Tauranga’s newest indoor sports facility, the University of Waikato Haumaru Sport and Recreation Centre, is already a hit with locals after more than 3000 people poured through its doors at an open day last Saturday.

The facility, transformed from a former The Warehouse building, officially opened for use on Monday after 18 months of redevelopment.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale said the centre marked a major win for the growing city, offering much-needed court space in response to rising demand for indoor sports.

“Purchasing and repurposing an existing building was a quick and cost-efficient way to meet community needs, while being prudent with ratepayer money,” Drysdale said.

The four-court facility is the first new indoor venue to open in the city in over a decade and adds significant capacity to the local sports network. Drysdale said the venue would become a hub for people of all ages and abilities.

“Haumaru’s central location, ease of access and onsite parking make it a fantastic addition to the city, while also contributing to the transformation of Tauranga’s city centre,” he said.

Young basketballer and Ōtūmoetai Intermediate student Max Pringle gave the courts a glowing review after his team played its first game there this week.

“The courts, rims and backboard were perfect,” Max said. “Mum found parking easy and said we could even catch the bus there next time.”

Bay Venues chief executive Chad Hooker said the community had already embraced Haumaru, with bookings locked in for the foreseeable future.

“Haumaru is already proving its worth,” Hooker said. “It’s going to be a key venue for regular sport as well as major tournaments.”

Hooker emphasised the strong partnerships behind the project, which involved collaboration with Tauranga City Council, mana whenua, community sports organisations, the University of Waikato, and lead contractor Apollo Projects.

The full cost of the facility was around $28 million—significantly cheaper than the more than $40 million estimated for building a similar complex from scratch at Memorial Park.

The future of Memorial Park and the potential development of a new aquatic centre remains under consideration by the council, while the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre will continue to operate.