Introduction

By way of introduction to our beautful region - the Bay of Plenty stretches from Taupo in the south, past Opotiki and beyond Waihau Bay in the east, and just beyond Katikati in the west. 

Tauranga is the major city in the Western Bay of Plenty, and became a borough way back in 1882, with a population of just 1250.  It officially became a city in 1963, when it’s population reached 20,000.00.  However, in 2005 its population reached over 100,000.00, and taking in not just Tauranga City, but also Mt Maunganui (20,000) and Papamoa (15,000).  More than 100 people a week shift to Tauranga from other parts of the country, and 45 new jobs are created weekly.  By the end of 2021, the area is forecast to have a likely population of 200,000.00.

Tauranga is one of the country’s major ports and, apart from a huge tourist industry, it is a major health provider.  The Bay of Plenty District Health Board employs almost 3,000 people, and the hospital is a teriary organisation. The Western Bay also has notable industries such as manufacturing, horticulture (growing kiwifruit and avocados), viviculture (wineries), fishing, boat building, and much much more.