By the Explore Whangārei news desk · Published Thursday 12 November 2026
The Government has signed off the business case and committed $34.7 million for NorthTec to move from Raumanga to a new campus in the Forum North precinct.
- Where
- Forum North precinct, central Whangārei (proposed)
- Funding
- $34.7 million from the Government
- Planned opening
- Semester 2, 2029
- Have your say
- Council consultation on using its buildings and land, through the Long Term Plan in early 2027
The plan would bring NorthTec’s classrooms, its nursing training and its marae, Te Puna o Te Mātauranga, from Raumanga into the city centre. NorthTec is working towards opening in Semester 2, 2029, and teaching carries on at its current campuses in the meantime.
The Capitaine Bougainville Theatre and the Exhibition Hall at Forum North would stay open, with the new learning spaces built alongside them, according to Whangārei District Council’s announcement.
What the campus would include
- Purpose-built nursing teaching rooms with simulation facilities, so students can rehearse caring for patients in a realistic setting on top of their clinical placements.
- Te Puna o Te Mātauranga marae, moved from Raumanga. NorthTec says the move will be planned with hapū, iwi and the Te Tai Tokerau marae community, and guided by people connected to the marae.
- A hub for NorthTec’s work with employers and community partners, in a central spot near public transport, businesses and civic services.
NorthTec Operational Lead Derek Slatter said in NorthTec’s release, “This is an exciting step for NorthTec and for Northland.” Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds said, “This $34.7 million investment is an important step towards ensuring Northland learners have access to modern vocational education and training facilities.”
Still a proposal
The funding approval does not settle everything. The campus would use council-owned buildings and land, and Whangārei District Council will ask the community about that through its Long Term Plan consultation early next year.
NorthTec also becomes a standalone polytechnic again on Friday 1 January 2027, and will invite staff, students, hapū and iwi, employers and community partners to help shape the detailed design during 2027.
What happens to the existing Raumanga campus land will be dealt with in a separate process, and any disposal would have to meet legal requirements including the Public Works Act.
If you want a say on the Forum North site, watch for the council’s Long Term Plan consultation in early 2027.
- Whangarei District Council: Council welcomes Government approval for proposed NorthTec city campus, released 10 November 2026
- NorthTec: NorthTec welcomes funding approval for new central Whangārei campus, released 10 November 2026
Explore Whangārei news desk: news@explorewhangarei.co.nz. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we’ll correct it.
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