People are being invited to have their say on the future on Tauranga’s streets.
A public survey is open until September 30, asking people to share their views on which streets should be prioritised for investment and how they can be made more welcoming, vibrant and easier to move around.
Te Papa Ward Councillor Rod Taylor encouraged everyone with an interest in the city centre to take part.
“Our city is growing quickly and the decisions we make today will shape the streets we enjoy tomorrow,” he said in a council statement.
“Making our streets more inviting and accessible is a key part of that.”
The council is especially keen to hear feedback on Hamilton, Harington, Spring, Wharf, Willow and Grey streets, as well as The Strand.
Urban centres development manager Emily McLean said some of these streets were 30 years old and no longer meeting the needs of a modern city centre.
“We need to make our streets more enjoyable places to spend time – as well as connecting people with all the exciting new developments taking shape in our city centre,” she said.
“Community feedback is really important because it’s going to help guide these upgrades for the next 10 years or so.”
Transport system operations manager Shawn Geard is also keen to hear feedback on the city centre’s trial one-way street system and how to use the extra space beside the single lane.
“We’re proposing to make the one-way street trial permanent because it will help people move more easily around the new civic area, Te Manawataki o Te Papa,” he said.
“Depending on feedback, we can also explore one-way options for The Strand and Grey Street to create more space for dining, events and public life.”
Tauranga City Council is seeking feedback through a survey on its Kōrero Mai - Let’s Talk Tauranga page at letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz.
The page includes other ways to provide feedback, including in-person at STEMFest on September 28.



33 comments
Too Late
Posted on 02-09-2025 07:45 | By Thats Nice
So, the cbd has been ruined with minimal stores remaining and you want our input on how to fix it now - oh please!!! I think it's a bit late, don't you?
Here’s your input
Posted on 02-09-2025 08:00 | By The Sage
Revert to two way streets. Stop all this one way rubbish, it is a further restriction to the small percentage who actually go into the CBD. It is also very confusing for visitors. What is at the back of this is that the Mayor says it would make it easier for people to move around the civic area. I am sure that is the last consideration on most people’s minds. Since when did the Council take feedback into consideration? It will be business as usual.
I've an idea
Posted on 02-09-2025 08:03 | By Saul
Let's stop spending huge money on projects like a Council Building, trim back Council workers,stop paid parking, over priced playgrounds, reduce the DEBT and lower rates for CBD businesses.
Fixed it lol
Feedback Sham
Posted on 02-09-2025 08:11 | By Pundit
Community feedback is a sham. The council do it because they have to. They already know what they are going to do and whatever we say they will do what they want. I want to know what their vision is for the CBD. They don't want cars as they keep making parking impossible and expensive. So, we all shop elsewhere now. They are not cleaning up the busses, so no one is using them. The CBD is dying so let's not waste any more money on it. Pay off debt reduce our rates no one cares about the CBD. The only people making money in the CBD are the ones selling the 'for Lease signs'
Lol
Posted on 02-09-2025 08:19 | By an_alias
Based on all of the past performance you can understand this is your chance for us to tell you what you need. Feedback will be filed under R, as we are too smart and your feedback is only valid if you present the same as us.
Time to cut back on spending council, what planet are you on ?
How about a free Park and Ride for CBD workers
Posted on 02-09-2025 08:38 | By Womby
This would allow the staff who currently have to pay a good portion of their wages to pay to park for the day presently, using parking buildings etc.
Or having to park on the side streets and walking for ages to work, often in bad weather.
I know if it was a choice of working in a suburban centre with staff parking or the CBD which job I would prefer.
Already 'Fixed" !
Posted on 02-09-2025 08:40 | By Equality
What a cheek to ask for feedback on the streets NOW - after the whole city has been turned into the last place shoppers would ever want try to navigate! Leave the mess alone - you can't fix it!! Keep the tiny bit of money you might have left and spend it where you are legally supposed to be spending it - on infrastructure!!
CBD
Posted on 02-09-2025 09:03 | By Kaimai
Council can do whatever they like with the CBD / streets - as they have been doing for years anyway. A survey will have no impact.
WHAT?
Posted on 02-09-2025 09:48 | By Yadick
So you're asking for feedback on the streets. You're going ahead with an unwanted hundreds of millions of dollars spend on a museum and meeting rooms etc that are an utter waste of time, land and money. (A debt burden globally). That the ratepayers have categorically made clear is not wanted or needed. Now you're telling us you haven't got the streets sorted for this grandiose project! WHAT THE HELL!
Such a backward Council.
Pundit (above) puts it perfectly: ". . . Community feedback is a sham. The council do it because they have to. They already know what they are going to do and whatever we say they will do what they want." end quote.
Flogging a dead horse
Posted on 02-09-2025 09:52 | By bigted
Failing CBD's are a world-wide problem for various reasons.
Why TGA council is wanting to put more of our rates money into the area defies any logic, as things have gone too far to save it.
One example of too far is that high-rise building on Elizabeth St that was to be the CBD's saviour. It didn't, despite huge amounts of rates being invested on that street "to beautify it". For the developer. Not us.
Keep flogging on Tauranga Council...
It's done
Posted on 02-09-2025 09:52 | By Duegatti
The "jewel in the crown" should have been the waterfront.
But the Commissars... sorry, Commissioners put an end to that.
A playground, where in Europe, US, even Cairns they build adults playgrounds, restaurants, bars, pools, things that draw in people with money to spend.
We might even have attacted cruise passengers. Imagine that?
But no, not in NZ.
Too sinful.
Yeah right
Posted on 02-09-2025 12:15 | By First Responder
Must be a new Tui add? You've only got to look at the feed back provided for stage 2 of Cameron Road, and you'll get the idea it's not wanted. Same as the CBD. It's a dead hole now, beyond retrieval, sadly, once the thriving hub of the city. All the bright ideas, all the bus lanes, all the big empty buses, all the bike lanes, big ideas, but will never work. What next will the kill.
@Pundit
Posted on 02-09-2025 12:25 | By morepork
An excellent post, which I agree with 100%. Succinct and to the point. You nailed it.
The fact that I am not the only one who feels this way makes me wonder what lenses Council are looking through.
I started thinking what Council could do to rebuild trust and confidence. It's not enough to just ask for people's opinions; they need to be seen to be listening and prepared to acknowledge and implement good ideas, which maybe didn't come from Council.
It's not about WHO's right, it's about WHAT's right.
A very powerful CEO of a major European Corporation once said to me, when I hesitated before presenting some arguments which disagreed with his stated position:
"If I only wanted agreement, Peter, I'd argue with a mirror..."
I never forgot it. I think we have some Councillors who could adopt it.
Public Feedback
Posted on 02-09-2025 12:41 | By morepork
I give points for trying.
There is nothing wrong with the Council's position on seeking feedback.
What is wrong is treating that feedback with contempt, if it isn't congruous with what they have already decided.
Does anybody seriously think they will alter a plan, even if an axiomatically brilliant idea was presented in the feedback? No.
That's what I mean when I say they have lost credibility and public confidence.
And that's why a newsletter and requests for feedback do NOT represent REAL "engagement".
If we had seen wise decisions and serious prioritization of managing OPM and truly cutting waste, instead of failed projects, extraordinarily expensive roading ($100 million for 2 KM of Cameron Road, that hasn't really improved anything, but lost a lot of small businesses...) , and vanity based priorities, we could cut them some slack and trust them.
I see no sign of it so far.
Improving CBD
Posted on 02-09-2025 12:56 | By Leprechaun
Accessibility, Affordable ,Available
3 principles to attract consumers of anything.
I would suggest that the council, ‘brainstorm’ these 3 points in a meeting and just see what comes up, (no discussions, comments at this stage just ideas please!
Go on counsellors give it a go I dare you!
The answers will certainly pop up for more consideration.
Please don't waste our money
Posted on 02-09-2025 13:07 | By earlybird
on upgrading the CBD. It's always empty and nothing will change that now. Malls and online shopping are where people shop these days.
hmmm
Posted on 02-09-2025 13:46 | By Howbradseesit
No none in Tauranga wanted paid parking in the CBD - council went ahead with it anyway. No one wanted a museum (as voted by the referendum) - Council went ahead with it anyway.
Fancy lights have been hung in the trees of Grey st - to what end? They were not necessary and I don't know who is in the CBD at night for them to impress. Currently there is a blank space between Grey st and Durham st that has been fenced off for the last year. I understood this was going to be a green space between the streets for access. Only in Tauranga would such a project take longer than 12 months.
I have no confidence in TCC to act appropriately or efficiently and I certainly do not have any confidence in TCC to care what the rate payers want.
What more can be said?
Posted on 02-09-2025 14:25 | By AuntyMinnie
All the above comments sum it up very well.
The CBD is dead!! Nothing can revive it. The best places to visit now are Florence Bistro and Farmers.
The Council will have to perform a miracle to bring back a vibrant city centre which it is unable to do.
RIP the CBD.
Say what??
Posted on 02-09-2025 16:15 | By drgoon
How much do ratepayers fork out for this fake 'Have your say' hoax. Is it AI generated or does TCC actually have someone on a big salary churning this garbage out regularly.
Consistent
Posted on 02-09-2025 16:19 | By Kancho
All the comments are spot on . So TCC will carry on working in a vacuum of their own planning departments wish list. Seems shoppers and traffic are a terrible inconvenience and need to be eradicated. All too late we didn't want a museum . Council needed a new building but hey we got one we don't own for a horrendous cost . The Tauranga we had and loved us gone so now we all stay in the suburbs unless we have to go to the CBD. May come right but not in my lifetime and as the rates go up and up every year for children and grandchildren to pay off the debt. We had hoped the commissioners leaving that we would see wind back on spending defer or cancel but sadly we are wrong as the bureaucracy lives on.
Busses versus parking fees.
Posted on 02-09-2025 16:44 | By granny41
Perhaps if more of the people complaining on here about the busses were to actually use them to come into the CBD there would be no parking problem and because there are more people in town more shops would open to cater for them. I have lived in this town for 30 years now and have always used the bus into the CBD. Simple no parking problem. I know that the connectivity of the bus routes could be improved but that is not likely to happen unless there is more demand.Come on people use the bus to go to town. Cheap fares,no parking fees,and no parking tickets either.
Bollocks and BS
Posted on 02-09-2025 17:15 | By nerak
Roll on getting intelligent beings to run our broken city, and let that start at the top and filter down. Every day I see more stupidity, selfishness blowing on the hot air that is TCC. I wonder what it feels like to have such anger and disgust aimed at oneself.
Feedback my ass, that is a blatant lie, always had been. Personally, I would be embarrassed to see my name in print spouting crap.
TODAY'S JOKE
Posted on 02-09-2025 17:19 | By glass1/2 full
.... ASKING US NOW - AFTER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO TOTALLY RUIN THE CITY
DON'T BOTHER TAURANGA
Posted on 02-09-2025 21:50 | By sambro
"Have our say"?
Don't waste your time Tauranga people.
Your council will turn a "blind" ear to ANYTHING we have to say (as always) oh, and charge you, us rate payers, around $20,000 + for them to pretend they have an ounce of interest in our opinion.
Why bother granny41
Posted on 03-09-2025 10:01 | By AuntyMinnie
there is very little worth getting on a bus for heading to the CBD!!!
Feedback
Posted on 03-09-2025 10:03 | By Fernhill22
It's funny how TCC only want feedback on the streets that are going to be affected by the White Elephant of the new Civic Precinct.
Here's some feedback-Cameron Road-Absolute disaster & continuing with Stage 2 is madness, closing off certain roads in the CBD at one end-creates confusion & frustration, One Way Street Trial-It's currently an absolute nightmare trying to navigate you way around the CBD.
Biggest issue & frustration for most people is that there is nowhere to park.
No parks=no people
The CBD has become a no-go area now for locals & the Civic Precinct isn't going to change things.
TCC should have gone over to Australia to see how well our neighbours do things over there. They are very good at taking advantage of their waterfronts & beaches to attract locals and tourists to enjoy them, whilst also encouraging businesses to be there.
@granny
Posted on 03-09-2025 10:14 | By Kancho
Well done Granny . I'm pleased you are able to bus into town as you must have plenty of time and don't need to change buses or wait in any weather . You can walk good distances and don't have any quantity of shopping to carry . For me it has to be a car or don't go. If I do I don't mind paying for parking if I can get one close enough to my destination I try very hard to not go like many. I used to go regularly and it was busy and vibrant but sadly no more. I feel sorry for the businesses and the workers who must be there
granny41
Posted on 03-09-2025 10:35 | By Wundrin
Yep, it's a classic chicken and egg situation, although in this case it's more of a "Field of Dreams" scenario - build it and they will come! That movie was also a fantasy.
Kidding Me
Posted on 03-09-2025 16:54 | By Wizard of Waz
Let's get this right. The council has spent the last 6 years disrupting access and businesses in the CBD and now recognizes they have a problem. Roads are still blocked by building sites. Parking has been reduced. The lack of insight is astounding!
Can't believe it
Posted on 03-09-2025 19:11 | By ewafenn
It looks like "everybody" is against -I feel like a lonely voice for improvements! Of course we need that change. I just look at an old ‐2004 -map of Dunefin and they had two major street one way. The same happens in New Plymouth and other cities. Just get use to it!!
@ ewafenn
Posted on 04-09-2025 07:59 | By Yadick
I hear you and you certainly are not alone.
I also am not in any way against change with improvement. I am however against stupidity.
How on earth can Council be going ahead with their museums, meeting rooms etc but not looked at the roading. Why would TCC agree to such an intrusive grandiose city plan but not have considered the roads. Roading should not be a thought on the side.
Improvement - yes definitely.
Stupidity - no absolutely not.
Please explain?
Posted on 04-09-2025 10:14 | By AmandaA
Totally agree feedback waste of time..
Can someone explain why we need a Mayor and Councilors and a CEO to run a city ?
Just can't get my head around it !
Thanks
@earlybird
Posted on 04-09-2025 13:14 | By morepork
You posted a fair statement on how we live at present.
I use malls and online, just as you noted.
But it wasn't always that way. My family arrived in Tauranga in 1959 (from Wellington). I went to TBC and, apart from around 35 years working in Europe (mainly) and other places, I have lived in Tauranga and loved it. I've let my passports expire now and am happy to be home.
Your post reminded me of a time which we may never retrieve. You could go into town for something, park easily, and then take a walk around the arcades and interesting little shops, maybe stop and have lunch or coffee. There was a lively buzz and hum to the city and it was a pleasure to be there.
How did we lose it?
Metered parking was the beginning.
Mismanagement the finish.
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