Tauranga’s city centre is shedding its reputation as “dying” as it undergoes a massive transformation.

Like many CBDs, Tauranga has experienced issues with businesses moving to malls and older buildings needing earthquake strengthening, leaving empty shops and giving the perception it’s not worth visiting.

Adding to this is a huge number of construction projects that aim to make area a place to be proud of.

In 2022 commissioner Stephen Selwood said “the city has clearly died” in a council meeting about the $306m civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa, that the council green-lit.

The civic precinct project aims to revive the city's heart.

Although these projects have caused disruption, Tauranga City Council’s city development and partnerships general manager Gareth Wallis says he is excited about the changes.

Local Democracy Reporting joined him for a tour of the city centre to see the transformation and glimpse the future.

We start in Red Square at the bottom of Devonport Road. Wallis informs me it’s going to be a “sanctuary space”, with play elements added as it gets a facelift in the coming months.

“We are going to have a lot of disruption at different times, in different locations, but we wanted to find some spaces that were clearly identified as a space that you could get away from it all.”

At 2 Devonport Rd, construction is under way on the seven storey Craigs Investment Partners building. Office, retail and hospitality spaces will make up the building that is set for completion at the end of 2025.

Gareth Wallis says the interior of 90 Devonport Rd behind him will mirror a pōhutukawa tree. Photo: John Borren/SunLive. 

A new home for council

Next stop is 90 Devonport Road, where the country’s largest mass timber construction office building has huge glass panels and wooden beams jut from the ground.

Upon completion early next year it will house council staff, the first time they will all be under the same roof in 10 years. The former council offices and chambers were demolished due to issues with black mould.

Wallis says the interior is designed to mirror the pōhutukawa growing on the seaward side. The lower floors will be grey and brown toned, moving to green with the upper of the eight floors red.

“Wherever you are in the building you're anchored to the outside through that tree.”

It’s not just the completed buildings that Wallis is excited about, it’s the number of people they will bring into the city’s heart.

Around 600-700 council staff will work from 90 Devonport and Wallis estimates there will be another 200-300 people at the Craigs building.

“It's more than a thousand additional people in the city every single day, which really will start to make a difference to how it feels. And what's cool about that is then the market will start to respond.”

 90 Devonport Road is set open next year and will house the council staff. Photo: Tauranga City Council.

Along the length of Devonport Road a number of shops sit empty - some of them vacant for years.

Wallis believes this is because many of the buildings need earthquake strengthening and landlords don’t want to spend the money.

The other is a lot of the real estate in the CBD is owned by “old money” so they can just afford to sit on the asset and not actually rent it out, he says.

The council meets with landlords regularly and encourages them to offer reduced rents to activate spaces, says Wallis.

On the corner of Devonport Rd and Elizabeth St sits the newest development, 38 Elizabeth. Recently completed, the 10 storey building hosts Farmers, a restaurant, shops, 23 townhouses and 97 apartments across two towers.

“It’s an incredibly impressive building.”

The new 38 Elizabeth Development houses 23 townhouses and 97 apartments. Photo: Supplied.

Parking problems?

Before leaving the main shopping, the parking question is inevitably raised. City centre parking and its costs are a bugbear for many residents.

“There’s a lot of talk in the city centre about not enough car parks. There are more parks today than there were a year ago.”

The city’s two parking buildings were at 40 per cent capacity in January, Wallis tells us.

“The statement that there aren't carparks available in the city centre is wrong.”

There's an “old-school mentality” that you should be able to park outside the shop you want to go to and not have to pay, he says.

“It’s not unusual that you would have to pay for a carpark in the middle of your city centre.”

The council is working on a project to change people’s perception of CBD parking.

The carpark on The Strand will be replaced with green space and a new playground. Photo: Tauranga City Council.

Waterfront makeover

At the start of Elizabeth Street is the pocket park Tunks Reserve that has recently been made over.

It’s named after former mayor Alfred Tunks and the stairs leading up to it boasts a runnel so cyclists can ascend smoothly with their bike.

Reaching The Strand the railway underpass that will link to The Strand extension via a boardwalk is nearly complete.

Work to turn The Strand carpark into a greenspace will begin once the seawall repair is complete. It will also become a living seawall with 100 water pods to attract marine plants and animals.

A lot people and businesses are upset to lose the parking but Wallis says the commission is steadfast in their decision.

“You name me one great city in the world where their waterfront is handed over to car parking,” Commission chair Anne Tolley asked someone upset by the loss of parks, recalls Wallis.

A new playground will also be built but the beloved bronze Hairy Maclary statues will remain. The new greenspace is scheduled to be open in time for summer.

Construction continues across the road on the Norther Quarter - a two tower development on The Strand.

One tower will be three stories with a conference centre and offices. The other will be seven storeys and potentially house a hotel.

Early works have begun at the Te Manawataki o Te Papa site. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

A museum at last

The last stop on the tour is the Te Manawataki o Te Papa site.

The area between Willow and Durham streets doesn’t look like much now, but it will house a new library and community hub, a civic whare and Tauranga’s first museum and exhibition centre.

Pilling work is underway for the three storey library which is due to be completed in 2026.

The city’s taonga currently sits in storage facilities and Wallis is itching to be able to display it.

“It’s the first time in the history of our city we'll have a museum, which is a little bit exciting.

“Largely all of the city's precious taonga sit in two warehouses … and we never get to see them.

“As a city, very, very excited that for the first time we'll have a place where we can show that stuff.”

An Artists impression Te Manawataki o Te Papa. Photo: Tauranga City Council.

Tauranga Art Gallery and Baycourt Performing Arts Centre will also be upgraded as part of the civic precinct project.

People should also check out the “amazing restaurants” and unique retail stores, says the CBD's spokesperson.

Wallis’ enthusiasm for the city and its future is palpable and he encourages people to see it for themselves.

“It’s quite interesting when you actually learn about what's going to happen in our city centre, come in and have a look around."

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.