The Strategic Partners Forum (SPF) provides community governance to the SmartGrowth Strategy, with the two broad responsibilities being:

Strategic partners to act as a community audit

• were an integral part of the development of SmartGrowth strategies and actions.
• have a strong basis of understanding of the issues related to growth management within the western Bay of Plenty sub region.
• act as a "consumer audit" providing a monitoring function to ensure the strategy and actions are met, not just by local authorities but also by Central Government and community agencies that have lead roles within the strategy.

Strategic partners to act as a knowledge pool for the SmartGrowth Implementation Committee (SGIC) 

• play a strong role in acting as a steering agent and a knowledge pool to the SmartGrowth Implementation Committee structure.
• help guide decisions relating to implementation.
• use their links into regional and national agencies that ensures that the best decisions are made in implementing SmartGrowth.
• provide support to the SmartGrowth Governance structure in a collaborative fashion.
• have specific roles as either lead or support agencies within the actions of SmartGrowth which enhances the ability to provide sound community governance advice to the SmartGrowth Implementation Committee structure and identify potential solutions to issues.

Strategic Partners Forum members

• Federated Farmers - Key economic driver and large land use
• NZ Fruit Growers Association - Key economic driver and large land use
• Priority One - Economic sector development
• Chamber of Commerce - Economic sector servicing
• Creative Tauranga - Arts and culture sector
• Royal NZ Forest and Bird Society  - Environmental sector
• Greypower - Aged / social population
• Sport Bay of Plenty - Sport and recreation / social sector
• National Council of Women - Women / social sector
• Association of Social Service Agencies - Tauranga (Asset) Social sector 
• Bay of Plenty District Health Board - Health sector
• Government Agencies (case by case basis) Health, Social, Education, Community Sectors
• SmartGrowth - Independent Chairman

Central government sectors such as health or education sectors are dealt with individually as they are acting as lead agencies in major actions throughout the strategy.

The Strategic Partners Forum is chaired by Mr Bill Wasley, SmartGrowth Independent Chairman and meet bi-monthly.  Meetings are not open to the public.  Strategic partner members can be altered with the agreement of the SmartGrowth Implementation Committee (SGIC).