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Tauranga Racecourse (Place)
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"The Crown initially awarded a portion of the [now] race course land to tangata whenua, and then rescinded and awarded alternative land in Taumata (beyond Pyes Pā)."
Bonnie Whaeanui Pearson referencing her great-grandfathers manuscript Te Haari Piahana
1874 - 200 acres of reserve land at Gate Pā / Greerton was given to Tauranga Jockey Club for the formation of a racecourse and recreation reserve.
1879 - Under the Public Domains Act 1860, the reserve was made permanent.
1914 - Provision was made for a neighbouring 18 hole golf course.
1961 - Tauranga Racecourse Domain Board was appointed as Controlling Authority.
1977 - Tauranga Racecourse Reserve Board established.
1989 - Tauranga Racecourse Reserve Board became part of Tauranga District Council.
2017 - Tauranga Racecourse Charitable Trust takes over administration of the whenua.
2021 October - December - Phase 1 of Te rangahau ki Greerton Mārawaewae - The Greerton Maarawaewae study, with Tauranga City Council seeking ideas from mana whenua, existing users and wider community for the project.
2021 December - Phase 2 of Te rangahau ki Greerton Mārawaewae - The Greerton Maarawaewae study, ran through to 6 March 2022, feedback was sought.
2022 July-August - Phase 3 of Te rangahau ki Greerton Mārawaewae - The Greerton Maarawaewae study, update to Commissioners and consultation the communities.
2023 April 3 and 4 - Hearings on the submissions heard by the Commissioners.
2023 August 14 - Commissioners at a Tauranga City Council meeting discussed the deliberation report on the Greerton Maarawaewae Study options, and adopted a revised Option D called Community Plus - an adaptive future-proofed programme pathway.
This option provides for greater recreational access to, and public use of the existing Racecourse Reserve while Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand continues progressing its business case on future site options for Tauranga Hospital. This is expected to be completed mid-2024.
2023 September - The timeline for business case completion was updated to be mid-2025 by Te Whatu Ora.
See also: Racing Tauranga (Organisation).
SourcesPearson, Bonnie Whaeanui. (2022). History of the whenua/landTauranga City Council. (2024). Te rangahau ki Greerton Mārawaewae - The Greerton Maarawaewae study.Rice, Taylor. (2023, August 15). Fate of Tauranga Racecourse decided.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Tauranga Racecourse (Place)Type of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | Places