A Brief History of Our Club

The initial meeting was held in Haymans Hall, Tauranga on the 13th July 1950 to discuss the formation of a Branch of the NZDA. Twenty eight interested persons attended. Another meeting was called for Saturday 12th August and the Bay Of Plenty Branch was formed. Joe Monk was elected President and Ra Jennings, Secretary.

During the 60’s and 70’s membership increased greatly with 300 tickets being sold for the 1973 Annual Dinner. In July 1974 the NZDA National Conference was held at the Tauranga Race Course hosted by the BOP Branch. Some 350 delegates and visitors attended.

The Branch’s first rifle range was constructed by members on John and Carol Hamilton’s property on Taumata Rd, Pyes Pa. During the 70’s and 80’s the range was used for Branch competition shooting and invitation prize shoots. We lost the range when the property changed hands.

The 70’s also saw the establishment of our Tauriko club rooms, after purchasing the property from John and June Jefferson. National and club shooting was held on site. When the Lakes Subdivision came into being around 2005 the Branch voluntarily closed the range due as a safety precaution.

In 1974 we were represented on the Kaimai Forest Park advisory committee by Rod Mills. This lasted for the 12 years the park was run by the NZ Forest Service until being administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

In 2007 the Branch signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DOC to help upgrade and maintain the Mangamuka Hut in the Kaimais. In 2010 the Branch also did the same for the Hurunui Hut.

Another recent highlight was the 2008 opening of a new park access off the end of Lunds Rd into the Kaimai Forest Park. This was the first new access into the park for many years and would not have occurred without the determination of Branch members and the cooperation of the Western BOP District Council and DoC.

On the 2nd September 2010 the Branch formally entered into a long term lease agreement with the Western BOP District Council for a new rifle range complex in the TECT All Terrain Park.

Over the last several years the Branch has supported the Whakamarama Community Group to get the Whakamarama Rd end access to the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park re-opened following a major slip at the bush edge. After much pressure was applied to the local council and DOC the road was repaired and re-opened with an upgraded car park at the end.