History & Culture

First Bank of New Zealand, 1931

In 1999 the former Bank of New Zealand building on the corner of Willow and Wharf Streets was purchased by the Tauranga Art Gallery Trust (TAGT), for the purpose of conversion to the Tauranga Art Gallery.

The Bank of New Zealand first opened in Tauranga on 23 October 1873 as an agent of the Auckland branch. In 1875 a Tauranga branch was opened in Wharf Street but closer to The Strand than the current Gallery building site. Alterations were made in 1893 to accommodate the manager, his family and servant. At this stage the building was extended to the corner of Wharf and Willow Streets.

In 1930 a new Bank of New Zealand was built on this site. Constructed of concrete with blue gum piles the interior was an elegant mix of wood panels and leadlight window screens.

By the early 1960s the building was found to be inadequate and plans were drawn up by local architects Johnston & Denniston for the modernist glass curtain building. Construction began in October 1962, with the bank officially opened in July 1964. Interestingly, it was the first building in Tauranga to have air-conditioning.

The building was a two-storey structure of reinforced concrete floor and foundations, plastered concrete exterior and has undergone a number of extensions and alterations over the last four decades. Elements of the 1964 building such as the white exterior tiles, columns and the bank vault remain in place today.

The BNZ sold the building to the TAGT in 1999 for $1.7m with funds from the [former] Tauranga District Council and the Vanetta Miles Estate.

Reconstructed Bank of New Zealand, 1964

Further capital funding was made available from the Ray (Urania) Macmillan Estate and the Joy Owens Trust. The TAGT also raised capital from individuals, groups and trusts in the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty community.

In May 2003, Mitchell and Stout Architects Ltd were engaged to undertake the design for the refurbishment of the BNZ into the Tauranga Art Gallery. The architects comment:

“The old building with its banking hall, vault and upper storey, offered an excellent range of exhibition spaces to the new gallery. Few structural alterations had to be made to the building, but it was completely sheathed with insulated panels and given new windows and linings. This was done to meet the stringent thermal, lighting and display standards of modern international art galleries.”
(Julian Mitchell 8 May 2007)

In January 2006, the contract to refurbish the former BNZ building was awarded to Watts and Hughes Construction, Waikato/Bay of Plenty Ltd. Construction was completed in May 2007.

Tauranga Art Gallery was officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark on 20 October 2007.

The building provides 1,300 square metres of floor space, over two levels, with 700 square metres of exhibition space.

In 2008, architects Mitchell and Stout Architects Ltd won a regional award in the New Zealand Architects Institute (NZIA) Architecture Awards for the Waikato / Bay of Plenty region in the Public Architecture category, for their design of the Tauranga Art Gallery. In 2009, they were also winners of the national award in the Public Architecture category.

Tauranga Art Gallery, 2007

The Gallery Spaces

A total of 700 square metres of exhibition space has been created.

The Atrium

The Atrium is the largest and most public of the spaces, and can be hired for functions after hours. It has been specifically designed for large scale artist projects and as a space for recitals, musical events and private functions.

The Vault

The Vault is a small gallery in the old bank vault. The concrete walls have been retained giving a space that is ideal for installations, boutique exhibitions and new media.

The Cube

A 5.5 metre square gallery that is used for new media (moving image) work and installations.

Education Studio

This space is used for school groups and lectures. It can also act as an exhibition gallery.

Reuben Paterson, Whakapapa: get down upon your knees. Glitter on canvas, each 4000 x 4000mm (2009-10)

Tauranga Art Gallery Trust

The Gallery is governed by the Tauranga Art Gallery Trust (TAGT). The Trust was formed in 1998 with the vision to establish a public art gallery to enhance the cultural life of the region.

The TAGT is a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) of the Tauranga City Council but remains an autonomous Charitable Trust. The Gallery is managed by the Director, who reports to the Trust Board.

Collections

The TAGT does not have an acquisitions budget but will accept gifts of art that are significant to the region and/or of national interest.

The TAGT holds a substantial collection of work by New Zealand artist Edward Bullmore (1933-78), Nigel Brown (b. 1949), and Dame Robin White (b. 1946).

Capital Costs

The complete refurbishment and fitout cost $5.9m. When added to the cost of the building purchase of $1.7m the total cost is $7.6m.
Of this $2m of capital funding has been contributed by the Tauranga City Council (TCC).

Operational Funding

Tauranga Art Gallery is a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO). The Council currently supports the Gallery with an operational grant of $814,000 which is 80% of the Gallery's operating budget. The remaining $200,000 (20%) is generated by the Gallery via endowment interests, grants, sponsorships, retail and admissions by donation.