We aim to give a voice to the residents of the Tapawera district and promote the improvement of our community. We promote the interests of Tapawera and surrounding areas for the betterment of residents, local enterprises, and community services.
The council acts as a communications channel between residents/community groups in the area and the Tasman District Council (TDC), along with other entities i.e. Chorus. The TDCC also represents the interests of the wider Tapawera community more generally, and has sought to improve it for many years.
We welcome you, as a resident of Tapawera or surrounding districts, to attend our monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7pm. Bring your concerns, ideas, and queries; we are keen to hear from you. And there’s always great community time afterwards with supper provided.
To assist us with obtaining grants for projects, it helps to have healthy membership numbers. Therefore, we encourage residents over 18yo to fill out the form, either on-line or print it out and post to PO Box 15, Tapawera. You are also welcome to contact any committee member for assistance. Membership is completely free, and comes with no strings attached.
We operate the Tapawera Community Op Shop on the community centre site at 95 Main road. The Op Shop is a valuable community service and allows us to make grants for projects or activities that benefit the Tapawera community, including Tapawera School sports events, the chipper for the community gardens, and support for the Tapawera Spring Show.
If your group needs assistance, check out the grant criteria and application form on this site.
The community council operates in two-year terms with the current one being 2026–28. Elections are normally held in August.
John Gully, as the TDC Councillor for Lakes and Murchison Ward, attends our monthly meetings, presenting a report but also welcoming queries, feedback, and concerns. His involvement helps make our voice one of the best ways to connect with TDC. We advocate for local improvements, like urging TDC to fix potholes, culverts, etc., and work with TDC on ways to save and best use ratepayers’ money—for example, through the establishment of recycling containers.
Tapawera Community Centre: TDCC owns and manages this on behalf of the community. Unfortunately, the main building is temporarily closed due to a seismic report, but we are not standing still. The community presented a raft of ideas for the building’s upcoming renovation, and there have been generous offers of materials and assistance to get it re-opened as a warmer, user-friendly space for midwives, health services, and community groups.
Food Carts: We welcome food carts to our site, providing another hub of activity. We are currently enhancing the site with additional bike racks.
Opened in 2014, this is a jewel in the crown for us. Situated in front of the Community Centre, the garden provides a restful space for families or individuals to take a moment.
The Gateway itself has strong links to this community, celebrating our history, the landscape, and the people. The carved gateway acknowledges the role of Mt Arthur as the community’s guardian, the importance of our rivers, explorer Thomas Brunner and his guide E Kehu, the history of gold-mining and forestry, and today’s horticultural industry. We invite you to take a moment to enjoy the Kahurangi Gateway, be it with friends, family and visitors, or simply for some time out for yourself.
We welcome input and questions about community issues via this website's feedback form, by emailing us at TapaweraTDCC@gmail.com, or by coming along to a meeting.
Yvonne and I have had a sheep and beef farm in the Sherry River valley since 1987. During those years I have done a couple of stints on the TDCC. Now retired, I enjoy spending time with family, bike riding, a bit of travelling, odd jobs around the farm, and doing volunteer DOC trap lines to protect Whio up the Wangapeka in Kahurangi National Park.
Living up a quiet side valley in Stanley Brook for thirty years, I enjoy family, restoring our native bush and wetlands, writing for publication, and doing at least 3 things each year that I've never done before. Last year that included training as a marine medic for whale strandings. I have had an interesting career, including management and empowerment, but to be honest I am happier wielding a spade to put food on the table, and hosting the numerous travellers who come by.
I'm married to Brett and we have an amazing daughter, Bella. I have lived in the Tapawera community for over 20 years. I've previously worked at Goldpine and Alliance meat works, and the Tapawera Hotel, then for the past 9 years at the Tapawera Four-Square. I enjoy crafting, and was a part in the starting of the Tapawera market. I enjoy raising funds for community projects and helping where I can.
I have lived on our property in the Upper Wangapeka for the past 30+ years. Worked in a variety of jobs, including a stint as owner-operators of the local dairy/takeaways. Now retired and taking time out to enjoy life.
I, with long time partner Aaron, own and operate the Tapawera Camp ground business, living on site, year round. Settling in Tapawera in 2021, I am fully invested in the resilience of our small town, recently taking on the empty Main Road Cafe space to open a much needed food outlet.
I have spent half my life living overseas, working on construction projects across the world, including dams, mines, railway lines etc. In NZ, I ran the logging at Maungarakau, and have had a construction business, as well as farming deer. I lived in Tapawera in my twenties, working in various roles. Now retired in Tapawera, I hope to stop working one day.