New Tauranga Police Station to be built on existing site

Planning is underway for a new purpose-built Tauranga Police Station which is to be built on the current site in Monmouth Street, Tauranga. The new station is expected to be fully operational around mid-2013.

The Tauranga-based project director for New Zealand Police, Annabel Bayes, says the design process for the new station is currently underway, with that phase of the project expected to be complete by the end of 2011.

Ms Bayes says an open tender process will be held in late 2011 or early 2012 to select the building contractor, with construction expected to start in early 2012.

She says the construction period is expected to take approximately 15 months.

The Western Bay of Plenty Police Area Commander, Inspector Mike Clement, says the new station is an important development – for staff as well as for the wider community.

"This is a busy Police area, and the way we operate has changed significantly over the past 10 years – let alone since the existing building was first opened more than 40 years ago."

Inspector Clement says Tauranga Police will continue to be fully operational during the construction of the new station.

"We are committed to maintaining our service levels to Tauranga and the wider Western Bay of Plenty Police Area during this period, with the details of how we will do that being worked through at the moment."