Latest news with #MartyGrenfell
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Tauranga City Council considers cutting over 100 roles to save costs
Jen Scoular said council would also be looking at the $41 million it spends on consultants. Photo: Supplied / Tauranga City Council Tauranga City Council could be looking at disestablishing over 100 roles to save costs, according to the city's deputy mayor Jen Scoular. It comes just days after Napier City Council revealed that more than 100 of its jobs are on the line in a proposed restructure, with an aim to identify $3 million in labour efficiencies. The council's consultation on its Annual Plan 2025/2026 ran between late March and late April, and the council is expected to adopt the plan by the end of next month. Over 1000 submissions were received, according to Scoular. Scoular told Morning Report that feedback showed people do care about about rates . "We're definitely hearing from the people of Tauranga that it's really important what they're paying in rates, we're also hearing from some that say, keep the progress going - because we've had under-investment in Tauranga for so long," she said. Scoular said they wanted to make sure that the council delivered better value for people in Tauranga. "Where are the savings we can make, as governors, that's what we need to pass down to our chief executive Marty Grenfell, and I think he's got a very clear message from us that he needs to have a structure in his organisation so that he is managing those costs, and we need to see some savings come through," she said. When asked about potential job losses on Morning Report , Scoular said there had been a "reset" and there would be a continual relook at costs and the processes used in council. "We have got over 100 roles being looked at to disestablish, but at the moment... probably half of those were vacant, at any time we have about 70 vacancies. "And it's not just about the staff going, it's about are we actually overdoing the scope when we do a new building or a new facility, are we actually getting the best prices for our roading contractors," she said. Scoular said Tauranga City Council is a large operation, with 1300 staff, $8 billion in assets, $500 million in capital projects, and an operating cost of about $599m. They would also be looking at the $41m spent on consultants at the moment, and ways of upskilling staff so that their skills can be utilised, instead of hiring consultants, she said. Scoular said they were also proposing to have a joint Council Controlled Organisation for water services, with the Western Bay of Plenty Council - and potentially other councils. When asked on Morning Report whether any community libraries or recreational facilities would be at risk, Scoular said no. "We need to do things in a different way, to deliver more for Tauranga for less cost," she added. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Inside the new office building Tauranga City Council is paying $91.9m to lease
The new Tauranga City Council offices at 90 Devonport Rd are ready for staff. Photo: Tauranga City Council Tauranga City Council's chief executive has defended the $91.9 million, 15-year cost to lease its new building, saying this enables the council to adapt to a changing workforce. The council's 1000 or so administration staff have started moving into the eight-storey eco-building at 90 Devonport Rd in Tauranga's CBD. It is the first time the staff would be under the same roof since 2014, when black mould was discovered in the now-demolished Willow St civic administration building . The lease has an annual rent of $6,129,511 plus $313,352 for 65 carparks. The council is leasing the building from Willis Bond, having sold the property developers the land in 2021 for $8.5 million. Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said he was looking forward to having all the staff together and the collective culture it would bring. He was asked if the council had considered owning and constructing the building itself at potentially a lower cost than the lease. Grenfell said: "Owning and managing a building of this nature is not necessarily our [the council's] core business." The lease of 15 years, plus three five-year extensions, would enable the council to cater to the needs of staff in 20 to 30 years' time, he said. "Over that time, it's likely that the needs of office space changes. Otherwise, we're stuck with bricks and mortar." The new Tauranga City Council offices at 90 Devonport Rd are ready for staff. Photo: David Hall Grenfell said the fit-out cost of $33.5m over 30 years for the building was a "very modest spend and complete value for money". The council had calculated the cost of staff time walking between the old leased staff buildings at $1m a year, Grenfell said. "Arguably, over the period of time, the fit-out cost would be paid for by productivity." Local Democracy Reporting toured the building ahead of staff moving in. The full glass façade is softened as you step inside, with huge pine structural beams bringing nature indoors. The $45m building is the country's largest mass timber office, with more than 2000 tonnes of New Zealand timber. Built by LT McGuinness, it has a 6 Green Star Design rating and features rainwater harvesting, electric vehicle charging and facilities that encourage active commuting. LT McGuinness project director Craig Body said not damaging the timber elements during construction was challenging at times. "This was a finished product right from day one, so everybody had to treat it like a piece of skirting or a piece of scotia [moulding]." LT McGuinness project director Craig Body. Photo: Tauranga City Council Body said the use of timber cut down noise - screws in wood rather than drilling into concrete. Prefabricated timber sped up construction and six people put in the structural elements, he said. Steel frames seismically connected the timber structure to the ground, making it a hybrid building, Body said. The first floor has council meeting chambers and a councillors' lounge. A cafe would lease ground floor space and be open to the public, with outdoor dining. The mayor's office on the top floor of 90 Devonport. Photo: Tauranga City Council Warren and Mahoney principal architect Asha Page designed the $33.5m interior fit-out, which included meeting rooms, offices, flooring finishes, electrical, digital and IT. She said level two was her favourite floor because it felt like you were in the pōhutukawa tree growing on the harbour side of the building. The tree inspired the interior colour palette, earth tones mirroring the trunk on lower floors, then blue to represent the harbour, green like the leaves, with the top floors red like pōhutukawa in bloom, said Page. The pōhutukawa was also a sacred symbol of the past, present and future for mana whenua, she said. The wooden interior features are broken up with soft furnishings, carpets and greenery. Page said they had reused as much furniture and fittings as possible from the other buildings. An internal wood staircase aimed to encourage connection between people, getting them out of their seats rather than using the elevator, Page said. "Humans will easily walk up or down one or two flights of stairs, so you really start to see the workplace as a whole building, not just as where you sit on one floor, siloed with your team. "It's a tried-and-true method of creating a really vibrant or connected workforce." Warren and Mahoney principal architect Asha Page. Photo: Tauranga City Council Page said staff had been spread across three buildings, so they wanted to maximise the ability for people to come together. It also tied into one of the building's design principles - taura here - binding people so they're stronger together, she said. Between 600 and 700 people would work in the building on any given day. Level five was the "anchor floor" with the kitchen, seating and an events area. The top floor houses the mayor's office, which has views of Mauao and the Kaimai range. The smaller deputy mayor's office next door shared the Mauao view. The mayor's office on the top floor of 90 Devonport. Photo: Tauranga City Council The values used to design the building were developed with mana whenua, Ngāti Tapu and Ngāi Tamarāwaho hapu, said council te pou ahurea cultural adviser Josh Te Kani. Te Papa houkura and Te Papa manawa whenua, referencing the fertile land and springs of the Te Papa peninsula, were about keeping the environment healthy. The other two were Te Papa o ngā waka, meaning people could find safe anchorage, and Te Papa kāinga o te iwi - the home of the people. "It's not just creating a building but creating a living environment where those values can be living alongside of us and grow with us." Council staff are to be fully moved into the building by Monday next week. The first council meeting is to be held in the new chambers on Tuesday. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
1News
01-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Tauranga Marine Precinct sale finalised after court dismisses injunction
The controversial $13.98 million sale of Tauranga's Marine Precinct for a superyacht service development has been settled. The settlement comes two weeks after a High Court judge dismissed the interim injunction that had halted the sale. Tauranga City Council was due to settle its sale of the Sulphur Point property to Christchurch developer Sam Rofe in November, but was halted by the last-minute High Court injunction. It was filed by Sean Kelly, managing director of precinct-based marine service company Pacific 7, on the basis of the displacement of the working boats that use the precinct, and a lack of consultation with precinct users. Justice Peter Andrew's decision, released on April 11, found the arguments for stopping the sale "generally weak" and that claims of a local fishing boat fleet being harmed were "overstated". ADVERTISEMENT Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said Justice Andrew's findings were unambiguous. 'Based on further legal advice, council has now met its legal and contractual obligations with regard to the sale of the precinct,' he said in a statement. Councillors discussed the sale behind closed doors for two hours at a meeting on Monday. Grenfell said the sale gave effect to the council's original intent for the precinct when it was established in 2015. This was to help grow the region's commercial marine sector and create significant economic benefits for the local community, he said. "The reality is that in its current form, the precinct has never achieved its full potential, and ratepayers have been funding ongoing operating losses in the order of $1.5 million a year." Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell. (Source: NZME) ADVERTISEMENT The sale committed the purchaser to design, construct and complete development of the precinct so that it met its strategic objectives and established a purpose-built marine service facility, for the wider benefit of the industry and the community, Grenfell said. He said the council would continue to engage with all marine industry stakeholders and ensure the wider interests of the community were met. Rofe approached the council in late 2023 with a proposal to buy the precinct with a vision of it becoming a "premier superyacht refit destination". In a separate statement, Rofe said with the settlement complete his company could begin the transformation works first envisaged by Tauranga in 2014. Rofe said it would deliver a world-class marine precinct that was fit for purpose to provide employment and opportunities in specialist marine services for larger pleasure craft and local commercial vessels. "The Tauranga Marine Precinct will offer all users the same care and respect that is given so generously by the people of Tauranga Moana to all who visit our beautiful city." The first stage of the $11.4 million precinct project opened in 2018. Its development was funded by the council through land sales, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council through the Regional Infrastructure Fund. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
30-04-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Tauranga's Marine Precinct sale contract settled
The sale of the marine precinct has been bitterly opposed by some in the community. Photo: LDR / Brydie Thompson The contract for the sale of Tauranga's Marine Precinct has now been settled, the local council has confirmed. The $13.98 million sale of the precinct to a Christchurch developer was due to settle in November but was halted by a last-minute High Court interim injunction. Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said a recent High Court judgement dismissed an application for an interim injunction to prevent the completion of the Marine Precinct sale process. "Justice J Andrew's findings were unambiguous. Based on further legal advice, Council has now met its legal and contractual obligations with regard to the sale of the precinct," he said. Grenfell said the council will continue engaging with all marine industry stakeholders, including many who bitterly opposed the sale . "This sale commits the purchaser to design, construct and complete development of the precinct so that it meets its strategic objectives and establishes a purpose-built marine service facility, for the wider benefit of the industry and the community," he said. Tumblehome Bay developer Sam Rofe, who purchased the marine precinct, said it is with joy that the company can begin development of the area into a superyacht refit destination. "Tumblehome Bay can begin the transformation works first envisaged by the city of Tauranga in 2014 - take up the baton, and deliver for the benefit of all, a world class marine precinct - entirely fit for purpose to provide employment and opportunities for the provision of specialist marine services to both larger pleasure craft and local commercial vessels, and now also, to a growing base of international clientele who hold in high esteem our skilled Kiwi marine professionals," said Rofe. Lobby for Good director Erika Harvey - an outspoken opponent of the sale - said she was surprised to hear the sale had gone ahead. "I've been advised to say nothing further at this time," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
