Western Bay of Plenty District

Western Bay of Plenty District is a territorial district within the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand. The district envelops Tauranga city by land, and includes Matakana Island, at the entrance to Tauranga Harbour.

Local government
The seat of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council is at Greerton in Tauranga City (which is a separate area that is not part of the district). The district came into being in the local government reorganisation of 1989; with minor modifications to the boundaries, it merged the old Tauranga County and Te Puke Borough. The most significant changes were in the northwest, with Waihi Beach being transferred to the district from the old Ohinemuri County, and near Tauranga City, where some of the hinterland, formerly in the county, was transferred to the city.

Wards
For the purposes of electing district councillors, the wards within the district consist of the following:


 * Waihi Beach-Katikati Ward: (seat at Katikati)
 * Waihi Beach Sub-Division
 * Katikati Sub-Division
 * Kaimai Ward: (seat at Ōmokoroa)
 * Te Puke-Maketu Ward: (seat at Te Puke)
 * Te Puke Sub-Division
 * Maketu Sub-Division

Populated places
Western Bay of Plenty District consists of the following towns, localities, settlements and communities:


 * Waihi Beach-Katikati Ward:
 * Waihi Beach Sub-Division:
 * Athenree
 * Bowentown
 * Island View
 * Orokawa Bay
 * Pios Beach
 * Waiau
 * Waihi Beach
 * Katikati Sub-Division:
 * Aongatete
 * Apata
 * Fairview
 * Katikati
 * Kauri Point
 * Matahui Point
 * Matakana
 * Matakana Point
 * Ngakautuakina Point
 * Ongare Point
 * Opureora
 * Pahoia
 * Rangiwaea
 * Rereatukahia Pa
 * Tahawai
 * Tanners Point
 * Tirohanga Point
 * Tuapiro Point
 * Wainui North
 * Woodlands


 * Kaimai Ward:
 * Kaiate Falls
 * Kaitemako
 * Kopurererua
 * Lower Kaimai
 * McLaren Falls
 * Minden
 * Motuhoa
 * Ngapeke
 * Ohauiti
 * Omanawa Falls
 * Omanawa
 * Ōmokoroa Beach
 * Ōmokoroa
 * Oropi
 * Plummers Point
 * Pyes Pa
 * Taiwhitinui Pa
 * Te Puna Beach
 * Te Puna West
 * Te Puna
 * Wairoa
 * Whakamarama


 * Maketu-Te Puke Ward:
 * Te Puke Sub-Division:
 * Douglas Corner
 * Manoeka
 * Otawa
 * Papamoa
 * Te Matai
 * Te Puke
 * Wairai
 * Waitangi
 * Maketu Sub-Division:
 * Little Waihi
 * Maketu
 * Mangatai
 * Newdicks Beach
 * Ngawaro
 * Ohinepanea
 * Okurei Point
 * Otamarakau
 * Paengaroa
 * Pongakawa Valley
 * Pongakawa
 * Pukehina
 * Pukehina Beach
 * Rangiuru
 * Te Ranga
 * Te Tumu


 * Notes:

Population
Western Bay of Plenty District covers 1944.42 km2 and had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2. live in Waihi Beach, in Katikati, and  in Te Puke.

Western Bay of Plenty District had a population of 56,184 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 5,280 people (10.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 12,861 people (29.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 24,096 dwellings. The median age was 45.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 10,062 people (17.9%) aged under 15 years, 8,481 (15.1%) aged 15 to 29, 24,789 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 12,849 (22.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 80.1% European/Pākehā, 21.6% Māori, 3.4% Pasifika, 7.3% Asian, 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders, and 1.3% other. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Western Bay of Plenty District had a population of 51,321 at the 2018 New Zealand census. There were 18,462 households, comprising 25,647 males and 25,677 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female.

The percentage of people born overseas was 19.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.1% had no religion, 33.3% were Christian, 2.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 4.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 6,735 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 7,935 (19.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 6,438 people (15.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 19,869 (47.6%) people were employed full-time, 7,083 (17.0%) were part-time, and 1,215 (2.9%) were unemployed.