Regional Council moves to protect community investment for future generations
Bay of Plenty Regional Council this week agreed to take the next steps toward changing its investment structure to prioritise delivering community benefits and protecting its $3 billion investment fund for current and future generations.
Through Long Term Plan amendment deliberations, councillors acknowledged the many submitters who urged the Regional Council to consider new structures that would protect the investment portfolio on behalf of regional ratepayers and the wider community, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of these assets.
Regional Council Chair Matemoana McDonald says the message from the community was clear: People want confidence that these funds will continue delivering benefits for the region well into the future.
“This is an incredibly important intergenerational decision. Our community told us they want stronger protection for these assets, and we agree. They also told us they want these investments to deliver for the region – supporting local communities, protecting our environment, strengthening resilience, and helping us respond to challenges like climate change.
“The work now underway is about ensuring these funds remain secure, well governed, and used for the environmental outcomes they were originally intended to support.”
Chair McDonald says councils are operating in an environment of significant reform and change, with increasing pressure to demonstrate value, manage costs, and deliver for growing communities - reinforcing the need for a considered, future‑focused approach.
No matter what happens in the future regarding local government reorganisation, councillors reiterated the importance of entrenching the original intent behind the Regional Council’s investment portfolio.
At deliberations, Councillor Kate Graeme noted that these assets were originally allocated to maintain and improve environmental outcomes across the Bay of Plenty.
“This purpose needs to be cemented in foundational documents such as trust deeds, so it endures beyond current local government structures and electoral cycles.”
The Regional Council will continue exploring trust models, which could provide stronger long-term protection for the investment portfolio and ensure delivery of community outcomes.
Staff will now prepare an amended Long Term Plan 2024–2034 for adoption at the end of June. This amendment will create the framework needed to enable future decisions.
This week’s decisions are an important enabling step rather than a final outcome. Until any changes are confirmed, the current investment structures - held through Quayside Holdings Limited - remain unchanged.
“This is about taking the time to get it right,” Chair McDonald says.
“We owe it to our communities and to future generations to ensure these decisions are robust, transparent, and grounded in what matters most for the Bay of Plenty.”