The next meeting of the TRA Vibrant Tawa is on Monday 10 August 2026 at 7.30-9pm upstairs at the squash club Main Road Tawa. All welcome. The meetings are bimonthly.
Please find below our report for the past year.
Tawa Residents Association
President’s Annual Report to the AGM
Monday, June 8th, 2026
To the Members of the Tawa Residents Association, it is my privilege to present this report on the affairs of the Association for the year to 31st March 2026
Your Committee meets on the second Monday of every second month at the Tawa Squash Club, Main Road starting at 7.30pm – the community is invited to attend through the Tawa News newsletter.
What have we done during the year
Our principal activity continues to be Spring into Tawa and which, while for 2025 was challenged by the wind, was once again outstandingly successful under the hard working management of Stacey Richardson and her committee team and on the day volunteers. This year operated with the new extended Main Road closure area between Oxford Street and Lincoln Ave. Thank you Stacey. And thank you Tawa for supporting this fabulous event which continues as a significant regional event in the Wellington events programme. This year was also the last of a three-year sponsorship arrangement with Maxted Motors for which we are grateful, and is proposed to be renewed for a further three years. Regrettably Stacey has made known that the 2026 Spring into Tawa will the final one she will undertake the role of lead manager.
Another successful Tawa event continues to be the Santa Comes to Tawa event held in December. This event is co-ordinated by Tawa Rotary, Tawa Lions and Tawa Inner Wheel, with sponsorship from some businesses.
Stephen Challands has provided a separate report on the activities of the Tawa Community Garden at Coronation Park which is attached to this report. This year Tawa Rotary has led a project to add some additional raised garden beds for the garden and these are now in operation.
The Tawa hanging baskets in the Main Road continues to bring colour and vibrancy to our shopping precinct. These are renewed every 6 months at a cost of around $1,500, thanks to the contributions from Tawa Business Group, Tawa Community Board and a few donations from supportive residents, which are greatly appreciated, along with labour support from members of Tawa Rotary. Thanks also for support from Mitre10 Crofton Downs nursery for their potting up of the baskets.
The Community Liaison meetings facilitated by the Tawa Community Centre continue every 6 weeks and these one hour update sessions for all interested groups in Tawa provides a valuable conduit for various community groups such as the Community Centre, Recreational Centre, Community Board, the Residents Association, Community Constable, Community patrol, various Tawa schools, U3A, Rotary, Lions, Inner Wheel, along with local WCC Councillors and local MPs, plus other community groups, to share information about their activities and signal any support they may require.
The monthly triumvirate ‘governance’ meeting between the Tawa Community Board, the Tawa Business Group and the Tawa Residents’ Association looking at collaboration on issues of strategic importance to Tawa has continued with Tony Hassed’s chairmanship. Its main focus continues to be the potential future redevelopment of the Tawa Community Centre / Library sites (aka as the Anchor Project).
Governance
Our last AGM approved our new constitution which allowed us to continue existence under the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022. While the day to day running of the Association is largely unaffected, it does place more explicit demands on the behaviour of committee members and some of our processes and the records that we need to keep. A grateful thanks also to those people who have formally signed up as members of the Association – which is now a legal requirement under the new Incorporated Societies Act that we maintain a formal membership of at least 10 members.
The year under review also saw local government elections held in October 2025 which saw TRA co-ordinate a successful series of “meet the local candidates” meetings. Congratulations to the successful candidates, and especially to those who regularly support the Association with their attendance. I also wish to thank for their service those who are no longer continuing in local government but I’m sure will maintain interest in their community; in particular Liz Langham, Rachel Allan and John Apanowicz.
Communications
Your Committee uses the Vibrant Tawa website and the Tawa Community Noticeboard Facebook pages to provide updates on what is going on in Tawa.
We are grateful for the continued work that Monique Lubberink and her team with the monthly publication of the Tawa News email newsletter. This an important communication channel that keeps us all in touch with our Community happenings and interesting information, and the only such channel that is dedicated to Tawa.
Financial
Our treasurer, Peter Bowers, reports monthly on the state of the finances and the financial performance report for the 12 months ended 31st March 2026 is attached and forms part of this report. Peter also manages the grants that we receive and monies we hold on account for various projects as the umbrella entity. Thank you Peter.
Your Executive Committee
My sincere thanks to the support team we have and for your interest in the vibrant community that makes Tawa. Your loyal support and contributions for Tawa are appreciated.
In the past year the committee has largely consisted of the following:
Peter Bowers (Treasurer), Susan Cottle (Secretary), Jill Day (and other members of the Community Board; Tim Davin and Miriam Moore), Sheryl Rule, Michael Hill, Stephen Challands, Allan Davidson, and Monique Lubberink.
We also thank the regular attendance from Northern Ward Councillors, Ben McNulty, Tony Randle and John Apanowicz, and local MP Greg O’Conner, for their support and insights into local and national government happenings.
Richard Herbert
Chair
8.6.2026
Next meeting 10 August 2026, upstairs in the Squash club, 67 Main Road 7.30-9pm.
Meetings are every second Monday of the month
General agenda for meetings
- Welcome
- Health & Safety housekeeping
- Apologies
- Future direction:
– Spring into Tawa
– Business group
– Council updates
– Tawa Link/Tawa news/Vibrant Tawa
– Community gardens
– Potted Colour
– Community Board
– Tawa Communities liaison
– Pest Free Tawa
– Current projects - Financial
-Financial report
-Grant applications
– Membership and Levies - Minutes of last meetings
- Anything else that comes to table from members and guests