The vision for Tauriko West is to create a thriving community for locals to live, learn, work and play locally. This means the community will have amenities such as schools, parks, cycle and walkways, access to shopping and community facilities, and safe transport connections
Building the new community at Tauriko West requires changes to the Tauranga City Plan to rezone the land from rural to urban so housing can be developed. Underpinning this is a proposed structure plan for the new community, which shows the new infrastructure required, and where the key elements of the new community would be located. Geotechnical, stormwater, cultural and environmental assessments have been completed to inform this planning.
Most of the land at Tauriko West is owned by Kāinga Ora, Tauriko West Limited (Element IMF), and the Tauriko Property Group with Classic Group, along with some smaller landowners. The three main landowners are contributing to the cost of improvements to SH29 (the Tauriko Enabling Works) to open the area for housing development. Within the new community these developers will deliver a range of housing choice, styles and densities along with internal roads and water/wastewater infrastructure, neighbourhood reserves and local commercial centres.
Tauranga City Council is planning to build a new community centre and library as part of the new community, and a significant reserve along the Wairoa River. The Ministry of Education is working on opportunities to relocate and expand Tauriko School to support current and future communities’ needs, and considering options for a new high school in the growth area.
Proposals for the new community
- A range of housing choice, styles and densities
- A local centre – providing for a collection of several shops and services including opportunities for a small (convenience) supermarket, GP surgery, pharmacy, café, takeaway, and possibly public toilets; and up to two smaller-scale, neighbourhood centres for local shops (day-to-day goods).
- A Wairoa River Reserve – with a playground, access to the river, walkways along the length of the full river corridor and water access (within Tauriko West); and which celebrates the historic and cultural importance of the awa (river)
- Integrated neighbourhood parks and other open space
- A community centre and library (‘Suburban Hub Centre’)
- A relocated and expanded school supporting current and future communities’ needs
- Potential for a new high school.
- Recognition of sites of cultural significance to mana whenua, seeking to preserve and enhance those areas
- Looking after our waterways and wetlands
- Connectivity through street design and open space planning
- A road network that promotes sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport
- Multimodal links to Tauriko Business Estate, Tauranga Crossing, and the wider city.
Tauriko West plan change: Variation 1 to Plan Change 33
Building the new community at Tauriko West requires a change to the urban limits line (Bay of Plenty Regional Council) and a local government boundary alteration (Western Bay of Plenty District Council) which were completed between 2018 and 2021. It also requires changes to the Tauranga City Plan, to rezone the previously rural-zoned land and allow housing to be developed. The plan change also serves to outline the planning rules that will apply to the development, and guide consent decisions.
The proposed Tauriko West plan change was publicly notified in March 2024 through a variation to Plan Change 33: Enabling Housing Supply, and a hearing was held in December 2024 by the appointed Independent Hearing Panel, who then prepared their recommendations to Council on that basis.
Find out more about Variation 1 to Plan Change 33
On 3 March 2025 the Tauranga City Mayor and Councillors accepted all the recommendations of the Independent Hearing Panel. The adoption of the Tauriko West plan change represents a significant step forward in shaping the future of the community, and of the city. The changes were made operative in the City Plan on 17 March and will now guide future development in Tauriko West.
Other processes required to be completed before development can start include council’s application for a Comprehensive Stormwater Consent, the developers obtaining consents for bulk earthworks, and council finalising developer agreements. These processes are all underway.