The newly renovated Toi Tauranga Art Gallery has officially reopened its doors after a comprehensive two-year, $9.6 million renovation project that completely transformed the institution's approach to community engagement and artistic presentation. Gallery Director Sonya Korohina expressed her amazement at the transformation, stating she feels "quite overwhelmed with what we have achieved" as visitors now experience a dramatically reimagined cultural space.

The gallery's most significant change involved reorienting its entrance to better integrate with Tauranga's broader cultural precinct development, known as Te Manawataki o Te Papa (The Heartbeat of Te Papa). Principal architect Vajini Pannila explained that the original building, which housed a bank from the early 1960s, was "facing the wrong way" and disconnected from the vision for the cultural hub. The building's modernist concrete structure originally boasted impressive features for its time, including a glass facade, secure vault, and the region's first air conditioning system.

The transformation from bank to art gallery began in 1999 when the Tauranga Art Gallery Trust purchased the building using bequests from local artists and council funding. After eight years of conversion work, the gallery first opened in 2007 with then-Prime Minister Helen Clark cutting the ribbon at the inaugural ceremony. The original redesign won a national architecture award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2009, establishing its reputation as an architectural success.

However, when Tauranga City Council commissioners envisioned a fully integrated cultural hub in 2021, they realized the gallery's orientation needed to change to properly connect with surrounding facilities including a new museum, library, civic chambers, and the existing Baycourt Community and Arts Centre. The renovation project focused heavily on breaking down barriers that might prevent community members from engaging with art, creating what Korohina describes as "an invitation" designed to "pique people's natural curiosity."

The new entrance features tall glass windows that guide visitors' eyes through curved Hinuera stonework, deliberately softening the building's brutalist design elements while providing glimpses into the central exhibition space. "It acts almost as a portal into a different world, where you can see the art from outside," Pannila noted, explaining how this approach differs from traditional gallery designs that reveal artworks only deep within the building. "The idea of blurring the threshold and bringing people in was really important," Korohina added. "We wanted people to come as far into the building as possible before they realize they are experiencing art."

The interior renovation extended far beyond the entrance, with complete modernization aimed at inclusivity and accessibility for visitors from all backgrounds. The space now maximizes openness and engagement while reflecting local heritage and community needs through features like a dedicated education center and comprehensive accessibility accommodations. Exhibition flexibility became a key design principle, with various galleries now able to accommodate small, medium, and large-scale works, including installations reaching up to 7.8 meters in height.

Among the playful design elements are hidden "wonder boxes" built into the walls throughout the gallery. "Children – and adults – have to find them," Korohina explained. "When you do, you tap the little door and it opens to reveal a work within." These discovery features exemplify the thoughtful approach taken to encourage visitor engagement and ensure the gallery feels approachable to everyone, regardless of age or artistic background.

As the only regional gallery in the Bay of Plenty, Toi Tauranga serves a diverse constituency that includes both local residents and the many tourists who visit the region. "We have to be something to everybody," Korohina emphasized, explaining how the gallery presents a range of exhibitions over 18-month periods representing various artistic practices, ages, and ethnicities. The institution maintains a collection of 534 works and plans to actively expand this collection now that new storage facilities are available.

Since its establishment, the gallery has built a reputation as an incubator for emerging and experimental artists, often providing community members and visitors their first exposure to cutting-edge contemporary work. "We're known to work with artists before they ascend and get really big," Korohina said, comparing the gallery's role to that of an incubator. "We can do more challenging shows. It's often the first time people get to see an artist, which is really exciting. Then they see them again in Auckland or somewhere else, and go, 'Oh, yes, I saw them in Toi Tauranga.'"

The renovation represents more than just a physical transformation – it embodies the gallery's commitment to serving as a genuine community space that gives back to both local residents and the artists it supports. "It's really important for our artists working at this level to have the opportunity to develop shows in a purpose-designed space that can best showcase their work," Korohina concluded. "It's really special." The reopening on November 15 marks the beginning of a new chapter for this cultural institution, positioning it as a central anchor in Tauranga's evolving cultural landscape.