Progress on Tauranga tidal steps

Kate Darrow (Independent Art Curator); Morgan Jones (TCC's Project Leader - City Developments); Peri Kohu (Ngai Tamarawaho) and two of the artists Elliot Collins and; David McCracken. Photo/Ruth Keber

Momentum is building on the transformation of Tauranga's waterfront.

Tauranga City Council staff and local leaders yesterday sat down to talk with two of the short-listed artists providing concepts to help revamp the downtown.

Morgan Jones, Tauranga City Council's city developments project leader, met with Peri Kohu, Independent art curator Kate Darrow and two of four short-listed artists Elliot Collins and David McCracken to discuss their thoughts and ideas on what should be added to beautify the area.

The two artists, as well as Marcus McShane and Professor Robert Jahnke, will prepare initial concepts for the new tidal stairs, pier and pontoon which will be constructed this summer.

Ms Darrow said the meeting was a chance for the artists to learn from Mr Kohu and the council about the waterfront and the ideas locals had for it.

Tauranga City Council's city developments project leader Morgan Jones said there had been a huge response to the project with 42 submissions from artists across New Zealand.

Yesterday's meeting was an opportunity for the group to look at the site, get an idea of the context and history of the area and see where ideas could come together.

Mr Jones said it had not been decided if the end result would be a stand alone work of art or something that would be embedded into the actual waterfront project.

Concepts from the artists were due on September 5. Council would deliberate on the ideas and have a final announcement soon after.

The project is hoped to be finished this summer, 2016/17.