The Elms Foundation
The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga is owned and operated by The Elms Foundation, a registered charitable trust dedicated to the preservation and promotion of this historic site. The Elms Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees and operated by a team of staff and dedicated volunteers. Today The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga engages the community in a range of onsite activities including:
- Guided tours through the mission house and library – both registered as Category 1 by Heritage New Zealand
- Garden tours with a focus on the heritage trees and native specimens found on the one hectare site
- Educational school visits with an emphasis on learning outside the classroom
- Community Events such as hosting the Vintage Car Show and Night Owl Cinema
- Weddings in the Chapel and grounds
- Photographic shoots and filming
- Devonshire teas hosted by local volunteers
Our Objectives
The Elms Foundation’s key objectives are to:
- Continue to be a must-see destination for Tauranga
- Reach more people – retain existing visitors and reach new and more diverse ones
- Inspire our visitors – inform, amaze and provide a feeling of serenity and ambience
- Develop the grounds so that they are an attraction in themselves – retaining our NZGT 5 Star status
- Increase access to and engagement with the historical collections and the stories they represent
These objectives inform our decision-making and guide our daily operations in the preservation and guardianship of this taonga (treasure).