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Construction of Tauranga’s new fire station is expected to begin around May next year

The search is now on for a main contractor to build it adjacent to the existing site.

Sarah Sinclair, Fire and Emergency deputy chief executive of asset and programme delivery, said the organisation was seeking an experienced main contractor to construct a new “fit-for-purpose” modern six-bay composite station.

The site is adjacent to the current station at 193-195 Cameron Road.

Sinclair said the new station would be approximately 1345sq m split over two floors, and house six fire appliances.

Career and volunteer firefighters would operate from the new facility.

“Cost efficiency features have also been integrated into the [new build] design, including solar energy systems and rainwater harvesting.”

Sinclair said construction was expected to begin around May 2026 and conclude in late 2027.

“While typical construction for this type of build would take between 12 and 24 months, the exact programme length will be confirmed once procurement is completed, and the selected main contractor is engaged.”

Tauranga’s construction sector was experiencing “strong activity”, and the project would adopt an “open‑market" tender approach.

Fire and Emergency NZ released a Registration of Interest (ROI) on the Government’s Electronic Tender Service, which opened on December 10 and would close on January 21, Sinclair said.

Shortlisted contractors would then be invited to take part in a Request for Proposal stage once the ROI tender submissions had been assessed, she said.

“At this stage, we are unable to provide the budget for the station, as this information is commercially sensitive.

“The total cost of the new build project will not be confirmed until the procurement process has been completed.”

Sinclair said this marked the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Tauranga Station.

“Once the new facility is operational, Fire and Emergency will consider options for the current station site, which provide value to our levy payers and communities.”

Temporary security fencing erected around at-risk portions of the earthquake-prone Tauranga Fire Station building. Photo / Sandra Conchie

Earthquake-prone Tauranga station

The 1957-built station was ruled earthquake-prone by the Tauranga City Council in 2019.

Parts of it had a seismic risk rating of only 18% of the New Building Standard for buildings of high importance during major hazard events - considered a significant seismic risk under the Building Act.

The NZ Professional Firefighters Union (PFU) has pushed to have the station evacuated and rebuilt, amid concerns that parts of the building were at “significant risk of collapse”.

When Fire and Emergency indicated it wanted to rebuild the station in 2028/29, the union pushed for it to begin sooner after a complete rebuild was approved by the FENZ board in 2022.

Fire and Emergency NZ earlier said “stringent” assessments of the station found bracing and cladding issues, but “no life safety risk”.

Mike Swanson, Tauranga secretary of the NZ Professional Firefighters Union, near the most at-risk part of the Tauranga Fire Station. Photo / Sandra Conchie

PFU’s response to rebuild sign-off

Mike Swanson, senior firefighter and PFU Tauranga secretary, said the rebuild had been a “very long time coming, too long”.

“However, we are grateful that all the hard work highlighting the dangers inherent in the existing building has finally been recognised.

“Our regional property manager, Jason Thom, has worked tirelessly to get this project off the ground for us all and deserves plaudits for his tenacity.

“We will continue to work alongside local management to ensure a smooth and delay-free transition to this new build.”