Tauranga

Tauranga (in Maori language translated as “Protected anchorage”) is a city on the northeast coast of New Zealand’s North Island. With over 100,000 inhabitants, it is indeed the most important city in the Bay of Plenty, but not its administrative headquarters, located in this much smaller Whakatane.

Since 2004, after splitting off from the Western Bay of Plenty District, it has been a separate city of Tauranga District Council (City Council). Tauranga is New Zealand’s largest conurbation, which officially takes its name from the Maori language.

Geography

The nearest cities are Hamilton 105 kilometers further west and Rotorua, 85 kilometers further south. The city of Tauranga itself is located in the southeast of a large-area natural harbor, which is determined by the Matakana Island from the South Pacific.

In addition, the city is separated by the peninsula, at the Mount Maunganui and the same location from the open sea. Between the peninsula and Matakana Iceland is therefore only a relatively narrow waterway with access to the city of Tauranga and thus offers the port, facilities.

The peninsula, at the Mount Maunganui acts, because of their exposed position, as the entrance to the harbor area of Tauranga. All the land borders the district bordering the Western Bay of Plenty District. From the mountain range running parallel to the coast, flows the Kaimai Ranges, the Wairoa River and the Port of Tauranga Bay.

Climate

The weather in Tauranga is relatively warm and dry. The annual average temperature was 14.2°C (for comparison: Munich: 9.5°C), the average daily maximum temperatures are located at 18.3°C. Each year, the city has a total rainfall recorded from 1200mm to 1600mm. Rain when it does come, it can often lead to extremely heavy rain and severe thunderstorms. Tauranga also records very large number of sunny hours (2200 to 2400 hours per year).

Inhabitants

Tauranga is the ninth-largest city with 105,000 inhabitants, and the seventh largest metropolitan area of New Zealand. It is also the fastest growing city in the country. Overall, the population of the city over the past 30 years has nearly quadrupled.

The highest recorded growth rates are in the suburb of Papamoa. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, many New Zealand pensioners take advantage of the pleasant climate of the region and want to spend their retirement there. On the other hand, it attracts more and more young people into the city to use the ocean and the endless beaches for various sports, especially surfing.

Economy

While the Central Business District downtown has far too few companies in relation to the size of the city, there is located in Tauranga the second largest port in New Zealand. This is used especially for the export of goods such as timber, salt and agricultural products. The Port of Tauranga is also the setting for several cruise companies (Celebrity Cruises, P & O Cruises).

During the summer season 2008-2009 a total of Tauranga is served by 57 vessels. Mainly Tauranga serves as a starting point for day trips to Rotorua’s geothermal attractions. Tauranga and in particular the neighboring region around Te Puke and Katikati in the east to the west are New Zealand’s largest Kiwi producer.

The kiwi fruit is grown here year-round, and then exported around the world. Other fruit, especially avocados are grown here. Moreover, tourism is a very important economic sector. For example, Tauranga has become an important holiday residence for many wealthy New Zealanders who have expensive vacation homes on the beach.

Transportation

The Port of Tauranga is the turning point for extensive traffic for the entire region and provides a large part of road and rail freight. Accordingly, the roads are designed for Tauranga.

The East Coast Main Trunk Railway of cargo transport in Tauranga is important both in the direction of the pulp and paper mill in Kawerau and toward Hamilton and Auckland. At present, the Tauranga Harbor Bridge doubled to 4 lanes and, with a freeway and the Hewlett’s Road through the Mount Maunganui Ortsdurchgang of SH2 Pacific Coast Highway.

For the remainder of the SH2 planning permission is needed for the four-lane expansion between Te Maunga, the domain Roundabout in Papamoa and the bypass of Te Puke to Paengaroa. This action is of national importance as the highway links the port with the forestry and agriculture sectors, particularly in the Central Plateau at Taupo. Hamilton and Tauranga on the SH29 and SH36 to Rotorua is directly connected..