Four new indoor courts will open this week in Tauranga city centre, providing the community with much-needed space for sport and recreation as the city continues to grow.
The former site of The Warehouse on Cameron Road was purchased by Tauranga City Council in early 2024 and has been converted into a multi-purpose sport and recreation centre featuring indoor sports courts and plenty of parking.
The new venue, named Haumaru, will be managed by Bay Venues on behalf of the Council. It will be called The University of Waikato Haumaru Sport & Recreation Centre.
Haumaru will be home to a wide range of community sports, including basketball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton, netball, and more.
The final finishing touches are being made before the venue opens this weekend. The public will get a chance to check out Tauranga City Council’s newest facility at a Community Fun Day event on Saturday May 10, from 10am-2pm.
The final finishing touches are being made before the venue opens this weekend
The day will feature free activities and games, have-a-go sports sessions, food trucks, and plenty of fun for the kids, including a special play area with an inflatable slide.
The venue will then be open full-time from Monday May 12.
“We are very excited to see this project completed in such a quick turnaround time and look forward to using it,” Jenny Kirk, Manager of Volleyball Tauranga, said.
She said the new facility will help provide more indoor sport opportunities for people of all ages in Tauranga.
“It's been over 10 years since we added indoor court space for our ever-growing community,” Kirk said.
Haumaru will also help host large sports tournaments that come to the city. There will be opportunities for casual bookings and court hire, as well as recreational activities for local schools and the wider community. This will include Tumble Time play sessions for preschoolers and their parents during weekdays.
The final finishing touches are being made before the venue opens this weekend
Helen Richardson, Competitions & Events Manager at Tauranga City Basketball, said it was “very exciting” to have four new courts to use for competitions and tournaments.
“We have been at capacity for many of our competitions, the additional courts will help alleviate some of the strain and creative ways to fit teams and games in,” she said.
“We are excited to be able to offer mid-week adults’ competitions, including a Masters league, that we haven’t been able to due to lack of court space. Huge thank you to Tauranga City Council and Bay Venues for getting this up and running so quickly.”
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale said he’s looking forward to seeing the new community venue full of life when it opens.
“With both our city’s population and participation in indoor sports on the rise, Haumaru is a welcome addition to the network of community facilities across the city,” he said.
“Its central location and ease of access will make this venue a great place for people of all ages and abilities to come together, be active and have fun. It will also contribute to the wider transformation of Tauranga city centre, as we work to make it an even better place for people to live, learn, work and play.”
Bay Venues Chief Executive Chad Hooker commended the Council on its decision to invest in community facilities to cater for a growing population and for having the vision to repurpose an existing building to deliver new courts quickly and cost effectively.
Hooker emphasised the importance of partnership and collaboration in delivering high-quality public amenities.
“The creation of Haumaru has been a combined effort. We’ve worked closely throughout with Tauranga City Council, mana whenua, community sports organisations, Apollo Projects as the main contractor, The University of Waikato, and many other key stakeholders in the city. We are looking forward to celebrating the opening of this new venue with all these partners and the wider community. Please come along and join us.”
The name “Haumaru” was gifted by mana whenua. The name has local significance and also relates to health and wellbeing, which fits with the active sport and recreation activities that will take place in this facility.
The University of Waikato is the naming rights partner for Haumaru, through its commercial partnership with Bay Venues, helping to support the activation and growth of Tauranga’s sports and fitness venues.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Alister Jones said the opening of Haumaru reflects the University’s long-term commitment to Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.
“Tauranga has been our home for more than 30 years, and we are continuing to increase our contribution to the city and region.
“Haumaru is a fantastic new space for people to connect, get active, and enjoy. Its central location, not far from our campus, strengthens the vibrant city centre environment we’re helping to build, offering more opportunities for our students for study, recreation, and connection. We’re proud to be part of Tauranga’s growth and look forward to seeing students and the wider community making the most of the new facility,” Professor Jones said.
| Image caption | The final finishing touches are being made before the venue opens this weekend |