Our Story
Tauranga Moana Hearing Trust (formerly Blue Lagoon Hearing Trust) was formed in October of 1996. We are a charitable trust devoted to the hard of hearing and Deaf in the Tauranga City area including Mount Maunganui and Papamoa.
We offer funding to support:
Assistance with hearing aids to improve communication and quality of life.
Access to specialised equipment designed for the unique needs of the Deaf and hard of hearing.
Support for children to participate in special support days and cultural events, fostering community and confidence.
We’re here to:
Inspire & Empower
Supporting the educational, economic, and social aspirations of individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Break Barriers
Promoting better communication and raising awareness of the incredible achievements within the Deaf community.
Foster Connection
Creating opportunities for deaf children and adults to connect, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Create Community Impact
Supporting prevention, and access to treatment for hearing loss.
Trustees
Brad Coombs - Chairman
Brad is a Landscape Architect and Principal of Isthmus Group. Brad has a blended family, including two boys with bilateral cochlear implants and his wife Kirstin also wears Hearings Aids. Brad loves to help members of the deaf community in Tauranga and enjoys the empathy and compassion that deaf people have for the people around them. He helped to set up the Bay of Plenty Association for Deaf Children in 2014 and was the inaugural President. After working hours he is a part time cyclist, gardener, boatie and woodworker.
Craig Rossouw - Treasurer
Craig oversees the Audit Team as an Associate Director at William Buck. In his position, he assists several not-for-profit entities of varying size in the Bay of Plenty with their audit requirements. He became Trustee and Treasurer for Blue Lagoon Hearing Trust in 2022. Craig enjoys the occasional round of golf and spending time with his family in beautiful Tauranga.
Rosalie J. Smith-Frank - Trustee
Rosalie has been involved with the Deaf community for many years and has worked in the community based/disability sector for over 15 years as a leader and manager. Rosalie has also been involved with a Deaf Development program in Cambodia.
Maureen Baker - Trustee
Maureen has been involved in the Deaf Community all her life, having grown up in the Deaf community in the UK with Deaf Parents where British Sign Language (BSL) was her first Language. She is a registered social worker and worked for Deaf Aotearoa where she used NZ Sign Language (NZSL) for over 21 years, before moving to her current position in the disability sector.
Aaron C.H. Moores - Trustee
Aaron is an Authorised Financial Adviser, working as an Investment Adviser for Craigs Investment Partners. He is currently serving his second term and is currently Chair on the Tauranga Primary School Board of Trustees. Aaron enjoys the outdoor lifestyle in Tauranga, where he lives with his wife and young family. In his free time, Aaron also enjoys a range of sports including golf and skiing
Seanna Higgs - Coordinator