Tauranga City Council’s decision to sell the Marine Precinct has drawn citywide criticism amid unanswered questions and developer silence, reports David Porter
The controversial Marine Precinct at Sulphur Point in Tauranga with its distinctive travel lift. Photo: Ulrich Lange, Creative Commons.
The sale of Marine Precinct, next to the Tauranga Harbour Bridge, has gone through yet its future remains cloaked in silence.
Will it truly become the superyacht refit haven its developers promised in court earlier this year, when Pacific 7, a marine services operator, unsuccessfully tried to stop the sale? Or will the vision fade into uncertainty?
When The News reached out to developer Rupert Curry, he offered no clarity on when plans would be unveiled, construction begins, or images shared.
“The challenge is it’s still going through the consultation process at the moment with a few people.”
Later, in a brief text message, Curry added: “I’m unable to provide any comment at this stage, but when we have an update to release, I’ll be sure to include yourself.”
His refusal to elaborate has only deepened the mystery, leaving the waterfront project drifting in speculation.
“Yet beyond the legalities, unease hangs over the precinct like a shadow.”
Tauranga City Council sold the precinct, nearly three hectares of harbour-facing land, for $13.987 million in May last year.
The sale included a large travel lift – a self-propelled, straddle-like crane used in marine operations to lift vessels out of the water for maintenance, repair, or storage – and the Vessel Works business.
The settlement figure was well below independent valuations that placed its worth closer to $23 million.
The sale was negotiated under government-appointed commissioners and finalised before Tauranga’s newly elected council took office in August.
Sam Ufffindell: “a terrible outcome for ratepayers.”
Critics, including Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell, have condemned the deal as a “terrible outcome for ratepayers,” pointing to the closed tender process and the council’s commitment of further millions to the developer.
“(The council) sold an asset significantly below market value in a closed tender process and then committed to funding the developer tens of millions more,” he says.
“Unfortunately for the people of Tauranga, the commissioners thought it okay to subject Tauranga ratepayers to a significant financial loss through a closed tender process in order to make up for a huge funding shortfall on their Civic Precinct project.”
Deputy mayor Jen Scoular confirmed the sale was binding, citing legal advice that prevented the new council from overturning the commissioners’ contract.
Marine Precinct. Photo: Vesselworks
Yet beyond the legalities, unease hangs over the precinct like a shadow.
The final decision was made behind closed doors.
The conditions attached to the sale remain opaque.
And while Canterbury developers Curry and Sam Rofe have spoken of transforming the site into a superyacht refit destination, doubts linger about whether the precinct can ever fulfil that vision – not least because larger vessels may struggle to pass beneath the nearby Harbour Bridge.
Stakeholders in Tauranga’s fishing fleet, once promised support, now fear being sidelined. Former councillor John Robson says the promise made in 2015 has not been kept. Erika Harvey, a long-time critic of the sale, warns that the local fleet could be left adrift.
For now, the Marine Precinct sits in limbo – a harbourfront asset sold at a discount, its future obscured by silence. The developers are not speaking, the council insists its hands are tied, and the community is left to wonder whether anything will emerge at all – or whether silence will remain the only answer.
Marine Precinct. Photo: Vesselworks
