Te Rapunga Ora ki Te Papa establishes a spatial framework for the transformation of Tauranga’s city centre into a place to live, work, learn and play. Commissioned by Tauranga City Council, the masterplan integrates the Tauranga Moana Waterfront, Te Manawataki o Te Papa Civic Precinct, revised movement networks and strategic development opportunities into a cohesive urban structure.

The framework is grounded in deep analysis of the Te Papa Peninsula’s geology, ecology and cultural histories. Landscape systems - coastal edge, ridgelines and open space networks - inform the structure of growth and movement. Four key urban moves organise the city centre: the north–south ‘Waterfront’ connection; the ‘Green Necklace’ - a continuous 7km walking and cycling circuit; a ‘Slow Centre’ of fine-grain, pedestrian-priority streets; and a ‘Civic Heart’ that consolidates culture, community and hospitality.

Urban and Public Realm Design Guidelines translate this structure into spatial character and implementation tools. Four distinct precincts - Waterfront, Civic Centre, City Centre and City Fringe - are defined through a cohesive design language and performance criteria, guiding future public realm investment and private development.

The Tauranga City Centre Masterplan operates as urban operating system - aligning waterfront renewal, movement transformation and civic life into one integrated framework. It establishes a resilient, connected and distinctly Tauranga model for urban evolution.