Kia ora to the latest Tauriko for Tomorrow update.

Home to more than 209,000 people, the Western Bay of Plenty is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

Tauranga City Council, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council are working together to create great communities and a safe transport network in Tauriko West to cater for Tauranga’s and the sub-region’s strong population growth.

From 20 May, we are seeking peoples’ views on the next phase of the Tauriko for Tomorrow project to shape the community in Tauriko West.

We’ll inform and seek feedback from the wider community on the emerging preferred option for the long-term transport improvements (Option B – Offline). We also want to hear the public’s views on plans for the new community at Tauriko West, and provide an update on construction of the short-term enabling works to allow development to start.

An information display will be available at Tauranga Crossing from Friday 20 to Sunday 29 May, during mall opening hours, opposite the Garden Eateries (downstairs at Tauranga Crossing).

Our project team will be available, in-person, to hear peoples’ views and answer questions on:

  • Sunday, 22 May, 10am – 4pm
  • Thursday, 26 May, 11am – 7pm
  • Saturday, 28 May, 9am – 3pm

On the other days, while the project team will not be in attendance, the information will be available for the public to view and leave their feedback. All information, including maps will be available at the pop-up and on the website from 20 May.

What to expect next

Following community engagement, Waka Kotahi will collate the feedback received from the past five years of consultation and engagement with landowners and stakeholders and use it to refine the overall designs and inform the Waka Kotahi Tauriko Network Connections Business Case. This will be used to seek funding for the next stages of the project. Waka Kotahi expects to submit the business case to the Waka Kotahi Board for decision making on the next stages of the project in mid-to late 2022.

Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi will continue to progress the short-term enabling works and prepare a plan change to the Tauranga City Plan during 2022. This includes the completion of the structure plan and development of a comprehensive stormwater consent. Council aims to notify the plan change to rezone Tauriko West from rural to urban in early-2023. The programme for construction of the enabling works is being developed, with the goal to move into the construction phase in 2023. Currently, the project team is developing the detailed design of the various components of the enabling works.

Working together

We are working together to create great communities and a safe transport network in the Western Bay of Plenty to cater for Tauranga’s and the sub-region’s strong population growth.