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Whare Hapori Gate Pā

Gate Pā Community Centre

We’re building a community centre to create a safe, welcoming and flexible space for the communities of Gate Pā.

The 500m2 building will be complemented by great outdoor spaces that will meet the needs of the community now and in the future.

The Gate Pā Community Centre will be more than just a physical building. It’s about creating a central hub where the communities of Gate Pā can gather, feel safe, welcomed, develop new friendships and learn new skills.

The community centre will be something the community can own and be proud of, and becomes part of their identity. It will support the community to enhance their own wellbeing and create a more connected and inclusive community.

Everyone will be able to use the community centre. The community centre will provide a variety of professional services and advice; community programmes and events; multi-purpose rooms; a computer/digital hub, a kitchen for food preparation, kaumatua services, and a community noticeboard.

Gate Pā Community Centre Trustees

Ron Scott, Greer Golding and Doug Barnes have been appointed to the board of the newly established Gate Pā Community Centre Charitable Trust.

The Trust will govern the new Gate Pā Community Centre on behalf of the residents of Gate Pā and the community and will oversee the management of the centre.

Ron, Greer and Doug were successfully appointed through a formal Trustee appointment process that took place over the latter half of 2024.

Greer Golding Ron Scott and Doug Barnes

Greer Golding (from left), Ron Scott and Doug Barnes are looking forward to embedding themselves into their new roles as Gate Pā Community Centre Trustees.

About the Trustees

Ron Scott JP

Ron is a Gate Pā local and an elected member of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. He also sits on the boards of the Blind Foundation, SILC Charitable Trust, Workbridge, the AA National Council and Consumer NZ.

“I’m thrilled to be part of establishing the Gate Pā Community Centre. The Gate Pā Community Centre is an exciting project because it creates a social centre for the Gate Pā community.”

Greer Golding

Locally born and bred, Greer attended Tauranga Girls' College and her family owned a bicycle shop in the Gate Pā area for 34 years until recently.

“I am excited to be a part of the Gate Pā Community Centre. My family and I have always been supporters of the local community and were proud to attend one of the first events at Anzac Park, which sparked the conversation that led to the creation of the community centre project.”

Doug Barnes

Doug moved to Gate Pā in 2014 and quickly became involved in the local community, attending a newly formed Gate Pā stakeholders’ group that was set up to discuss the needs within the community. The idea of the community centre came from this group.

“I took the lead in submitting to Tauranga City Council for our community centre. I am passionate about the community centre as it will bring the community together to address the needs within the community. It will be a place where people are valued, and a place where they feel they belong.”

Engagement with interested individuals and organisations, mana whenua and the Gate Pā community

Engagement with interestered individuals and organisation, mana whenua and the Gate Pā community.

Engagement with interestered individuals and organisation, mana whenua and the Gate Pā community.

Engagement with interestered individuals and organisation, mana whenua and the Gate Pā community.

Engagement with interestered individuals and organisation, mana whenua and the Gate Pā community.

The community, mana whenua and interested individuals and organisations have had a direct say in the location and design of the facility, preferred management and governance model, and identifying areas of needs and opportunities. The engagement, through a series of co-design workshops, is ongoing and is working really well.

Proposed location of the Gate Pā Community Centre (near Anzac Park)

The proposed location of the community centre is adjacent to Anzac Park, on land that Accessible Properties is making available for the project to support the community outcomes. Anzac Park is central to the community and within walking distance to key places and amenities such as schools, early childhood centres, churches, health facilities, parks and reserves.

Proposed plan for the Gate Pā Community Centre

Council and the parties involved (including the communities of Gate Pā, mana whenua, interested individuals and organisations; and Accessible Properties) are working through next steps, including finalising the design, funding, and the preferred management and governance model.

Gate Pā Community Centre approved concept design (1.8mb pdf)

Gate Pā Community Centre ground floor plan (2.3mb pdf)

In 2019 we asked the communities of Te Papa Peninsula, including Gate Pā, what they valued about their neighbourhoods, what they would like to change and what they would like to see in the future to help inform the Te Papa Spatial Plan:

In particular, the people of Gate Pā told us they wanted a community centre.

Te Papa Peninsula survey results (54kb pdf)

In 2020 the Whakahou Taketake Vital Update - Tauranga survey asked the people of Gate Pā and Merivale about their neighbourhood aspirations.

11 per cent of respondents said they wanted more community facilities/recreational opportunities for families/community events.

Gate Pa, Merivale digital dashboard

To help us decide what the future of community centres could look like, in 2021 we undertook a series of surveys to find out more about what’s currently working well, what could work better or what’s missing to meet the needs of our growing city.

Half of respondents wanted to see more community centres in Tauranga

63% of respondents who are part of ethnic communities wanted to see more community centres in Tauranga, including 28% who live in Gate Pā.

64% of respondents who identify as Pacific Peoples wanted to see more community centres in Tauranga, including 56% who live in Gate Pā.

Community centre engagement (736kb pdf)

Community Centres AIP

Key information

Project type
Arts and culture
Major projects
Community
Health and wellbeing
Parks and recreation

Status
Planning

Neighbourhood
Gate Pā / Greerton / Avenues / Merivale

Key dates

  • Engagement and finalise concept plan

    2022 to mid-2024
  • Develop design and consents

    2024 to Late 2024
  • Construction

    2025
  • Opening

    Late 2025

Who's listening

Deon Connoway
Senior Project Manager 

projects.spacesandplaces@tauranga.govt.nz 
07 577 7000

Other ways to get involved

Tauranga is your city. We're working to make it even better.

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