Tauranga is looking fresh this spring thanks to the green-thumbed efforts of Tauranga City Council’s City Operations team and their maintenance work.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale and Bethlehem Ward Councillor Kevin (Herb) Schuler joined the City Operations team last week for a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into maintaining Tauranga’s green spaces and public areas as we head into summer.

“It was fantastic to see first-hand the streamlined approach that the City Operations team are taking to work efficiently, make our city look great and deliver positive outcomes for the people of Tauranga,” says Mahé.

Since July 2025, City Operations has taken full responsibility for sports field maintenance, roadside mowing, public toilet cleaning, and traffic management. This alignment has enabled the team to streamline traffic management setups, minimise commuter disruption, and increase efficiency across services.

“By integrating traffic management with maintenance crews, I can see the team is able to respond quickly and efficiently — delivering a higher level of service than before, at the same or lower cost to ratepayers,” explains Mahé.

In Tauranga, there is 3.2 million m² of grass, 4 million m² of vegetation, wetlands and dunes, and 285,000 m² of gardens and hedges looked after and maintained by the City Operations team.

Several proactive changes have been made by the team to stay ahead of spring growth:

• roadside mowing now includes a new high-profile route on a two-weekly rotation
• reserve mowing rounds have increased to a two-weekly schedule
• a robot mower is being activated at Bayfair Reserve
• edging has been completed early to allow more focus on mowing
• garden beds have been mulched throughout winter to suppress weeds
• high-profile natural vegetation areas and walkway tracks are being prioritised.

“These changes reflect a smarter, more responsive approach to city maintenance,” says Mahé.

“It’s also clear to see that the City Operations team feel a strong sense of pride and ownership in the work they do. Their passion translates into better service delivery and connection with our city and people.”

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