Haumaru Sport Centre opens in Tauranga with public open day

Tauranga City Council Te Papa Ward councillor Rod Taylor and Bay Venues general manager of community facilities Paul Dunphy inside Haumaru, the new indoor courts on Cameron Road. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Tauranga‘s new $28 million University of Waikato Haumaru Sport and Recreation Centre is celebrating its opening with a family-friendly open day this weekend.

Bay Venues spokesman Scott Yeoman said the open day, which runs on Saturday from 10am to 2pm, will feature free activities and games, have-a-go sports sessions, food trucks and plenty of fun for the kids, including a special play area with an inflatable slide.

The facility will be home to a wide range of community sports including basketball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton and netball.

Yeoman said Haumaru would host large sports tournaments such as the Aims Games.

The venue has a capacity of 1500 people. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“There will be opportunities for casual bookings and court hire, as well as recreational activities for local schools and the wider community.

“This will include Tumble Time play sessions for preschoolers and their parents during weekdays.”

The centre has four basketball-size courts with maple hardwood sports flooring from Canada. The size can accommodate three netball courts, 13 pickleball/badminton courts, or six volleyball courts.

“For large tournaments, we can change the line markings to increase the number of badminton/pickleball courts to 17,” Yeoman said.

Curtains could be hung between courts for tournaments.

“The name Haumaru was gifted by mana whenua. The name has local significance and also relates to health and wellbeing, which fits with the active sport and recreation activities that will take place in this facility,” Yeoman said.

The Warehouse to indoor courts

The building was originally owned and operated as The Warehouse, but closed last year when Tauranga City Council bought the property.

The total cost of the venue to Tauranga City Council and Bay Venues was about $28m.

Te Papa ward councillor Rod Taylor said the initial plan was to build a brand-new indoor court facility of this scale at Memorial Park, which was estimated to cost more than $40 million.

“Talking about being The Warehouse, we really did get a bargain,” Taylor said.

“It’s a win-win, really.”

Yeoman said the cost included the price of the land, the building, all improvements and construction work, and all equipment.

“Not only does this development save more than $10m but the city now also owns a new piece of land in downtown Tauranga that it didn’t have before, which had been valued at $12.5m.”

There are still a few finishing touches being done before the venue opens officially for the Community Fun Day on Saturday. Photo / Scott Yeoman

“The construction time – after prep works, demolition and consenting – was about six months,” Yeoman said.

Bay Venues general manager of community facilities Paul Dunphy said when the centre was purchased it was still full of shelving from The Warehouse.

“We’ve taken everything out, made it one big open space, put a sports floor down, earthquake strengthened the building… refurbed it and made it usable.”

Demand for more courts

With a population growth of 40%, Taylor said there weren’t enough courts to serve the whole city.

Dunphy said his youngest child wasn’t able to play an indoor sport this year because the teams were full for his age group.

“This centre will have the space to create new classes and leagues so more people can play indoor sports.”

Yeoman said a group of adult basketballers have been wanting to create a master’s league, but haven’t had the courts.

“This will allow them to start.”

Haumaru will also help host large sports tournaments that come to the city. Photo / Scott Yeoman

“The unique thing with this one is it’s not a commercial area,” Taylor said.

“It’s in the central city which is crucial to what we’re trying to do.”

The changes to Cameron Rd meant there was a direct bus route and cycle lanes to the venue.

“There’s loads of schools down here too, and they’re loving it because they can just come across,” Dunphy said.

Impact on the area

Yeoman said the council had visited nearby businesses with information about the new facility.

“They are really excited because they’re going to have hundreds of people in here playing sports, going to cafes, going to get some sushi, going to Pak’n Save. They’re really excited about it as well.”

There were 220 on-site carparks, including 170 underground, 40 in the upper carpark, and 10 on-street car parks in front of the venue which were restricted to an hour.

Bay Venues general manager of community facilities Paul Dunphy taking a shot before the open day on Saturday. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Dunphy said the on-site parking will be free for venue users. Non-venue users had to pay for use.

He said this meant commuters would have access to about 170 more paid parking spots in the CBD.

Amenities included 15 public toilets on the ground floor with four accessible bathrooms with toilets and showers, plus a tournament room and two changing rooms with two showers in each.

There is an accessible ramp into the venue from 10th Ave and the underground carpark, and accessible parking both in the upper and underground carparks.