The spa project has been divided into three phases, and will require Council approval before progressing to the next phase or past critical decision-making points. The work phases and approximate timeframes are -

• Investigation phase – early 2021 to late 2022
• Planning phase – late 2022 to mid 2024
• Construction phase – late 2024 to late 2026

If you don’t work in the industry you might be wondering why so much importance is placed on tourism in New Zealand. It’s something that can benefit small towns as well as big cities, and supports small endeavours through to world class experiences because travellers want different things.

The real kicker though is the way the tourist dollar circulates in a local economy. Visitor spending is new money that’s injected into an economy, and while you may not work in tourism and benefit directly from it, there’s a good chance you’ll benefit when that dollar gets spent again and again. This is called the multiplier effect.

Mana whenua have been aware of the Te Aroha hot springs and were making use of the waters for hundreds of years before European arrival.

European visitor use of the hot springs began to build after the opening of the Thames Goldfield in 1867, with many residents of the ensuing ‘boomtown’ of Thames travelling up the Waihou River for recreational activities, including regular excursions visiting the hot springs at Te Aroha. The possibility of a 'sanatorium' being developed at Te Aroha was raised as early as the 1870s.

Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu have occupied Te Aroha since ancient times and held the mana over mountain, hot springs and surrounding whenua. The mountain and hot springs are sacred to the tribe, a taonga.

Māori tradition ascribes the hot springs to the taniwha, Ureia, who left the O-kiroire hot springs to gouge out the channel of the Waihou River. He is said to have taken several gourds of hot water from O-koroire to leave at various points, including O-kauia springs and Te Aroha which lie along the Hauraki fault line.

The Project Governance Group oversees the project and gives direction to the Project Manager, who is tasked with delivering the project. As a commercial venture, it is important we have people with the governance skills and backgrounds needed to shape a development like this. The Governance Group is made up of six members.