The long-running dispute over Tauranga Marina Society has generated heated claims on social media and in the courtroom. But when Lobby for Good sat down with members of the Tauranga Marina Society (TMS) and examined the legal framework, what emerged was a case study of how unclear governance can fuel mistrust and costly headaches. (Photo/Supplied)A marina born out of necessityThe Tauranga Marina at Sulphur Point was built in the early 1980s. At the time, Tauranga Harbour Board needed space for a new container port and was pursuing construction of a harbour bridge linking Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. The solution was a floating marina, funded not by ratepayers but by the sale of berth licences to boat owners.