Living in the Western Bay of Plenty, we are lucky to have beautiful beaches, a relaxed lifestyle, and year-round blue skies. It’s no wonder why Tauranga is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand.
With that growth comes a new journey for Tauranga. Soon our city will also be known for its thriving CBD, vibrant social and cultural scene and world-class university study, all thanks to the opening of the new tertiary campus.
The University of Waikato Tauranga CBD campus, which officially opened in April 2019, is leading a transformational change for the city. The impressive architecturally designed building is set to be a vibrant and central part of Tauranga, surrounded by services and facilities that enhance student life.
A Hub for Learning and Collaboration
With exciting undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, many in study topics that relate to the Bay of Plenty region such as marine science, engineering and innovation, the campus provides the opportunity for local students to study close to home whilst also attracting students from afar.
Designed to be bright, open and collaborative, the campus offers communal study and social spaces that encourage collaborative learning. Thriving with student activity, facilities are already well-utilised and include a 24-hour computer lab, 200-seat lecture theatre and multiple teaching and study spaces. Te Manawaroa is a multi-purpose teaching, social and noho space (for overnight stays), that’s also used for community meetings and conferences.
The Durham Street campus has capacity for 1000 equivalent full-time students. As more and more students see Tauranga as the city that has it all; surf, sunshine and outstanding study options, demand is expected to rise. The next stage of development will include capacity for at least another 500 equivalent full-time students.
TECT’s Largest Ever Grant
Development of the tertiary campus was supported by a number of key funders. Tauranga City Council gifted the land for the campus, Bay of Plenty Regional Council provided $15M and TECT contributed a further $15M; its largest ever grant. With the University funding the remaining $25M, the project was set to become a reality and now stands proudly today.
University of Waikato Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Alister Jones notes that TECT’s funding played a significant role in getting the project over the line.
“The funding from TECT was a vital component in the success of the campus. Alongside the funding from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the support of Tauranga City Council in providing the land we have been able to achieve an amazing and iconic building which is delivering tertiary education to students from the Bay.”
Education is the Future
Alister Jones says that the campus will have a huge impact on community and economic development in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty in the years to come.
“The new campus will attract a greater number of students into University study, which will enable them to stay at home in the Bay to study, and be a catalyst for attracting research funding into the region.”
TECT General Manager Wayne Werder says he is excited to see what the future holds for those students that choose to study at the tertiary campus.
“It’s fantastic to see the campus standing today after many years in the making.
“This isn’t a building that will add to the region for just a few years, it will truly make a transformational difference for generations. For those taking that next step in life with their study and career pursuits, the opportunities are endless; it’s an exciting start of an era for Tauranga.”
To learn more about the University of Waikato, Tauranga and the study options available, visit https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/campaigns/tauranga
