Gate Pā Community Centre

We’re building a community centre to create a safe, welcoming and flexible space for the communities of Gate Pā.

The 500m2 building will be complemented by great outdoor spaces that will meet the needs of the community now and in the future.

The Gate Pā Community Centre will be more than just a physical building. It’s about creating a central hub where the communities of Gate Pā can gather, feel safe, welcomed, develop new friendships and learn new skills.

The community centre will be something the community can own and be proud of, and becomes part of their identity. It will support the community to enhance their own wellbeing and create a more connected and inclusive community.

Everyone will be able to use the community centre. The community centre will provide a variety of professional services and advice; community programmes and events; multi-purpose rooms; a computer/digital hub, a kitchen for food preparation, kaumatua services, and a community noticeboard.

Engagement with interested individuals and organisations, mana whenua and the Gate Pā community

Engagement with interestered individuals and organisation, mana whenua and the Gate Pā community.

The community, mana whenua and interested individuals and organisations have had a direct say in the location and design of the facility, preferred management and governance model, and identifying areas of needs and opportunities. The engagement, through a series of co-design workshops, is ongoing and is working really well.

Proposed location of the Gate Pā Community Centre (near Anzac Park)

The proposed location of the community centre is adjacent to Anzac Park, on land that Accessible Properties is making available for the project to support the community outcomes. Anzac Park is central to the community and within walking distance to key places and amenities such as schools, early childhood centres, churches, health facilities, parks and reserves.

Proposed plan for the Gate Pā Community Centre

Council and the parties involved (including the communities of Gate Pā, mana whenua, interested individuals and organisations; and Accessible Properties) are working through next steps, including finalising the design, funding, and the preferred management and governance model.

Gate Pā Community Centre approved concept design (1.8mb pdf)

Gate Pā Community Centre ground floor plan (2.3mb pdf)

What you’ve told us

Wordle results from the engagement (63kb pdf)

In 2019 we asked the communities of Te Papa Peninsula, including Gate Pā, what they valued about their neighbourhoods, what they would like to change and what they would like to see in the future to help inform the Te Papa Spatial Plan:

In particular, the people of Gate Pā told us they wanted a community centre.

Te Papa Peninsula survey results (54kb pdf)

In 2020 the Whakahou Taketake Vital Update - Tauranga survey asked the people of Gate Pā and Merivale about their neighbourhood aspirations.

11 per cent of respondents said they wanted more community facilities/recreational opportunities for families/community events.

Gate Pa, Merivale digital dashboard

To help us decide what the future of community centres could look like, in 2021 we undertook a series of surveys to find out more about what’s currently working well, what could work better or what’s missing to meet the needs of our growing city.

Half of respondents wanted to see more community centres in Tauranga

63% of respondents who are part of ethnic communities wanted to see more community centres in Tauranga, including 28% who live in Gate Pā.

64% of respondents who identify as Pacific Peoples wanted to see more community centres in Tauranga, including 56% who live in Gate Pā.

Community centre engagement (736kb pdf)

Community Centres AIP