Tauranga risked staying a large but sleepy town if the council failed to make bold decisions, a recent arrival from Los Angeles has warned.
Duncan Catanach, who returned to New Zealand with his family two years ago, said they chose Tauranga because it appeared to have enough city attributes while retaining the advantage of easier living and proximity to the outdoors.
He delivered a thought-provoking submission on the council's $71 million civic heart project which included spending $64 million on a council administration building.
Like other speakers during the three days of hearings, he said that Tauranga was at a critical juncture in its history.
"I sometimes think that Tauranga is resting on its laurels with its superb access to outdoors and mellow climate." However he cautioned that these characteristics were not truly distinguishing or unique to Tauranga.
The Mount Maunganui resident, whose job put him in touch with Bay exporters, likened the city to a teenager. "It has grown physically more than it has grown up emotionally...the city needs to make a choice on what it wants to be when it grows up."