Veterans and their families in Tauranga and the Western Bay now have a dedicated place to seek support after the opening of the Western Bay Support Centre in Greerton.

The new centre, at Chadwick House on Chadwick Rd, was opened on May 27 with a blessing of the building, memorial area and vehicles.

Operated by the Tauranga RSA and in a building owned by the Tauranga RSA Support Trust, the centre provides one-on-one support services for current and former New Zealand Defence Force personnel, surviving spouses and family members.

Tauranga RSA president Mort Anderson said the facility reflects the organisation’s renewed focus on veteran welfare.

“We’re focusing on the core business of looking after veterans and their families,” Anderson said.

David Watt playing The Last Post on trumpet at the formal opening ceremony of the Western Bay Support Centre in Greerton. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

The centre includes meeting rooms, a kitchen and offices for trained support advisers who help veterans navigate entitlements, welfare assistance and applications through Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand and other agencies.

Lyn Thomas who, with Duncan Poole, is the centre’s support adviser, said many veterans and families are unaware of the assistance available to them.

“A lot of people don’t know what they’re entitled to,” Thomas said. “Sometimes it’s health-related support, sometimes it’s financial assistance, and sometimes it’s simply helping them understand what’s available.”

Thomas, who previously worked for Veterans’ Affairs and the War Pensions Office, assists veterans with applications and helps connect families with support services. She said surviving spouses, partners and family members, including grandchildren, are often eligible for assistance but may not realise it.

The centre has already helped veterans experiencing hardship, including those needing housing support and provides guidance on issues ranging from hearing aids and cataract surgery to pensions and welfare entitlements.

The opening marks the culmination of several years of change for the Tauranga RSA after the sale of its former premises, shifting away from the traditional RSA model towards a stronger focus on welfare, advocacy and support.

In late 2024, the Tauranga RSA made the considered decision to sell its Cameron Rd premises and last year bought and moved to Chadwick House.

The new centre, based at Chadwick House on Chadwick Rd, was formally opened on May 27 with a blessing of the building, memorial area and vehicles. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Tauranga RSA Support Trust chair Fred Milligan said acquiring Chadwick House had provided the organisation with a stable welcoming base from which to grow its services.

“We’ve set the baseline and away we go,” said the former Tauranga RSA president. “The big thing now is getting out there and letting veterans know that we’re here and we can support them.”

While the RSA continued to seek a future social hub for members, the new centre focuses on welfare, advocacy and remembrance activities while also staying connected with the Bay of Plenty community.

Outside the building, a memorial area had been established incorporating items from the former RSA site. The memorial has also been updated to recognise service in Afghanistan, acknowledging veterans who served there.

The Western Bay Support Centre vehicles were blessed as part of the formal opening of the new centre in Greerton, Tauranga. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

The support centre operates Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Thomas and Poole.

Plans to expand services through additional regional support staff include district support manager Tricia Hague being based at the centre on Thursdays and Fridays, providing a four-day spread of services. The long-term vision is to create a central point of contact that can connect veterans and families with the help they need, Milligan said.

“We’ve got a base now. The groundwork’s done. Now the focus is on the veterans.”

The Western Bay Support Centre is at Chadwick House, 250 Chadwick Rd, Greerton. Support adviser appointments are available for current and former NZ Defence Force personnel, surviving spouses and partners, and family members seeking guidance on entitlements, applications and welfare support. For more information, phone (07) 578 9654 or email: admin@tgarsa.co.nz