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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 to the university, Council staff (acting as lessor) have reviewed the concept and provided feedback to the university. 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.