Catherine Stewart Tauranga City Councillor

Tourism Bay of Plenty is looking at building a new iSite at Mount Maunganui.

Looking back, the elected members of the day were unaware Tourism BOP wanted to close the old iSite at the Mount. There was no discussion at Tauranga City Council on the proposed closure.

Moving forward, the opportunity exists to have a cultural centre-i Site at Coronation Park. This would be the perfect gateway for passengers exiting the cruise ships. The opportunity exists for collaboration between councils, Tourism BOP, The Port of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and iwi to create a cultural centre-iSite Tauranga can be proud of.

Coronation Park needs to be utilised as an exit point from the port for passengers departing on tours. Cruise ship tour operators need somewhere safe where they can embark and disembark their guests. Because of the annual growth in cruise ship passenger numbers, the current arrangements are well past their use-by date.

Planning now will ensure the increase in growth from cruise ship passengers will be met in a manner that befits one of the most beautiful ports of call in the world.