Toi Tauranga Art Gallery in Tauranga, New Zealand, will reopen to the public on November 15, 2025, after a three-year closure (2022–2025) for seismic upgrades and refurbishment. The gallery, originally opened in 2007, has been renovated to connect with the new council-led cultural precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa, which includes a library, museum, performing arts centre, and council chambers. The reopening programme, titled "Rawe," features local and international artists including Kereama Taepa, Pusi Urale, and esteemed senior Māori painter Darcy Nicholas, who is exhibiting in Tauranga for the first time.
The reopening matters because it marks the revival of a key cultural institution in a region with fewer art venues than major cities like Auckland. Director Sonya Korohina emphasizes that the closure allowed for not only physical upgrades but also advanced programming over a two-year cycle to serve diverse community interests. The gallery aims to be a unifying cultural hub, with a focus on engaging young people and showcasing Māori artists, reflecting broader efforts to strengthen regional art infrastructure and cultural identity in New Zealand.