18 September 2026 | The Liberty Centre, Whakatāne

Community Expo & Keynote

The Community Expo and Keynote presentation with internationally-renowned resilience expert and TEDex speaker Dr Lucy Hone, was an afternoon of connection, learning, and community spirit.

Bringing together local organisations, service providers, and residents from across the Eastern Bay, the event showcased the strength of our community and the positive impact we can create when we come together.

This event was kindly sponsored by Gateway Funeral Services. You can find out more about how they support the community through their business fund here.

Photo credit: Claire House Photography

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"Thank you, Eastern Bay Community Foundation, for bringing our community together and giving us the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful event. The expo opened up so many important conversations creating a space where people could connect, share their experiences and realise they weren’t alone.

It was especially wonderful to see families connecting with our organisations and becoming part of a community that shares the same vision - supporting one another, sharing experiences and helping each other through life’s challenges."

Jane Ford
BOP Regional Coordinator | Parent to Parent

"The Expo demonstrated that providers of services in the Eastern Bay of Plenty really care about our community. And services care about what each other does as well. The Expo provided a really positive environment for the public to meet with a wide range of organisations in one place in a comfortable no-judgement setting"