Tauranga
Encyclopedia : T : TA : TAU : 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 |
Location
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.
History
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.Contemporary Tauranga
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 [link], Tauranga became (legally) a city for a second time from 1 March 2004.
Education
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.
External links
- [A portal site]
- [The city council's site]
- [Local newspaper — The Bay of Plenty Times]
- [education in Tauranga] at gotauranga.co.nz
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