Live Well Waihi Beach

11/06/2026

🎨 Calling Bay of Plenty artists! 🎨

We're excited to launch the Waihī Beach Mural Project competition — an opportunity to help create a welcoming, uplifting space for people of all abilities.

Following the opening of the Accessible Changing Facility at the Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Club earlier this year, we're now inviting artists to help bring colour and connection to the space. The facility helps people with disabilities, wheelchair users and those with complex needs prepare for and enjoy time at the beach with greater comfort and confidence.

🙏 Thanks to funding from the Creative Communities Scheme, coordinated by Creative Bay of Plenty - Te Waka Auaha Toi, we're able to bring this special project to life.

This project is about more than painting a wall. It's an opportunity to give back to the community through creativity and help create a space where people feel calm, included and connected to the beach experience from the moment they arrive. 🌊

Submissions are open to artists across the Bay of Plenty until mid-July. A judging panel will select a Top 3 shortlist, with the final concepts then shared with both the local and accessible community for public voting. The winning design will be announced at the end of August before being brought to life ahead of summer 2026.

For detailed information about the project, mural space and budget; or to submit an expression of interest, email Cindy at [email protected].

04/06/2026

✨ Celebrating the people who make our community stronger!

During Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu | National Volunteer Week, we're coming together to honour the incredible volunteers | tūao that weave our Waihī Beach community together.

Nau mai, haere mai – join usl for a special community hāngī, share some delicious kai, and help us say 'thank you' to those who give so much to our community.

Everyone is welcome. Bring your whānau and join us in celebrating the spirit of manaakitanga and community. 🌿

27/05/2026

Want to know what’s happening in our community? 🌿

Read the latest eNews from Live Well Waihī Beach for updates on local projects, events and community news.✨

And if you’d like to sign up and or feature your community group please, email: [email protected]

Read it here > https://tinyurl.com/LiveWelleNews

20/05/2026

✨VOTE FOR WAIHĪ BEACH’S VOLUNTEER STAR - CLOSING TODAY (WED 20th) AT 5PM! ✨

National Volunteer Week is coming up in June — and this year, Volunteering Services BOP wants to recognise one of our local legends through the Waihī Beach Volunteer Star Award.

The recipient will receive a special treat at our local National Volunteer Week celebration (more details coming soon!).

NOMINATE your Volunteer Star here today > https://forms.gle/M7nC28NqNTewUaof8

13/05/2026

🌟 VOTE FOR WAIHĪ BEACH’S VOLUNTEER STAR 🌟

National Volunteer Week is coming up in June — a time to celebrate the incredible people who give their time, energy, and heart to our community. ❤️

In a small town like Waihī Beach, volunteers are the backbone of so much that makes our community thrive. From sports clubs and schools to events, charities, and community groups — we simply couldn’t do it without them.

This year, Volunteering Services BOP wants to recognise one of our local legends through the Waihī Beach Volunteer Star Award. The recipient will receive a special treat at our local National Volunteer Week celebration (more details coming soon!).
Do you know someone who always goes above and beyond? Someone quietly making a difference behind the scenes? Now’s the time to recognise them.

✨ Nominate your Volunteer Star here > https://forms.gle/M7nC28NqNTewUaof8

⏰ Nominations close 5pm, Wednesday 20 May — so don’t miss out!

10/04/2026

Important information for this weekend!

UPDATE: 12/4 - 8:55am

Good morning, Waihī Beach whānau.

It’s been a windy night, but the WBDC teams have been working hard and support is now in place.

Here’s what you need to know this morning.

The strongest winds are expected around 2pm. If you’re going to move to a safer location, please do so early — before conditions deteriorate further. If you can stay home safely, that remains the best option.

The Waihī Beach RSA, 99 Beach Road is now open as a Community Emergency Hub, this is a dry, safe place to shelter during the day if you feel unsafe at home.

If you’re heading out, you don’t need much, but do bring snacks, water, warm clothing, and any medication you need. If you have tamariki with you, it’s a good idea to pin a note with their name and yours on their clothing in case you get separated.

Let someone know where you’re going, and keep your devices charged. If you lose signal, local radio stations and apps are a great way to stay across updates.

To report flooding, slips, downed trees, or other issues:

📱 Antenno app
📞 0800 926 732

Kia tūpato, e te whānau. 🙏

——

UPDATE: 11/4 - 2:33pm

⚠️ State of Emergency declared for Western Bay of Plenty

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has declared a State of Emergency ahead of Cyclone Vaianu’s arrival.

Mayor James Denyer has described it as a precautionary step, saying: “Declaring a State of Emergency now ensures we have the resources, coordination and powers in place to respond when and if we need them.”

This means the emergency management team has the flexibility to act quickly — coordinating resources, supporting evacuations if needed, closing roads or areas, and protecting people and property.

Please take this seriously. As the Mayor says — “it is far better to be safe than sorry.”

Kia tūpato, e te whānau. 🙏

——

UPDATE: 4:04 pm —
A Community Emergency Hub will be opening at the Waihi Beach RSA, 99 Beach Road, from 8am this Sunday for anyone who feels unsafe at home due to flooding, slips, power outages, or other weather-related impacts.

This is a safe place to shelter and ride out the storm during the day. Please note it is not set up for overnight stays, if you need temporary accommodation, phone Council on 0800 926 732 to discuss your options.

If you're heading to the hub, please bring food and water, any medication you need, warm clothing, and essential personal items.

If you have concerns about your safety, particularly in areas prone to flooding or slips, please act early, don't wait.

Staying with whānau or friends remains the first option where possible.

🔗 https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/community/civil-defence/weather-event-information-hub-cyclone-vaianu

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Cyclone Vaianu: We’ve had a tough start to 2026 weather-wise, and this weekend brings another system we need to be aware of. Cyclone Vaianu is forecast to arrive on Sunday, and while it’s expected to be fast-moving, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council describes it as likely to bring “a short but potentially devastating burst of weather.”

For Waihī Beach specifically, forecasts include extreme coastal swells, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall on already saturated ground, so it’s worth taking sensible precautions now rather than waiting to see what unfolds.

What to do today and tomorrow:
Secure or bring inside loose outdoor items (trampolines, furniture, bins).
Charge your devices and plan for possible power outages.
Prepare sandbags if your property has previously flooded.
Avoid unnecessary travel, and never drive through floodwater

If you’re in a coastal property and don’t need to be there, consider staying with friends or whānau instead.

Stay well clear of the beach and coastline, swells will be large and waves unpredictable.

If you notice anything concerning like slips, downed trees or power lines, flooding, or blocked drains, report it to Western Bay of Plenty District Council on 0800 926 732 or via the Antenno app.

Stay across the latest through these official channels: 🔗 RNZ🔗 Bay of Plenty Civil Defence 🔗 Western Bay of Plenty District Council 🔗 NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Waikato & Bay of Plenty🔗 Hauraki District Council (for Karangahake Gorge updates)

Check in on your neighbours, a simple message can make a real difference.

Kia tūpato, e te whānau, look after yourselves and each other this weekend. 🙏

📸: Susan Joy

20/03/2026

We’re incredibly proud to share that Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc. and Live Well Waihī Beach have won Best Collaboration at the 2026 Western Bay Community Awards 💙🤍

This recognition celebrates the mahi behind the development of the new combined special-purpose accessible changing facility at the Waihī Beach Lifeguards clubhouse - a space designed to help people with accessibility needs enjoy everything Waihī Beach has to offer with greater dignity, comfort and ease.

By taking the opportunity to renovate and repurpose existing space at the Waihī Beach Lifeguards clubhouse, this collaboration made it possible to create something really valuable for the local community and visitors, without the major cost of a completely new build.

What makes this project especially meaningful is its dual purpose. Not only does it improve access and inclusion for beachgoers, it also gives our surf lifeguards better space and a stronger setup when managing major first aid incidents or more complex situations.

A huge thank you to the partners behind the Western Bay Community Awards 2026 - Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council - for recognising the powerful work happening across the Western Bay. We were alongside some incredibly worthy finalists and feel honoured to have received this award.

We’re proud of what this project represents for Waihī Beach - and to our community, thank you. To everyone who supported, contributed and backed this vision, this is a shared achievement and a wonderful example of what can happen when people collaborate well for the good of the community. We look forward to hearing that other beach communities have been able to embark on similar initiatives.

18/03/2026

Tonight we’re proud to be finalists in the Best Collaboration Award at the 2026 TECT Western Bay Community Awards, alongside Live Well Waihī Beach.

In a category filled with incredibly worthy projects and groups, we feel genuinely honoured to be recognised.

This collaboration has already helped bring a major step forward for our community, with the launch of the new combined special-purpose accessible changing facility and upgraded first aid room at the clubhouse. Together, these spaces are helping create a safer, more inclusive and more accessible beach experience for people with accessibility needs, right by the sand.

The newly kitted-out space alongside our new first aid room is also a game-changer for our surf lifeguards if they need to manage a major first aid incident or a more complex situation at the beach. It strengthens how we care for people, how we respond, and how we serve our community.

Whatever happens tonight, we’re incredibly proud of what this ongoing collaboration has already achieved and excited about what it continues to make possible.

Good luck to all finalists tonight. There are some truly inspiring projects and people being recognised, and it is a privilege to be among them. 🤍

13/03/2026

🏀 BASKETBALL & WHĀNAU FUN DAY – SAT MAR 21

Have-a-Go 3x3 Basketball is coming to Waihi Beach, with the aim of making the sport accessible to people of all talents and abilities who want to play.

and .0 have teamed up to deliver a morning of inclusive activities at Brighton Reserve.

The free event will feature 3x3 basketball and Parafed BOP will run additional inclusive play activities throughout the morning.

Parafed Event and Programme Support Manager Jo Jackson says basketball wheelchairs will be available for anyone who wants to join in.

“At previous events we’ve had a mix of non-disabled players and players using wheelchairs. We rotate players through the games, so it’s not too structured. If you’re not on the court, there will be plenty of activities happening around the edges,” she says.

Just show up on the day!
📅 Sat MAR 21 - Brighton Reserve, Waihi Beach
⏰ 10am – 1pm

FREE for all.

11/03/2026

♿ACCESSIBLE WAIHĪ BEACH – TRUE COLLABORATION!

We’re still buzzing after such a special weekend! There’s been lots of coverage about our Accessible beach day and the opening of the new changing facility, but we wanted to take a moment to share a quick overview of the project and acknowledge the many people who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.

Firstly – we can confidently say we are New Zealand’s most accessible beach.
❓What does this mean? It means we currently have some of the best facilities located right by the beach, allowing people in wheelchairs, with mobility challenges, or with complex medical needs to enjoy a safe and full beach experience. It also strengthens emergency response on site, with the facility located inside the Surf Lifeguard Clubhouse, right next to the first aid room, giving the team additional space when needed to care for people while maintaining privacy and dignity.

At Waihi Beach we now offer:
🏖 Accessible beach mats
👩‍🦽Two beach wheelchairs
👕 An accessible changing facility with ceiling hoist, adjustable change table, shower and toilet
💦Accessible water fountain and picnic table
☕Plus, the Surf Lifeguard Clubhouse has a lift so everyone can head upstairs for food and drinks after a day at the beach.

Projects like this don’t happen overnight. The collaboration to reach this point has taken years, and we want to acknowledge the incredible local people and organisations who supported this project and our opening day, alongside Cindy and team from Live Well Waihī Beach and Donna and the team at Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services Inc.

A huge thank you to:
• Dave MacCalman – for his vision, accessibility advocacy and guidance
• Kelvin Blackwell, Andrew Cochrane and Kathryn Troughton – the team behind the scenes managing construction and processes of the Facility
• Tarsh Munro Waihi Beach Physiotherapy – for her input into the facility planning
• Gary from LJ Ho**er Waihi Beach + Waihi – for donating a beach wheelchair, contributing funding for the mats, and running a sausage sizzle on the opening day
• Mike and Sheryl from Orokawa Bay Retreat – for cleaning and maintaining the beach mats for five seasons, and providing accommodation for Dame Catriona Williams
• Tasman Holiday Parks – for storing the beach wheelchairs and managing bookings
• Waihi Beach Surf School – for their ongoing support of the adaptive surfing days
• Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade – for helping wash down and maintain the mats
• Waihī Beach School - Te Kura Tātahi o Waihī and Te Whānau a Tauwhao – for their beautiful waiata and support
• Dame Catriona Williams – for visiting Waihi Beach to show support and officially opening the facility
• – for travelling from Hamilton to open the facility and inspire rangatahi that anything is possible
• Ben Haarmann & Hollie from Waihī Beach for taking epic shots on the day

And of course – our amazing volunteers who showed up on the day to help with adaptive surfing!

And thank you to our major sponsors:
TECT | Round Table Trust | Valder Ohinemuri Charitable Trust | Western Bay of Plenty District Council | LJ Ho**er Waihi Beach + Waihi | Gattung Foundation

And to everyone who has contributed their time, energy and support to this incredible kaupapa — together we’ve shown that when a community unites behind a shared vision, extraordinary things are possible!

Now spread the news about our accessible beach – head here for more info > https://livewellwaihibeach.co.nz/accessibility/