Courses at the new campus deliver new career options. Photo / Shutterstock
Courses at the new campus deliver new career options. Photo / Shutterstock
In less than five years Tauranga will have its own university campus, promising courses linked directly to local industry and a huge boost for the Bay of Plenty’s economy. Michele Hunter investigates what a university in the heart of the CBD will mean for Tauranga.
THE biggest, most influential and positive change in the history of post-World War II Tauranga is how developer Paul Adams describes the landmark decision to build a university campus in the central city.
As the fifth largest city in the country, Tauranga needs to offer its school-leavers tertiary options at the highest level, he told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.
Courses at the new campus would deliver new career options and allow young people to remain in Tauranga and contribute to the growth and wealth of the region, he said.
"These career opportunities will help lift the status of Tauranga, both in professional careers, average wages and the flow-on effect to the economy."
Mr Adams, who is on the University of Waikato Council, said the arrival of the campus would see city retail, hospitality, accommodation, arts, culture and sports go through a "modern re-birth".
"A new university campus will be the greatest one-off event to happen in Tauranga and will be the catalyst for economic, cultural, sporting and job creating growth, re-positioning Tauranga to not only be the best climate to live in, but truly the best business environment."
The region's live, work and play tagline would become more meaningful, he said.
Mr Adams, who is also chairman of the newly-formed Tauranga Civic Amenities Group which aims to scope out and prioritise the key amenities needed by the city, said the campus would be a catalyst to other city amenities becoming a reality.
"A new stadium in the city, suitable for winter sports and concerts, will be even more viable with a CBD student contingent. Art gallery, cultural centre, museum and student theatre activities will all become more viable and affordable."
Over the past 25 years Tauranga's "retirement village" and "$10 Tauranga" reputations had started to fade - but not fast enough due to the lack of a vehicle to boost career and employment opportunities, he said.
Priority One chief executive Andrew Coker.
Priority One chief executive Andrew Coker said a new campus in the city would increase the viability of an international hotel, a conference centre and student accommodation in the city. Retail and hospitality businesses would also benefit, he said.
Closer relationships between local business and the university would increase opportunities for research and development and high value products and services.
"We will also retain our young people and attract more young people to the Western Bay to study," he said.
University of Waikato deputy vice-chancellor Professor Alister Jones said the Tauranga campus would open its doors to students in late 2019 or early 2020 - at the latest.
The heads of agreement had been signed by members of the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Partnership and the next step was to sign a contract with a developer and a lease agreement on the purpose-built building in Durham St.
The campus' official name was yet to be decided but would include the words 'University and Tauranga', he said.
Teams to consider stakeholder engagement, design and architecture were also being established and the university was working with private companies to consider new or renovated student accommodation in the city. Options would exist for both graduate and undergraduate students, he said.
The new campus was expected to generate $133 million annually in regional revenue and more than 600 extra jobs by completion.
Mr Jones said the mix of students would consist of international students, those moving from one of the courses offered by the other three tertiary institutions and others enrolling in programmes not offered in Hamilton.
"I think it will add to the vibrancy of the CBD and add value to the community," he told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.
Waikato University added one billion dollars to the New Zealand economy, he said.
Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby said the university would benefit the entire Bay of Plenty region.
"This will be quite strategic in linking the courses into our current industry," he said.
The courses, in logistics and robotics, food technology, marine and horticulture would compliment existing tertiary offerings in Tauranga and the university's Titanium Industry Development Association facility which opened at the polytech's Windermere campus in 2010, he said.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce interim chief executive Toni Palmer said the university campus would evolve the city centre.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce interim chief executive Toni Palmer said the university campus would evolve the city centre.
"It will change a lot of the seasonality experienced by Tauranga by keeping young people in the area throughout the year," she said.
Mrs Palmer also anticipated a change in the retail mix as the CBD adapted to the new demographic created by the campus.
"We should look at examples from other city campus areas to see what works so we can capitalise, and what mistakes we can avoid by planning in advance."
Priority One strategic projects manager Greg Simmonds said the University of Waikato-led campus was a Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Partnership initiative.
"The campus will support and complement the existing range of post-secondary education provision already provided by the other partners in the region. Together, the four institutions are working closely with regional agencies such as SmartGrowth and Priority One to more closely align provision with industry skill requirements and community needs," he said.
Bay businesses would benefit from having access to a network of tertiary and research provision and graduates across the region to suit their specific needs and requirements, he said.
Hospitality New Zealand regional manager Alan Sciascia said an inner city campus would have a positive impact on a struggling city centre.
"This is certainly going to bring more people in to the CBD and that is currently sadly lacking people. You've only got to look at the number of closed premises, there's not enough customers."
The university would also encourage more people to live in the CBD but bars may not benefit from the student drinking culture of the past, he said.
There had been a shift in the drinking habits in the past five to 10 years. "Generally speaking people are drinking less in a retail environment."
It was common for customers to buy one or two drinks in a night club, occasionally two or three, he said. The same applied at bars and restaurants. Pre-loading before heading out for the night was common.
"I don't see that (the campus) as a huge boost to nightclubs. I see that as a general benefit to the city for all sorts of reasons. People need food, accommodation, clothing, it will bring more customers."
Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell said the university would result in more of Tauranga's young people extending their education.
Each year about 100 students - the largest percentage of the college's school leavers - went on to study in Tauranga.
Having a larger campus, offering more courses, would encourage more local young people to focus and extend their education beyond school, he said. "It's like having another carrot."
It would also make tertiary study more affordable for families with students able to continue living at home rather than pay for hostels or flatting.
"Keeping them in town is good for the family unit," he said.
The university would see a rise in house prices and hospitality as well as offering mature students the chance to begin or return to study.
"I think it's going to raise the level of opportunity in our town. I think it's a win-win for everybody," he said.
Bay of Connections (regional growth strategy) portfolio manager Cheryl MacGregor said the Government's Bay of Plenty Regional Growth Study projected the campus could increase the region's GDP by 1 per cent, with Tauranga and surrounding areas benefiting from higher skill levels, industry-tertiary research and productivity.
"Having an educated and skilled workforce is critical to improving productivity and incomes in the Bay of Plenty."
Chloe Logan, left, and Ella Hayley. Photo / Andrew Warner
Duo keen to remain
Two students from Otumoetai College would gladly take the opportunity to gain a tertiary level qualification at home instead of leaving the Bay.
Chloe Logan (pictured left) and Ella Hayley, both 13, will be Year 13 a year before the new university is expected to launch in 2020.
Both said it would be great to study in Tauranga which would keep costs down. "It's a good idea, you don't have to pay as much for rent and costs because you can just stay home," Chloe said.
Ella said: "It would be good to not move away and spend more money."
Chloe would like to be a psychiatrist and Ella was keen to study business.
Ella said their career interests were considered when looking at local colleges.
They were both aware of people leaving the Bay to study but said Tauranga would be booming if people stayed or moved to the Bay.
They agreed a Tauranga university would keep younger people in the Bay as opposed to moving out of town to gain qualifications.
Tertiary Education Commission will fund lecturers and staff
Which tertiary institutions are involved? The University of Waikato Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi (Whakatane) Waiariki Institute of Technology (Rotorua)
Which programmes will be available? Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Marine Studies Logistics General programmes are still being decided on.
