Bay of Plenty
Tauranga and Mount Maunganui are the Bay of Plenty's two main cities, both located two and a half hours drive from Auckland and Rotorua (and 44 per cent of New Zealand's population). Tauranga is the sixth largest city in New Zealand, but it is expected to grow to be the fourth largest within the next five years. Currently over 100 new residents come to the region each week, making Tauranga one of the most popular places to live in New Zealand. The current level of growth is expected to continue and the population is predicted to double by 2020. The city is also home to New Zealand's largest port, making it one of the country's key transportation, logistics, warehousing and manufacturing hubs. Located five minutes from downtown Tauranga is the splendid form of Mount Maunganui. Renowned for its Maori history and pristine walking tracks, Mauao (meaning 'caught by light' in Maori mythology), offers magnificent views ranging from the characteristic fishing wharf and stone jetty, to the many islands encompassing the mountain and the spectacular view from the 232m summit. Mount Maunganui is home to a beautiful stretch of golden sand and surf that during summer attracts people from all over the North Island. It is a lively beachside city complete with great shopping, lively cafes and exciting nightlife. With an abundance of sunshine, stunning natural surroundings, and opportunities for growth, its easy to see why the Bay of Plenty and Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest growing regions.
State Business Overview
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Education
The Bay of Plenty region is well equipped with a good range of high quality teaching options available for students from pre-school to tertiary level. The Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand's most sought after locations from which to teach, and therefore teachers in the region are often of a very high calibre, as are the local educational facilities. There are 25 primary schools, four intermediate schools (for students aged 10-12 years) and seven secondary schools in the region. These include public and private schools, as well as a Rudolph Steiner School at primary level. Tertiary education facilities in the Bay of Plenty region are of a very high standard. The two main tertiary education providers are the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the Waikato University at Tauranga. The Polytechnic has developed a new, spacious campus at Windermere and offers over 100 national certificates and diplomas in more than 25 industry areas. The Waikato University at Tauranga, located in the central business district, is run by the Hamilton-based Waikato University and offers over 150 papers in areas such as the social sciences, arts, education, liberal studies and management studies. In addition to the university and the polytechnic, there are also a number of private training institutions providing New Zealand Qualification Authority approved programmes through practical skills-based courses. The region is also home to a number of internationally recognised adventure education and dive training schools as well as a college of homeopathy and programmes specialising in industry and business qualifications. For more information about education in the Bay of Plenty please visit our useful links section or our section outlining education in New Zealand.
Employment
Key industries
The Bay of Plenty region is home to a number of New Zealand's key industries, with the highest employer being the primary (including horticulture and forestry), manufacturing (mainly of primary products) and retail sectors. The main primary industries are horticulture, farming and forestry. Horticulture is particularly concentrated in the Western Bay of Plenty, which contains 57 per cent of New Zealand's kiwifruit hectares and 42 per cent of New Zealand's avocado hectares. Dairy, sheep and beef farms are also found throughout the Bay of Plenty. Production forests are also a major land use, particularly in Whakatane and to the north of Taupo. Fishing, including aquaculture, is also present in the region. Approximately 17% of the workforce is involved in the manufacturing sector, with the majority of manufacturing based on the processing of primary products. The remainder of the manufacturing industry is largely of a light nature. The food and beverages industry is the second largest industry in terms of total output and the largest in terms of total international exports from the region. Recent analysis has highlighted a shortage of skilled staff in the manufacturing industry, and in particular a difficulty in finding food technicians in the region. Tourism is another key player in the Bay of Plenty region, particularly in Rotorua due to its wide range of natural attractions. This makes the associated sectors of retail trade, hospitality, transport and cultural and recreational services important to the region. Given high population growth in the region, Construction is another significant employer.
Strong growth has led to strong pressures on the construction sector, creating shortages of skilled tradespeople. Based on high population projections, construction is expected to continue to be a key growth industry in the region. The transportation and storage sector is another key player in the Western Bay of Plenty, with the presence of Tauranga's port and the region's strategically central location helping contribute to the relatively high proportion of people employed in this sector. Health and community services are also important due to the age structure of the Bay of Plenty population, with significantly younger and older populations. The Western Bay of Plenty is also recognised as providing some of the world's best boat design and construction firms, with around 18 commercial boat builders working from the region and over 170 organisations having some contact with the marine industry. It is estimated that 75-80% of the new boatbuilding revenue in the region comes from the export of large boats. Industries where siginifcant skill shortages are apparent include service-driven industries such as tourism, hospitality, retail, cleaning and home care. Vacancies within Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty region are generally advertised in the Bay of Plenty Times.
Housing
The residential real estate market in the Bay of Plenty and Tauranga has been very active over the recent years. The number of people moving into the area has been increasing, and to meet demand there has been an upturn in the supply of new land and housing. House prices in the region have been steadily rising, although neither buyer nor seller has the advantage. As the population of the area continues to increase, more subdivisions are being developed and more sections sold. Fertile orchards and farmland adjacent to Tauranga city are now becoming fashionable suburbs. In particular Mount Maunganui and Papamoa are continuing to expand, with high rise buildings now featuring along the Marine Parade at Mount Maunganui. House prices in the region vary considerably depending on the size of the house, its facilities, and the area in which a property is located. According to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, as at April 2005 the median house price for a home in the Mount Maunganui/Papamoa area was NZD $419,000, while the median house price for a house in the city of Tauranga was NZD $325,000.
Renting
Like house prices, rental prices in the Bay of Plenty region vary greatly between cities and suburbs. According to the New Zealand Ministry of Housing the average rent for a three bedroom property in central Tauranga is approximately NZD $250 per week, while for a similar property in Mount Maunagnui/Papamoa weekly rental rates are around the NZD $275 mark. (Rental prices shown are as at Jan 2005). The Bay of Plenty Times daily newspaper is a good start for finding a place to rent. Real Estate Agents and private landlords will list properties in the newspaper, with Wednesday and Saturday editions being the best for Real Estate. Remember also that not all the properties will be in the newspaper so it pays to call in to the offices of the real estate agents and ask for a copy of their listings. For more information about housing in the Bay of Plenty the Bay of Plenty please visit our useful links section.
Transport
Getting around Tauranga is relatively easy, with a modern, efficient and economical public bus system operated by 'Bay Hopper Yellow Buses'. However despite having good public transport facilities, a car is by far the best transport option. The roads throughout the Bay of Plenty region are well sign-posted and provide a means to explore some of the country's most spectacular forest and coastal scenery. Be aware that the toll bridge to Mount Maunganui costs NZD $1.00 per car.
Intercity rail travel in the region is predominantly used for goods and hauling wood from the forests to the city, however there is a daily passenger train which leaves for Hamilton before connecting with the southbound train for Wellington. The cities of Tauranga and Whakatane are serviced by Air New Zealand and offer a choice of daily flights connecting travellers throughout the rest of the country. Taxis in Tauranga are plentiful and are available 24-hours a day, while for those keen on walking or cycling, Tauranga is easy to walk and bike around with walkways located everywhere.Population
The Bay of Plenty's local government region has a population of approximately 257,500, of which 107,000 live in the region's main city of Tauranga. The Whakatane district is the seat for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and has a population of around 33,400, while the nearby rural town of Te Puke has a population of just below 7,000.Climate
The Bay of Plenty is located on the eastern coast of New Zealand's North Island and stretches from Tauranga in the west to Cape Runaway in the east. The shelter provided by the mountain ranges to the west of the bay provides the region with a warm dry climate. Tauranga receives between 2,200 and 2,400 hours of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest places in New Zealand. Summer daytime temperatures average 22-24 degrees Celsius and in winter 16-18 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall is 1,198 mm, falling below the national average of approximately 1,400 mm per annum. A typical summer runs from November to early April and has long spells of sunshine and warm balmy evenings. January and February are the hottest months, while the winter months of June, July and August are mostly mild.Geography
The Bay of Plenty stretches approximately 60 miles along the coastline from Waihi in the north to Te Puke in the south and about 20 miles inland to the rugged, bush covered Kaimai Ranges. The landscape of Tauranga is dominated by the harbour and Mount Maunganui (Mauao). Tauranga City is built on a scenic peninsular landscape around the harbour and estuaries while the Western Bay of Plenty district is predominantly rural. The landscape is diverse, and combined with the temperate climate, provides an area rich in resources such as indigenous flora and fauna, highly versatile soils, rivers and harbours. The region boasts strong horticultural and agricultural sectors and is renowned for growing kiwifruit, avocados, grapes, citrus and other subtropical fruits. Over 80 per cent of New Zealand's kiwifruit exports are grown in the Bay of Plenty. The coastal areas of the Bay of Plenty consist of golden sand and saltwater beaches, while the centre of the Eastern Bay of Plenty provides a rich landscape of farmland and forestry. The mainland boasts mineral hot springs and wineries, all within close proximity.Cost of living
Housing in the Bay of Plenty region is affordable, with an average three-bedroom house on an 800 square metre section selling for around NZD $250,000. Homes with harbour or ocean views are priced anywhere between NZD $400,000 and $600,000, while high quality properties on the beachfront can cost upward of NZD $1 million. While house prices in prime locations are quite expensive, the general cost of living in Tauranga is less expensive than in other larger centres in New Zealand.
The Bay of Plenty's main regions
Taupo
Taupo township is an industrial and commercial hub located on the shores of beautiful Lake Taupo. Taupo is home to a population of approximately 20,000 people. Growing conditions here are ideal and consequently man made forests are abundant throughout the region. The area is a tourist meeca, with the lake, rivers and nearby Mount Ruapehu providing endless opportunities for adventure.
Rotorua
otorua is located 27 miles south of Tauranga on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua. Rotorua is a spa resort, well-known for its geo-thermal activity. There many geysers and hot mud pools which along with a strong adventure tourism scene, bring thousands of tourists to the region each year.
Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is one of the New Zealand's most popular holiday destinations and is a picturesque seaside town located five minutes drive from Tauranga city. Affectionately known as 'the Mount' by locals, the Magnificent Mauao (Mount Maunganui) dominates the region and is surrounded by stretches of white sandy beaches and crystal clear rolling surf beaches.
Papamoa
Located just 15 minutes drive from Mount Maunganui, Papamoa is one of the fastest the growing suburbs in the region. Its relaxed atmosphere, stunning surf beaches and rural boundaries combine to offer a laid back lifestyle while still being close to the city of Tauranga.
Te Puke
Known as the Kiwifruit capital of the world and framed by the majestic Papamoa hills, Te Puke is just half an hour's drive (13 miles) south east of Mount Maunganui in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Katikati
Renowed globally as the mural town, Katikati is famous for the colourful murals adorning the walls and buildings depicting the rich history of the area. The town is built on the banks of the Uretara River and it is also known for nearby vineyards, hot springs, luxury lodges and quirky cafes.
Whakatane
Only a short drive from Auckland, Franklin is a district rich in history and natural beauty. Scenic highlights include the wild west coast of the Awhitu Peninsula, the southern reaches of the Manukau Harbour, the beautiful Hunua Ranges and the Seabird Coast on the Firth of Thames.
Opotiki
Opotiki is a town of approximately 4,400 people located in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The Opotiki district has the longest coastline of all local authorities in the Bay of Plenty region and the smallest population density. Whilst the area has some productive farming areas, the majority of the district comprises very steep and rugged hinterland country covered in native forest, along with some exotic commercial timber plantings.
East Cape
New Zealand's remote East Cape is home to the town of Gisborne - one of the first places in the world to see the sun rise. The East Cape region derives its name from the cape at the north-eastern end of the North Island. The area is first and foremost a farming district, however it is also one of the most isolated and least known regions of new Zealand's North Island.
