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People in a lab working blended with the area of Marine Park

New Zealand Institute for Marine Futures, Sulphur Point

We’re working with the University of Waikato to establish a marine research and education facility at Marine Park, Sulphur Point – the New Zealand Institute for Marine Futures. We’ve reclassified a small part of Marine Park to enable the development and have an agreement with the university to lease the land. 

Latest news

The University of Waikato has provided to council its Design Concept for the New Zealand Institute for Marine Futures - a new state-of-the-art marine research facility at Marine Park, Sulphur Point.  
View the design concept (8mb pdf)

In accordance with the agreement to lease the land to the university, Council staff (acting as lessor) have reviewed the concept and provided feedback to the UoW. We have agreed that the concept aligns with the objectives for the new facility and that the relevant conditions of the agreement to lease have been met. The next stage for the project is for the university to develop its design in detail and then to submit resource and building consent applications under Council’s standard regulatory approval process.

What the facility offers

The development of a marine research and education facility will allow Tauranga to further establish itself nationally and internationally in this important and valuable sector by increasing tertiary and post-tertiary education options. 

Numerous public benefits have been identified, including:

  • Increased quality and quantity of tertiary and post-tertiary education, allowing Tauranga to further establish itself in this important and valuable sector 
  • Accessible marine and coastal environmental-based education, including for the Bay of Plenty’s primary and secondary education sector 
  • Ongoing employment opportunities 
  • Environmental benefits stemming from an increased capability to protect New Zealand's marine environments, such as developing innovative and sustainable responses to the effects of climate change 
  • Sustainable and valuable commercial developments such as cancer drugs and nutraceutical products 
  • Opportunities for applying a Māori lens to environmental management through mātauranga Māori. 

Background 

In May and June 2022, we asked for your feedback on the proposal to reclassify about 7,000m2 of land at the Marine Park from recreation reserve to local purpose (marine research and education facility) reserve to allow a marine research and education facility to be developed. 

We identified this site at Marine Park as the most suitable location for a marine research and education facility because of its proximity to the ocean, Tauranga city centre, tertiary and education institutions, boat ramps, and a deep-sea channel connected to the harbour entrance 

Two-thirds (66.3 per cent) of you supported the reclassification. After considering all the feedback at a meeting on 25 July 2022, the Commissioners decided to go ahead with the reclassification, which was approved by the Minister of Conservation’s delegate in September 2022. The Commissioners made the decision to reclassify the land based on the positive effect that the facility will have on our city’s economy, the increased research and education opportunities it will provide, and the flow-on benefits that research carried out at the  facility will have on climate change.  

FAQs

Construction of the new facility is expected to commence in 2026, depending on the consent applications and processing. It is anticipated it will be fully open during 2028. 

It’s intended that the public would be able to access parts of the facility for a range of educational and recreational activities.

A report confirmed that the area proposed for the facility is underutilised, with a maximum of 16 users counted on the afternoon of Sunday, 31 January 2021. These users were mostly associated with other zones in the Marine Park area, and generally consisted of people going or returning from fishing, vehicles or obtaining access to the beach and walking dogs. 

Yes, the land may only be used in accordance with the classification, and in line with any required consents.

No, the location of the facility will not impact council’s ability to deliver the required levels of service for parking. It would be a requirement that the marine education and research facility has its own carpark within the reclassified land area, if required.

No, the location of the facility would not impact existing car and trailer parking or access to boat ramps in the vicinity. Funding for a new six-lane boat ramp has been included in our 2024-34 Long-term Plan.

We have reclassified about 7,000m2 (approximately 6%) of land at the Marine Park, leaving approximately 10.7 hectares of recreation reserve area.

Key information

Project type
Parks and recreation

Status
Planning

Neighbourhood
Te Papa

Key dates

  • Consultation on proposed land reclassification 

    Monday 16 May – Monday 20 June 2022
  • Council (as Administering Body) confirms reclassification 

    July 2022
  • Land at Marine Park formally reclassified 

    October 2022
  • Lease tender process 

    February to March 2023
  • Lease agreement signed

    July 2024
  • Concept design received and response provided

    July 2025
  • University confirms funding for the project

    Expected by July 2026
    (in line with current agreement to lease timeframes)
  • University obtaining subdivision approval

    Expected by July 2027
    (12 months following confirmation of funding and design approval)
  • University obtaining building and land use consents

    Expected by January 2028
    (18 months following confirmation of funding and design approval)
  • Construction expected to commence

        2028

Who's listening

Tauranga City Council

info@tauranga.govt.nz 
07 577 7000

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