The Tauranga RSA'a new cenotaph, built in remembrance of fallen soldiers, has marble plaques, the rolls of honour from the old RSA, and a water feature.

Tauranga pulls off pre-emptive strike

By Karen Phelps

The Tauranga RSA has taken some bold moves to secure its future.

As well as relocating clubrooms nearer the centre of town, the RSA has purchased a motor inn and associated commercial units to provide income outside of traditional club activities.

Judging by new membership numbers – 300 in one month alone – the move to new premises is proving popular will Tauranga locals.

“Now members have not only a better facility but also an atmosphere more conducive to hospitality,” says Tauranga RSA general manager Graham Howard.

“Rather than one large bar there are now three smaller bars – a sports bar, member’s bar and lounge bar – meaning people can choose the environment depending on what they want.”

Dining facilities in the old club consisted of just a bistro restaurant in the main bar. Graham says they have maintained the bistro operation in the new premises and added a large buffet restaurant with seating for 250 people. A variety of dishes are on offer including salads, seafood, carved meats, fish, pasta and Asian-inspired dishes, as well as entrees and desserts.

The accommodation side of the business includes 22 rooms with capacity to sleep 58 people. This means the RSA is now able to cater for functions, conferences and weddings. The club is also looking at offering special rates for chartered club members.

The bold changes at the Tauranga RSA were prompted by declining trends in RSA numbers and turnover nationwide. The club decided to take a proactive approach to addressing the situation and established a Futures Team to look at options to ensure the club’s growth and longevity.

Graham Howard says many options were considered, including amalgamation, rebuilding and relocating. A special members vote was taken and an overwhelming majority, 83%, decided relocation was the best option.

“The problem with the old location was that it was situated away from everything and also the building, which was 55 years old, needed a huge amount of money spent on it.”

He says the need to generate a passive income outside club activities was also considered essential to ensure the RSA’s future financial viability.

The club looked at 17 sites around Tauranga, incorporating different ideas and concepts for the future, before buying the Fahys Motor Inn operation on Cameron Rd. The old premises was sold to the neighbouring Bay of Plenty District Health Board. Graham Howard says the new premises fill all the objectives the futures team had.

The RSA has formed a separate company to lease the two commercial units on the property as well as run the restaurant and accommodation. It has also managed to negotiate with the District Health Board to lease back 31 flats housing old members, located at the previous premises, for seven years.

The RSA took on the 20 staff at Fahys Motor Inn, taking total staff numbers of the two businesses to around 46.

The new premises has a new cenotaph in remembrance of fallen soldiers including marble plaques, the rolls of honour taken from the old RSA and a water feature.

The club plans to build on the recent surge in membership and hold a public open day. Signage will also be upgraded to reflect the new modern face of the club.

“The opinion of a lot of people is that an RSA is full of stodgy old people,” says Graham Howard. “But really it is normal people who want friendship, camaraderie and a good time.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in members who weren’t attending the old club coming to take a look, liking it and coming back. It has given our members security for the future.”