plan
TECT Community Trust have confirmed to distribute $39,323,714 in total across our five funds for the year ending 31 March 2027.
As in previous years, these funds are made available through our grants programme to benefit the local community and the confirmed fund amounts are as below:
Confirmed Plan
Our Grants Programme
Responsive Funds
Community Facilities
Unused funds from last year
Allocated funds for this year
Total funds available
Community Events
Unused funds from last year
Allocated funds for this year
$253,219 $5,898,557 $6,151,776
Total funds available $105,711 $1,966,186 $2,071,897
Community Development
Unused funds from last year
Allocated funds for this year
Total funds available $239,103 $7,864,743 $8,103,846
Strategic Funds (Invite only)
Facilities of Regional Significance
Unused funds from last year
Allocated funds for this year
Total funds available
Unused funds from last year
Allocated funds for this year Total funds available