Tauranga, Bay of Plenty
Rydges Tauranga
A ground-up, 158-room Rydges just 50m from Tauranga's waterfront — the city's second internationally branded hotel after Mercure Tauranga.
Announced · Late 2028
Rydges Tauranga is a new-build, 158-room hotel under construction on Willow Street, about 50 metres from Tauranga's waterfront. EVT Hotels & Resorts will operate the property, its eighth in New Zealand under the Rydges brand, with an opening targeted for late 2028.
The essentials
- Group
- EVT Hotels & Resorts (Rydges)
- Opening
- Late 2028
- Rooms & suites
- 158 rooms
- Segment
- Upscale
- Designer
- NC
- Entry rate
- NC
The place
On Willow Street in central Tauranga, about 50 metres from the waterfront promenade and close to New Zealand's largest commercial port.
The concept
A ground-up new build rather than a conversion, Rydges Tauranga will be EVT Hotels & Resorts' eighth New Zealand property under the Rydges brand, part of a wider portfolio of 38 hotels and resorts across Australia and New Zealand. EVT was appointed operator through a competitive selection process. Construction began in August 2026, announced at the AHICE Aotearoa conference, with EVT Director of Development Peter Hill describing the groundbreaking as "an exciting step forward for this project." It becomes Tauranga's second internationally branded hotel, following Mercure Tauranga's rebrand-driven opening in 2026.
Dining & wellness
The programme announced includes a signature restaurant and bar, four flexible conference and exhibition spaces (the main room seating up to 322 theatre-style), and basement car parking — commitments from the operator ahead of opening, not yet verified on site.
