The wet winter has delayed work on the new $20.8 million Tauranga Police station but police still expect it to be finished on schedule.
New Zealand Police project manager Annabel Bayes said the superstructure of the building is well underway.
"Progress is going well. With the very wet winter we've had we are slightly delayed but we have a huge number of contractors on site who are making up time rapidly," she said.
"The basement is complete and the ground floor structure is being undertaken over this month."
Construction of the next level will begin towards the end of the month.
In August 2011 Police Minister Judith Collins announced the old Monmouth St building would be demolished to make way for the new one.
The old station was built by the Ministry of Works in 1965 to accommodate 50 staff and 10 police vehicles, but the number of police in Tauranga had grown to about 185 with 60 vehicles, Ms Collins said at the time of her announcement.
``The opening of this new facility won't come soon enough for Tauranga Police,'' said Ms Collins.
Lack of space had resulted in Tauranga police leasing additional buildings to house parts of their operation such as prosecutions, neighbourhood policing teams and various administrative functions.
``The new 3900sq m facility will bring them all together under one roof. This will enable closer co-operation and communication between police groups, a better working environment and better facilities for the public.''
Ms Collins said the project would cost $20,787,000 over the 20-year life of the building, which would be funded from police capital expenditure budgets.
The new facility is expected to open and be fully operational by mid-2013.
Tauranga Police are currently located at 111 3rd Avenue.