Tauranga's Baypark speedway lease extended to 2039
Photo:
Andrew Warner
Speedway will continue to race at Baypark in Tauranga giving the sport "certainty and longevity".
Councillors approved extending Speedway Racing Ltd's lease at Mercury Baypark Stadium until 2039 at a Tauranga City Council meeting this week.
Speedway's current lease was set to end in 2029.
Baypark Speedway manager Melissa Webb told Local Democracy Reporting they were "absolutely pleased and grateful" for the council's decision.
"Securing the future of speedway at Baypark until 2039 gives us real certainty and longevity.
"We're looking forward to building on that for the good of the sport, competitors, and fans alike."
Under the agreement, Speedway Racing would buy the north stand of 15,600 seats for $1, maintain and upgrade it, while leasing the land from the council through the facilities arm, Bay Venues.
The council would retain ownership of the land and the north stand would be returned to the council at the end of the lease for $1.
The council consulted on the lease proposal in June and received 3527 responses, with half of these from Tauranga residents.
Of those responses, 90 percent supported speedway staying at the stadium and 10 percent did not support it.
Speedway will buy and maintain the curved north stand at Baypark Stadium.
Photo:
NZME
Mana whenua Ngā Pōtiki opposed the proposal because of concerns about noise, traffic, pollution and the best use of the space.
Their submission favoured the lease not being renewed beyond 2029 and for the land to be used to support whānau wellbeing, youth development, and inclusive community engagement.
Speaking in the meeting's public forum on Monday, Bay of Plenty Speedway Association vice-president Barry Andrews said the organisation would be investing several millions that would otherwise be a cost to the council.
"There will be next to no impact on Tauranga City ratepayers. Speedway will continue to entertain with its racing, fireworks, and other events.
Bay of Plenty Speedway Association vice president Barry Andrews.
Photo:
Alisha Evans
"Fourteen years of no cost to ratepayers and the council gets the North Stand back complete with repairs, maintenance and upgrades."
Another speaker, Steve Daniel, told the meeting the speedway's current location in Mount Maunganui was perfect because it was next to the waste transfer station, sewage treatment plant and businesses that made compost.
"Great for car racing, maybe not so good for open-air sports athletes.
"Baypark certainly means a great deal to me as a hobby, a former place of employment, as a place of memories, and where history was and still is made.
"My desire is to protect the location for its original intended use."
Councillor Marten Rozeboom.
Photo:
David Hall
The 15,000-seat stadium was built in 2001 by former Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson for speedway and rugby, for $24 million. He owned and operated it until 2007 when he sold it to the council for $12m.
Councillor Marten Rozeboom said in his view the stadium had not been maintained "sufficiently well".
There was a group of motoring enthusiasts prepared to spend their own money and do what the council hadn't done, he said.
"They've offered to fix our council's long-term deficiencies, which I think is kind of embarrassing on behalf of the city to take over an asset and not maintain it."
He fully supported Speedway Racing taking over the stand and maintaining it.
"Maintaining this for the community to use, for our kids to attend motor events and experience an event that I had when I was growing up, and I loved every minute of it."
Councillor Rod Taylor encouraged the organisation to grow the number of the events they had each year to get maximum use of the stadium.
He asked speedway to take Ngā Pōtiki "very seriously" as a partner because they could add value to what speedway would do at the site.
Baypark Speedway manager Melissa Webb.
Photo:
Alisha Evans
Webb told Local Democracy Reporting the aim was to work with Ngā Pōtiki.
"We're looking forward to meeting with Ngā Pōtiki and developing a positive, healthy relationship moving forward."
She said speedway was working through the details and costs of the work required.
"Now that the lease extension is secured, we're eager to get under way with proper assessments and planning as soon as possible.
"While there's still a journey ahead, we're thrilled to be on the other side of this milestone and ready to focus on delivering those improvements."
Speedway was at risk of being displaced in 2022 when the commission governing the council had plans to replace the stadium with a multi-use sporting precinct for outdoor netball, track and field athletics and gymnastics.
A protest was held and a "Hands Off Baypark Speedway" campaign was launched.
There was also the threat of legal action if an agreement about speedway was not reached.
In September 2023, the plans were changed to keep the stadium and pits and allow speedway to retain its current lease until 2029.
Meanwhile, councillors on Monday agreed to netball's relocation from Mount Maunganui's Blake Park to Baypark.
A new Netball Multisport Centre would include an 800sq m new building estimated to cost about $4m, and 23 new courts - 14 asphalt and nine cushioned, with three to be covered - costing about $9.2m, including toilets and a covered walkway.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
NRL live updates: Warriors trail bottom-of-the-table Titans at halftime
Charnze Nicoll-Kolkstad of the Warriors goes in for a try. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Revenge will be on the minds of the Warriors, as they take on a Titans outfit that handed them one of the worst losses in club history the last time they met. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll‑Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene‑Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Kurt Capewell, 5. Roger Tuivasa‑Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris‑Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher‑Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Jacob Laban, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers‑Smith Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Samuel Healey, 21. Bunty Afoa, 22. Ali Leiataua, 23. Eddie Ieremia‑Toeava Titans: 1. AJ Brimson, 2. Jaylan De Groot, 3. Brian Kelly, 4. Jojo Fifita, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Jayden Campbell, 8. Moeaki Fotuaika, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Jaimin Jolliffe, 11. Chris Randall, 12. Beau Fermor, 13. Klese Haas Interchange:14. Jacob Alick‑Wiencke, 15. Reagan Campbell‑Gillard, 16. Iszac Fa'asumaleaui, 17. Josh Patston Reserves: 18. Arama Hau, 19. Sean Mullany, 20. Tom Weaver, 21. Ryan Foran, 22. Alofiana Khan‑Pereira

RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
'It's all go, everyone's really buzzing' on Mt Ruapehu
October at Whakapapa ski field, Mt Ruapehu, 2023. Photo: Supplied/ Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ruapehu's mayor is happy with how this years ski season is shaping up, under new operators . Whakapapapa Holdings now manages Whakapapa ski field on Mount Ruapehu while Pure Tūroa manages Tūora field. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) which oversaw both ski fields, went into insolvency in 2022. Mayor Weston Kirton said while the start of the 2025 season was slow due to low snowfall, things are looking better now. "June was a bit spasmodic but kicked in a bit more with July. So from my understanding is that they're good to go, they've got enough snow to allow people to go up there and enjoy both at the beginning level, if not in the intermediate level. "I think it's all go, everyone's really buzzing, everyone's excited and both sides of the mountain with new ownership, but they got new ideas and I think they've had a huge number of people over the school holidays for example, both visiting and also skiing. "So from the point of view of ski season, we're off to a pretty good start," Kirton said. The Delta Chair is likely to open on Saturday, and Tūora ski field is also opening its upper mountain facilities. Kirton also reflected on the journey to secure government funding that enabled the continued operation of both Whakapapa and Tūroa ski fields following the collapse of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL). "The snow industry is critical to our economy and regional tourism. It's fantastic to see Whakapapa and Tūroa up and running again, but we must keep building on this success." Kirton said he was hopeful for a few more snowfalls to help extend the season and encouraged people to visit the maunga [mountain] and enjoy all the experiences Ruapehu has to offer - on and off the slopes. He also stressed the need to keep building on the economic momentum generated by the ski areas. "Council is committed to working with government and others to complete our cycle and hiking trail networks which are turning Ruapehu into a true year-round destination while providing much-needed economic resilience." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
NRLW: Warriors suffer back-to-back NRLW defeats with home loss to Titans
Warriors centre Tysha Ikenasio is tackled against Gold Coast. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ NZ Warriors have slumped to their third defeat in four NRLW appearances this season, falling 20-10 to Gold Coast Titans at Auckland's Go Media Stadium. Looking to build on their first-ever home win two weeks ago, the wahine dug a deep hole for themselves, allowing their rivals to score three early tries. Gold Coast opened the scoring, when they went shortside down the right and winger Lily Patston plunged over in the corner, converted from the sideline by Lauren Brown. The visitors then struck on the other side of the field, when quick hands put winger Georgia Grey into the left corner. The Warriors showed attacking flair, but could not find a way through or around the Titans defence, then conceded easy metres through penalties to gift their opponents plenty of opportunities at the other end. Gold Coast hooker Lily-Rose Kolc was next to score, finding far too much space from dummy half near the line. Centre Emmanita Paki had a chance to open the Warriors scoring, when she ran onto Patricia Maliepo's kick behind the tryline, but the ball took a wicked bounce behind her and the chance was lost. Next time down the field though, with halftime imminent, Paki offloaded to winger Payton Takimoana, who found her way to the corner for her fifth try of the season. Trailling 14-4 at the break, the home side needed to score next to make a contest of it, but Titans fullback Jaime Chapman dented their hopes, when she shrugged off a couple of tacklers to power over next to the posts. The Warriors were not helped, when Maliepo - their most dangerous attacker - was pulled from the field for a head check. She duly passed and returned. On debut, interchange forward Metanoia Fotu-Moala - the third of three sisters to play NRLW - stormed over next to the posts to give her team a glimpse with 10 minutes remaining, but they could not capitalise on repeat sets in the Gold Coast redzone and ran out of time. The Warriors travel to Newcastle for 'Magic Round' next week, when they face North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday. See how it all unfolded below: