One of Tauranga’s most historic public spaces is getting a facelift, with work underway to improve access, protect significant trees and enhance the entrance to Wharepai Domain.

The Tauranga City Council-approved project focuses mainly on the domain’s perimeter along Hamilton St, Cameron Rd and Chapel St, with improvements designed to make the reserve easier to access while supporting the growing number of sporting events and community gatherings held there.

“The overall goal of this project is to make the domain a more attractive entrance to the city that people can access more easily, with fewer road closures for events,” the council’s head of spaces and places Ross Hudson said.

While much of the work centres on footpaths, parking, fencing and accessways, the project also recognises the rich history of a reserve that has served Tauranga for more than 150 years.

Wharepai Domain in Tauranga is undergoing an upgrade.

Among Wharepai Domain’s most significant heritage features are the 1921 War Memorial Gates, recognised as a Category 2 Historic Place, and the 1916 marble statue of Canon Charles Jordan. The former Holy Trinity vicar and nine-time Mayor of Tauranga remains the only person commemorated by a public statue in the Bay of Plenty.

Wharepai Domain traces its origins to December 1873, when the former 68th Durham Light Infantry parade ground was set aside as a public domain. Additional land was added in subsequent decades to create the reserve known today as Tauranga and Wharepai Domain.

The southern portion takes its name from Wharepai, the home and boarding house of Kataraina and David Asher, once located on the corner of Hamilton St and Cameron Rd.

Over time the reserve evolved from grazed paddocks into Tauranga’s premier sports and events venue, home to rugby, cricket, athletics, tennis, croquet and bowls, while also hosting concerts, festivals and community events.

The Charles Jordan statue at Wharepai/Tauranga Domain. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

The council said the current project was designed to respect these historic and cultural values.

“Archaeological authority has been granted, and the consent application included an archaeologist’s assessment. There are known archaeological features on and surrounding the reserve. We do not plan to disturb these during works,” Hudson said.

The project is being implemented with involvement of Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Ngāti Tapu and Ngāi Tukairangi.

Aerial image of Wharepai Domain showing the planned upgrade.

“In collaboration with [the] three hapū, a pre-work blessing was held prior to work starting, and we have refurbished the pou on the corner of Hamilton St and Cameron Rd,” Hudson said.

“Hapū are supporting through physical works, providing cultural and earthwork monitoring and will be invited to bless the site after the construction of the project.”

One of the reserve’s defining landscape features – the avenue of century-old pūriri trees along Cameron Rd – will receive added protection. Hudson said the trees were a unique and valued part of Tauranga’s landscape.

The Charles Jordan statue at Wharepai/Tauranga Domain. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

“It is important to protect these historic trees for the people of Tauranga. The project includes condition assessments of the trees and construction will follow protocols set in a tree protection plan.”

The project also included replacing ageing cypress trees along Hamilton St.

“The cypress trees were removed partly because of safety concerns. The branches on these trees were growing horizontally, making them prone to break and fall in high wind as evident in the April 19 cyclone,” Hudson said. “We intend to replant a mix of native and exotic trees along Hamilton St as part of this project.”

Wharepai/Tauranga Domain Stage 1 Concept Design. Image / Tauranga City Council

The wider vision for Wharepai Domain extends beyond the works, Hudson said. “Wharepai Domain falls within the city centre’s Sports and Events Precinct – a place for the people of Tauranga to gather for sports and events, and to exercise and enjoy public open space.”

The works were concentrated around the domain’s edges rather than its internal recreational facilities. Planned improvements included wider footpaths, improved accessibility, safer vehicle access for events, renewed fencing and upgraded parking areas that better protect the pūriri trees.

The first stage of work, including Hamilton St upgrades and frontage fencing renewals, was expected to be complete by mid-August. Timeframes for the remaining tree pit and parking improvements will be confirmed as planning progresses.

Wharepai Domain in numbers:

Established as a public domain in 1873

Canon Charles Jordan statue in 1916

War Memorial Gates in 1921

Home to a century-old avenue of pūriri trees

Hosts events of up to 9000 people