{"id":287044,"date":"2026-02-16T18:01:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T18:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/287044\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T18:01:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T18:01:30","slug":"sunlive-unis-ambitious-plans-to-grow-tauranga-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/287044\/","title":{"rendered":"SunLive – Uni’s ‘ambitious plans’ to grow Tauranga campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Waikato has made significant property deals in Tauranga as it progresses \u201cambitious plans\u201d to grow its Durham St campus.<\/p>\n

The university has bought the nearby Bongard Centre<\/a> and soon-to-be-former<\/a> Craigs Investment Partners building on Cameron Rd, Senior Vice-Chancellor Alister Jones said.<\/p>\n

It was weighing how it would use the buildings, considering a mix of teaching, research and student-focused activities.<\/p>\n

It has also secured long-term leases on two other sites within walking distance, earmarked for almost 300 new student accommodation beds.<\/p>\n

Jones said the university had \u201cambitious plans\u201d for the campus and shared a long-term goal with its partners of seeing Tauranga recognised as a \u201cuniversity city\u201d.<\/p>\n

The $55 million campus opened in 2019<\/a>, but the Covid-19 pandemic slowed its growth.<\/p>\n

Jones said it was now back on its feet and in \u201ca strong growth phase\u201d.<\/p>\n

Jones said the university was in \u201cearly planning discussions with partners and developers\u201d about the new accommodation projects.<\/p>\n

Up to 60 beds were expected to be ready for occupation at 146 Durham St from late 2027 in a converted existing commercial building.<\/p>\n

\"University

\nUniversity of Waikato Deputy Vice-Chancellor Alister Jones leads development of the Tauranga campus. <\/p>\n

This was set to be followed by a 220-bed development of purpose-built student accommodation at 219-221 Cameron Rd, targeted for completion in 2029.<\/p>\n

These would add to the university\u2019s current offerings of six three-bedroom flats at Durham Mews and 91 studio rooms in its $20m Selwyn Street Studios<\/a> building, which opened in 2021.<\/p>\n

Jones said having more students living in the city centre would \u201cmassively\u201d change the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing more students into the heart of Tauranga supports local businesses, adds energy and diversity to the city, and strengthens Tauranga\u2019s identity as a place to live, learn and build a career.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The

\nThe Selwyn Street Studios. Photo \/ George Novak<\/p>\n

Data provided by the university showed it had 1523 full-time and part-time students enrolled last year, equating to 962 equivalent full-time students (EFTS).<\/p>\n

This was an increase of about 90 on the prior three years, when EFTS had remained relatively flat.<\/p>\n

Jones said student satisfaction surveys showed the university was rated \u201cway above the national or the global benchmarks \u2026 \u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re operating at 93% student satisfaction, which is pretty high.\u201d<\/p>\n

The university had 120 staff based at the Tauranga campus, and eight new staff joined at the start of this year.<\/p>\n

Further appointments were expected as programmes and activities continued to grow throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Jones said the focus was on \u201cstrengthening the campus as part of the city centre rather than rapid physical expansion\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cExpansion will occur primarily through growth in academic programmes, research activity and industry partnerships, alongside gradual development of facilities and city-integrated spaces that support learning and student life.\u201d<\/p>\n

It planned to progressively introduce new or expanded programmes, particularly in areas linked to regional growth sectors, business and community needs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

New programmes planned across 2026-28 included:<\/p>\n


\n\tMaster of Construction Management and Master of Engineering Practice Civil (construction) and Mechanical (robotics)
\n\tExpansion of health programmes, including Biomedical Science minor, Certificate of Health Science, Bachelor of Sport and Human Performance\u200b
\n\tEducation: Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood), Master of Social Work Practice and Master of Teaching and Learning\u200b
\n\tPsychology and Law –\u00a0Masters in Coastal Planning and Management\u200b
\n\tExpanding Bachelor of Business and MBA, Master of Management in Marketing and Fintech. <\/p>\n

Jones said Waikato wanted to offer a package deal of lifestyle, good education, work-integrated learning, and job opportunities outside of study.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur long-term vision is for a campus fully integrated with the city, and that relies on working closely with our partners across Tauranga, including iwi, Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, industry and community organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones said the university had workshopped what it would take to make Tauranga a \u201cuniversity city\u201d, from a CBD perspective, with the councils, TECT, developers, and business executives.<\/p>\n

To avoid replicating resources, the new Tauranga Library<\/a> would also serve as the university library.<\/p>\n

The university would work with the CBD\u2019s justice precinct – where a new court<\/a> will be built – to support the teaching of law; local schools for teacher education, and health providers for medicine education.<\/p>\n

The aim was to make Tauranga a welcoming city for international and domestic students.<\/p>\n

The university had invested in marketing campaigns aiming to attract international students.<\/p>\n

\"University

\nUniversity of Waikato Tauranga director of campus development and operations Joseph Macfarlane. <\/p>\n

The university\u2019s director of Tauranga campus development and operations, Joseph Macfarlane, said there had only been a \u201csprinkling\u201d of international students previously, but the campus had welcomed a cohort of 20 education students for the upcoming semester.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping to welcome another cohort of international students in our Master of Marketing programme that starts in B trimester.\u201d<\/p>\n

He estimated there would be around 50 international students over the two semesters.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The university was also promoting Tauranga\u2019s lifestyle benefits.<\/p>\n

\"The

\nThe poutokomanawa in the university atrium carved by Whare Joseph Thompson. Photo \/ George Novak <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also looking into the city as a sort of extended playground for students,\u201d Macfarlane said.<\/p>\n

Students enjoyed surfing after class, and being near the inner-harbour and beaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really trying to sell a package.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tauranga Mayor Mah\u00e9 Drysdale said the campus expansion was \u201cexciting to see\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncreasing student numbers, new programmes, and ongoing precinct development are adding to the momentum of our city centre\u2019s revitalisation and provide a strong case for Tauranga to be recognised as a \u2018university city\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"

\nTauranga Mayor Mah\u00e9 Drysdale. Photo \/ Brydie Thompson<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s growth was key to achieving the council\u2019s goal of Tauranga being a city that attracts and supports business and educational opportunities, creating jobs and developing a skilled workforce.<\/p>\n

Drysdale said, personally, he never had the choice to stay in Tauranga to gain a tertiary education as a youth, so it was great to see people growing up in the city now – including his children – having that option.<\/p>\n

Ayla Yeoman<\/a> is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.<\/p>\n

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.<\/p>\n

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