Tauranga
| Tauranga |
|
| Population: | 107,700
(urban)
101,200
(territorial) |
| Mayor: | Stuart Crosby |
| Urban Area |
|---|
| Extent: | Omokoroa to Papamoa
Beach and south to
Tauriko & Ohauiti |
| Territorial Authority |
|---|
| Name: | Tauranga City |
| Extent: | Wairoa River to Papamoa
Beach and south to
Tauriko & Welcome Bay |
| See also: | Western Bay of Plenty
District |
| Regional Council: | Bay of Plenty |
|
Tauranga (population 107,706 —
2006 census) is the largest city of the
Bay of Plenty region of the
North Island of
New Zealand. It is the
ninth largest city in the country, and is 105 km east of
Hamilton and 85 km north of
Rotorua, and is the city with the fastest growing population in New Zealand.
Tauranga is located at the head of a large harbour which extends along the western Bay of Plenty, and is protected by
Matakana Island. The town and headland of
Mount Maunganui stand at the entrance to the harbour, five kilometres north of Tauranga. "The Mount", as it is known, is often regarded as a satellite town of Tauranga.
The name Tauranga comes from
Maori, it roughly translates to "a sheltered anchorage".
Due to its sheltered position on the east coast, Tauranga enjoys a warm, dry climate. This has made it a popular location to retire to. During the summer months the population swells as the holidaymakers descend on the city.
Much of the countryside surrounding Tauranga is horticultural land, used to grow a wide range of fresh produce for both domestic consumption and export. The area is particularly well known for growing
tangelos (a grapefruit / tangerine cross) and
kiwifruit. The Port of Tauranga also experiences brisk but seasonal shipping traffic and is a regular stop off for both container ships and luxury cruise liners.
The
Tauranga Campaign took place in and around Tauranga, from
January 21,
1864 to
June 21,
1864, during the
Maori Wars. The battle of Gate Pa is the most well-known.
Tauranga is the fastest growing city in New Zealand. The population at the next
census in 2006 will read a population of over 100,000 people, meaning that the city has quadrupled in size in a little over 30 years. The population increase is due mostly to retirees settling in the city, particularly the suburb of
Papamoa, and sun and surf seekers. It is also a popular lifestyle city. Although the population has increased dramatically, the city is proportionally underrepresented in businesses, and the CBD reflects a city of less than half the population as that of Tauranga.
Under the
Local Government (Tauranga City Council) Order 2003 [
1], Tauranga became (legally) a
city for a second time from
1 March 2004.
Tauranga is home to the
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic as well as a branch of the
University of Waikato.
State secondary schools include
Tauranga Boys' and
Tauranga Girls' colleges,
Mount Maunganui College,
Otumoetai College, various intermediate schools, including
Tauranga Intermediate, the largest intermediate in New Zealand, and over 20 primary schools.
Christian educational institutions in Tauranga include
Bethlehem Campus, a college for both children and adults established in 1988;
South Pacific Bible College, a Christian preaching and missions school founded in 1982; and
Aquinas College, a Catholic college established in 2003.
*
A portal site*
The city council's site*
Local newspaper — The Bay of Plenty Times*
education in Tauranga at gotauranga.co.nz
