Nearly $1 million in central Government funding has been secured for Te Tomokanga (Archway), Tauranga's new cruise hub and visitor welcome centre.

The application by Tauranga City Council and Tourism Bay of Plenty for a $980,000 slice of the Provincial Growth Fund was approved by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment today.

The funding adds to $4 million that Council had already earmarked for the centre, which will replace temporary infrastructure that currently welcomes cruise ship visitors.

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said that the funding was great news for Tauranga.

'A new cruise gateway and visitor welcome centre will serve both cruise ship passengers and the general tourist market,” he said.

'Tourism is good for our local and regional economy and I'm pleased that Government has made a contribution to the cost of facilities.”

Tourism Bay of Plenty CEO Kristin Dunne is thrilled by the funding result.

'Years of planning and collaboration between Tauranga City Council, Tourism Bay of Plenty, the community and Ngai te Rangi culminated in reaching this funding target,” she said.

'We look forward to working with the Council on this great new large, weather-proof centre.”

The additional funding will allow for the design of a space that facilitates pōwhiri, has a community area, and tells the region's unique cultural stories.

The Provincial Growth Fund consists of $3 billion in central Government funding that is to be provided over three years for investment in regional economic development.

The Bay of Plenty's tourism visitor spend is expected to increase by 60 per cent over the next decade, reaching $1.45 billion by 2028.